The Disturbance Caused by Kama

Verse 1 (shiva.rudra.81.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । तत्र गत्वा स्मरो गर्वी शिवमायाविमोहितः । मोहकः स मधोश्चादौ धर्मं विस्तारयन्स्थितः

brahmovāca tatra gatvā smaro garvī śivamāyāvimohitaḥ mohakaḥ sa madhoścādau dharmaṁ vistārayansthitaḥ

Brahma said: Having gone there, proud Smara, deluded by Shiva's own maya, set about spreading the power of Madhu (Spring) as its very agent of delusion.

Verse 2 (shiva.rudra.81.2)

वसन्तस्य च यो धर्मः प्रससार स सर्वतः । तपःस्थाने महेशस्यौषधिप्रस्थे मुनीश्वर

vasantasya ca yo dharmaḥ prasasāra sa sarvataḥ tapaḥsthāne maheśasyauṣadhiprasthe munīśvara

O lord of sages, the very nature of Vasanta spread out in every direction, even into Aushadhiprastha, the place of Mahesha's austerity.

Verse 3 (shiva.rudra.81.3)

वनानि च प्रफुल्लानि पादपानां महामुने । आसन्विशेषतस्तत्र तत्प्रभावान्मुनीश्वर

vanāni ca praphullāni pādapānāṁ mahāmune āsanviśeṣatastatra tatprabhāvānmunīśvara

O great sage, by its power the forests of trees there blossomed forth in extraordinary splendor.

Verse 4 (shiva.rudra.81.4)

पुष्पाणि सहकाराणामशोकवनिकासु वै । विरेजुस्सुस्मरोद्दीपकराणि सुरभीण्यपि

puṣpāṇi sahakārāṇāmaśokavanikāsu vai virejussusmaroddīpakarāṇi surabhīṇyapi

The blossoms of the mango trees, and the flowers in the ashoka groves, shone forth fragrant, kindling passion all the more.

Verse 5 (shiva.rudra.81.5)

कैरवाणि च पुष्पाणि भ्रमराकलितानि च । बभूवुर्मदनावेशकराणि च विशेषतः

kairavāṇi ca puṣpāṇi bhramarākalitāni ca babhūvurmadanāveśakarāṇi ca viśeṣataḥ

The white-lotus blossoms too, thronged with bees, became especially potent in stirring the fever of desire.

Verse 6 (shiva.rudra.81.6)

सुकामोद्दीपनकरं कोकिलाकलकूजितम् । आसीदति सुरम्यं हि मनोहरमतिप्रियम्

sukāmoddīpanakaraṁ kokilākalakūjitam āsīdati suramyaṁ hi manoharamatipriyam

The sweet cooing of the cuckoos, utterly enchanting, delightful, and most dear, became a kindler of passion.

Verse 7 (shiva.rudra.81.7)

भ्रमराणां तथा शब्दा विविधा अभवन्मुने । मनोहराश्च सर्वेषां कामोद्दीपकरा अपि

bhramarāṇāṁ tathā śabdā vividhā abhavanmune manoharāśca sarveṣāṁ kāmoddīpakarā api

O sage, the varied hum of the bees too became captivating to every mind, stirring desire all the more.

Verse 8 (shiva.rudra.81.8)

चन्द्रस्य विशदा कान्तिर्विकीर्णा हि समन्ततः । कामिनां कामिनीनां च दूतिका इव साभवत्

candrasya viśadā kāntirvikīrṇā hi samantataḥ kāmināṁ kāminīnāṁ ca dūtikā iva sābhavat

The moon's clear radiance, spreading on every side, became, as it were, a messenger between passionate men and passionate women.

Verse 9 (shiva.rudra.81.9)

मानिनां प्रेरणायासीत्तत्काले कालदीपिका । मारुतश्च सुखः साधो ववौ विरहिणोऽप्रियः

mānināṁ preraṇāyāsīttatkāle kāladīpikā mārutaśca sukhaḥ sādho vavau virahiṇo'priyaḥ

It became, at that hour, a spark that stirred even the proud, while the gentle breeze, sweet to others, blew unwelcome upon those parted from their beloved.

Verse 10 (shiva.rudra.81.10)

एवं वसन्तविस्तारो मदनावेशकारकः । वनौकसां तदा तत्र मुनीनां दुस्सहोऽत्यभूत्

evaṁ vasantavistāro madanāveśakārakaḥ vanaukasāṁ tadā tatra munīnāṁ dussaho'tyabhūt

Thus this spreading of spring, which stirred the fever of passion, became well-nigh unbearable even to the forest-dwelling sages there.

Verse 11 (shiva.rudra.81.11)

अचेतसामपि तदा कामासक्तिरभून्मुने । सुचेतसां हि जीवानां सेति किं वर्ण्यते कथा

acetasāmapi tadā kāmāsaktirabhūnmune sucetasāṁ hi jīvānāṁ seti kiṁ varṇyate kathā

O sage, even in unconscious beings desire took hold at that time -- what then need be said of conscious, living creatures?

Verse 12 (shiva.rudra.81.12)

एवं चकार स मधुः स्वप्रभावं सुदुस्सहम् । सर्वेषां चैव जीवानां कामोद्दीपनकारकः

evaṁ cakāra sa madhuḥ svaprabhāvaṁ sudussaham sarveṣāṁ caiva jīvānāṁ kāmoddīpanakārakaḥ

Thus did Madhu, by his own well-nigh unbearable power, kindle desire in every living being.

Verse 13 (shiva.rudra.81.13)

अकालनिर्मितं तात मधोर्वीक्ष्य हरस्तदा । आश्चर्यं परमं मेने स्वलीलात्ततनुः प्रभुः

akālanirmitaṁ tāta madhorvīkṣya harastadā āścaryaṁ paramaṁ mene svalīlāttatanuḥ prabhuḥ

O dear one, seeing this power of Madhu arisen out of season, Hara too -- the Lord who had assumed a bodily form for the sake of his own play -- marveled at it as a supreme wonder.

Verse 14 (shiva.rudra.81.14)

अथ लीलाकरस्तत्र तपः परमदुष्करम् । तताप स वशीशो हि हरो दुःखहरः प्रभुः

atha līlākarastatra tapaḥ paramaduṣkaram tatāpa sa vaśīśo hi haro duḥkhaharaḥ prabhuḥ

Then he -- lord of his own play, master of his senses, the very remover of sorrow -- gave himself over there to the most difficult austerity.

Verse 15 (shiva.rudra.81.15)

वसन्ते प्रसृते तत्र कामो रतिसमन्वितः । चूतं बाणं समाकृष्य स्थितस्तद्वामपार्श्वतः

vasante prasṛte tatra kāmo ratisamanvitaḥ cūtaṁ bāṇaṁ samākṛṣya sthitastadvāmapārśvataḥ

There, as spring spread all around, Kama, together with Rati, drew his arrow of mango-blossom and took his stand at Shiva's left side.

Verse 16 (shiva.rudra.81.16)

स्वप्रभावं वितस्तार मोहयन्सकलान् जनान् । रत्या युक्तं तदा कामं दृष्ट्वा को वा न मोहितः

svaprabhāvaṁ vitastāra mohayansakalān janān ratyā yuktaṁ tadā kāmaṁ dṛṣṭvā ko vā na mohitaḥ

He spread out his own power, bewildering all people; seeing Kama thus united with Rati, who indeed would not be enchanted?

Verse 17 (shiva.rudra.81.17)

एवं प्रवृत्तसुरतौ शृङ्गारोऽपि गणैः सह । हावभावयुतस्तत्र प्रविवेश हरान्तिकम्

evaṁ pravṛttasuratau śṛṅgāro'pi gaṇaiḥ saha hāvabhāvayutastatra praviveśa harāntikam

As the two thus engaged in their amorous work, Shringara too, together with his attendants and their graceful gestures, came near to Hara.

Verse 18 (shiva.rudra.81.18)

मदनः प्रकटस्तत्र न्यवसच्चित्तगो बहिः । न दृष्टवांस्तदा शम्भोश्छिद्रं येन प्रविश्यते

madanaḥ prakaṭastatra nyavasaccittago bahiḥ na dṛṣṭavāṁstadā śambhośchidraṁ yena praviśyate

Madana stood revealed there, yet remained confined within, unable to enter, for he could find in Shambhu no opening at all through which to break in.

Verse 19 (shiva.rudra.81.19)

यदा चाप्राप्तविवरस्तस्मिन्योगिवरे स्मरः । महादेवे तदा सोऽभून्महाभयविमोहितः

yadā cāprāptavivarastasminyogivare smaraḥ mahādeve tadā so'bhūnmahābhayavimohitaḥ

When Smara found no opening at all in that great yogin, Mahadeva, he became overwhelmed with great fear.

Verse 20 (shiva.rudra.81.20)

ज्वलज्ज्वालाग्निसङ्काशभालनेत्रसमन्वितम् । ध्यानस्थं शङ्करं को वा समासादयितुं क्षमः

jvalajjvālāgnisaṅkāśabhālanetrasamanvitam dhyānasthaṁ śaṅkaraṁ ko vā samāsādayituṁ kṣamaḥ

Who indeed could dare approach Shankara, absorbed in meditation, with that blazing, fire-like eye set upon his brow?

Verse 21 (shiva.rudra.81.21)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र सखीभ्यां संयुता शिवा । जगाम शिवपूजार्थं नीत्वा पुष्पाण्यनेकशः

etasminnantare tatra sakhībhyāṁ saṁyutā śivā jagāma śivapūjārthaṁ nītvā puṣpāṇyanekaśaḥ

Meanwhile Shiva (Parvati), accompanied by her two friends and bearing many flowers, went there to perform the worship of Shiva.

Verse 22 (shiva.rudra.81.22)

पृथिव्यां यादृशं लोकैः सौन्दर्यं वर्ण्यते महत् । तत्सर्वमधिकं तस्यां पार्वत्यामस्ति निश्चितम्

pṛthivyāṁ yādṛśaṁ lokaiḥ saundaryaṁ varṇyate mahat tatsarvamadhikaṁ tasyāṁ pārvatyāmasti niścitam

Whatever great beauty people on this earth are wont to describe, all of it and more besides was truly present in Parvati.

Verse 23 (shiva.rudra.81.23)

आर्तवाणि सुपुष्पाणि धृतानि च तया यदा । तत्सौन्दर्यं कथं वर्ण्यमपि वर्षशतैरपि

ārtavāṇi supuṣpāṇi dhṛtāni ca tayā yadā tatsaundaryaṁ kathaṁ varṇyamapi varṣaśatairapi

When she wore those lovely flowers of the season upon her, how indeed could her beauty then be described, even across a hundred years?

Verse 24 (shiva.rudra.81.24)

यदा शिवसमीपे तु गता सा पर्वतात्मजा । तदैव शङ्करो ध्यानं त्यक्त्वा क्षणमवस्थितः

yadā śivasamīpe tu gatā sā parvatātmajā tadaiva śaṅkaro dhyānaṁ tyaktvā kṣaṇamavasthitaḥ

The very moment the mountain's daughter drew near to Shiva, Shankara set aside his meditation for an instant and remained so, simply present.

Verse 25 (shiva.rudra.81.25)

तच्छिद्रं प्राप्य मदनः प्रथमं हर्षणेन तु । बाणेन हर्षयामास पार्श्वस्थं चन्द्रशेखरम्

tacchidraṁ prāpya madanaḥ prathamaṁ harṣaṇena tu bāṇena harṣayāmāsa pārśvasthaṁ candraśekharam

Seizing that very opening, Madana first delighted Chandrashekhara, who stood close by, with the arrow named Harshana.

Verse 26 (shiva.rudra.81.26)

शृङ्गारैश्च तदा भावैः सहिता पार्वती हरम् । जगाम कामसाहाय्ये मुने सुरभिणा सह

śṛṅgāraiśca tadā bhāvaiḥ sahitā pārvatī haram jagāma kāmasāhāyye mune surabhiṇā saha

Then Parvati, filled with graces of shringara, O sage, went, fragrant, near to Hara, unknowingly furthering Kama's very purpose.

Verse 27 (shiva.rudra.81.27)

तदैवाकृष्य तच्चापं रुच्यर्थं शूलधारिणः । द्रुतं पुष्पशरं तस्मै स्मरोऽमुञ्चत्सुसंयतः

tadaivākṛṣya taccāpaṁ rucyarthaṁ śūladhāriṇaḥ drutaṁ puṣpaśaraṁ tasmai smaro'muñcatsusaṁyataḥ

At that very moment, drawing his bow to kindle the desire of the trident-bearer, the well-composed Smara swiftly loosed his flower-arrow at him.

Verse 28 (shiva.rudra.81.28)

यथा निरन्तरं नित्यमागच्छति तथा शिवम् । तं नमस्कृत्य तत्पूजां कृत्वा तत्पुरतः स्थिता

yathā nirantaraṁ nityamāgacchati tathā śivam taṁ namaskṛtya tatpūjāṁ kṛtvā tatpurataḥ sthitā

Just as she was accustomed to come there daily without fail, so, having bowed to Shiva and performed his worship, she stood before him.

Verse 29 (shiva.rudra.81.29)

सा दृष्टा पार्वती तत्र प्रभुणा गिरिशेन हि । विवृण्वती तदाङ्गानि स्त्रीस्वभावात्सुलज्जया

sā dṛṣṭā pārvatī tatra prabhuṇā giriśena hi vivṛṇvatī tadāṅgāni strīsvabhāvātsulajjayā

There the Lord Girisha beheld that Parvati, who, by a woman's natural way, stood with her limbs revealed even as she shrank with deep bashfulness.

Verse 30 (shiva.rudra.81.30)

सुसंस्मृत्य वरं तस्या विधिदत्तं पुरा प्रभुः । शिवोऽपि वर्णयामास तदङ्गानि मुदा मुने

susaṁsmṛtya varaṁ tasyā vidhidattaṁ purā prabhuḥ śivo'pi varṇayāmāsa tadaṅgāni mudā mune

O sage, calling well to mind the boon Brahma had once granted concerning her, Lord Shiva himself, filled with delight, began to describe her limbs.

Verse 31 (shiva.rudra.81.31)

शिव उवाच । किं मुखं किं शशाङ्कश्च किं नेत्रे चोत्पले च किम् । भ्रुकुट्यौ धनुषी चैते कन्दर्पस्य महात्मनः

śiva uvāca kiṁ mukhaṁ kiṁ śaśāṅkaśca kiṁ netre cotpale ca kim bhrukuṭyau dhanuṣī caite kandarpasya mahātmanaḥ

Shiva said: "Is this a face, or is it the moon itself? Are these eyes, or are they blue lotuses? Are these two eyebrows, or are they the very two bows of great Kandarpa?"

Verse 32 (shiva.rudra.81.32)

अधरः किं च बिम्बं किं किं नासा शुकचञ्चुका । किं स्वरः कोकिलालापः किं मध्यं चाथ वेदिका

adharaḥ kiṁ ca bimbaṁ kiṁ kiṁ nāsā śukacañcukā kiṁ svaraḥ kokilālāpaḥ kiṁ madhyaṁ cātha vedikā

"Is this a lip, or a bimba fruit? Is this a nose, or a parrot's beak? Is this a voice, or the cuckoo's own call? Is this a waist, or a sacrificial altar?"

Verse 33 (shiva.rudra.81.33)

किं गतिर्वर्ण्यते ह्यस्याः किं रूपं वर्ण्यते मुहुः । पुष्पाणि किं च वर्ण्यन्ते वस्त्राणि च तथा पुनः

kiṁ gatirvarṇyate hyasyāḥ kiṁ rūpaṁ varṇyate muhuḥ puṣpāṇi kiṁ ca varṇyante vastrāṇi ca tathā punaḥ

"How is her gait to be described, how is her form to be described again and again? How even are the flowers upon her to be described, and how, once more, her garments?"

Verse 34 (shiva.rudra.81.34)

लालित्यं चारु यत्सृष्टौ तदेकत्र विनिर्मितम् । सर्वथा रमणीयानि सर्वाङ्गानि न संशयः

lālityaṁ cāru yatsṛṣṭau tadekatra vinirmitam sarvathā ramaṇīyāni sarvāṅgāni na saṁśayaḥ

"Whatever grace and charm exists in all creation seems to have been fashioned here in one single place; every one of her limbs is wholly beautiful, beyond any doubt."

Verse 35 (shiva.rudra.81.35)

अहो धन्यतरा चेयं पार्वत्यद्भुतरूपिणी । एतत्समा न त्रैलोक्ये नारी कापि सुरूपिणी

aho dhanyatarā ceyaṁ pārvatyadbhutarūpiṇī etatsamā na trailokye nārī kāpi surūpiṇī

"Ah, how truly blessed is this Parvati of wondrous form! In all three worlds there is no woman of beauty equal to her."

Verse 36 (shiva.rudra.81.36)

सुलावण्यनिधिश्चेयमद्भुताङ्गानि बिभ्रती । विमोहिनी मुनीनां च महासुखविवर्धीनी

sulāvaṇyanidhiśceyamadbhutāṅgāni bibhratī vimohinī munīnāṁ ca mahāsukhavivardhīnī

"She is a very treasury of loveliness, bearing wondrous limbs, one who could bewilder even sages and who multiplies the greatest joy."

Verse 37 (shiva.rudra.81.37)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्येवं वर्णयित्वा तु तदङ्गानि मुहुर्मुहुः । विधिदत्तवराध्यासाद्धरस्तु विरराम ह

brahmovāca ityevaṁ varṇayitvā tu tadaṅgāni muhurmuhuḥ vidhidattavarādhyāsāddharastu virarāma ha

Brahma said: Having thus described her limbs again and again, and under the sway of the boon that Brahma had granted, Hara at last fell silent.

Verse 38 (shiva.rudra.81.38)

हस्तं वस्त्रान्तरे यावदचालयत शङ्करः । स्त्रीस्वभावाच्च सा तत्र लज्जिता दूरतो गता

hastaṁ vastrāntare yāvadacālayata śaṅkaraḥ strīsvabhāvācca sā tatra lajjitā dūrato gatā

The very moment Shankara moved his hand toward the edge of her garment, she, in a woman's natural way, drew back in shyness.

Verse 39 (shiva.rudra.81.39)

विवृण्वती निजाङ्गानि पश्यन्ती च मुहुर्मुहुः । सुवीक्षणैर्महामोदात्सुस्मिताभूच्छिवा मुने

vivṛṇvatī nijāṅgāni paśyantī ca muhurmuhuḥ suvīkṣaṇairmahāmodātsusmitābhūcchivā mune

O sage, watching her own limbs again and again, Shiva (Parvati) stood there smiling sweetly, her glances lovely, filled with great delight.

Verse 40 (shiva.rudra.81.40)

एवं चेष्टां तदा दृष्ट्वा शम्भुर्मोहमुपागतः । उवाच वचनं चैवं महालीलो महेश्वरः

evaṁ ceṣṭāṁ tadā dṛṣṭvā śambhurmohamupāgataḥ uvāca vacanaṁ caivaṁ mahālīlo maheśvaraḥ

Beholding her manner thus, Shambhu himself fell under a spell of delusion, and Maheshvara, lord of great play, spoke these words.

Verse 41 (shiva.rudra.81.41)

अस्या दर्शनमात्रेण महानन्दो भवत्यलम् । यदालिङ्गनमेतस्याः कुर्यां किन्तु ततः सुखम्

asyā darśanamātreṇa mahānando bhavatyalam yadāliṅganametasyāḥ kuryāṁ kintu tataḥ sukham

"From the mere sight of her, such great joy already arises -- if I were to embrace her, how much greater still would that joy be?"

Verse 42 (shiva.rudra.81.42)

क्षणमात्रं विचार्येत्थं सम्पूज्य गिरिजां ततः । प्रबुद्धः स महायोगी सुविरक्तो जगाविति

kṣaṇamātraṁ vicāryetthaṁ sampūjya girijāṁ tataḥ prabuddhaḥ sa mahāyogī suvirakto jagāviti

Having pondered thus for but a moment, and then duly honoring Girija, that great yogin awoke as if from a spell and, deeply detached once more, spoke as follows.

Verse 43 (shiva.rudra.81.43)

किं जातं चरितं चित्रं किमहं मोहमागतः । कामेन विकृतश्चाद्य भूत्वापि प्रभुरीश्वरः

kiṁ jātaṁ caritaṁ citraṁ kimahaṁ mohamāgataḥ kāmena vikṛtaścādya bhūtvāpi prabhurīśvaraḥ

"What has happened here -- what strange conduct is this! Have I too fallen into delusion? I, who am the very Lord, have today been thus disturbed by Kama!"

Verse 44 (shiva.rudra.81.44)

ईश्वरोऽहं यदीच्छेयं पराङ्गस्पर्शनं खलु । तर्हि कोऽन्योऽक्षमः क्षुद्रः किं किं नैव करिष्यति

īśvaro'haṁ yadīccheyaṁ parāṅgasparśanaṁ khalu tarhi ko'nyo'kṣamaḥ kṣudraḥ kiṁ kiṁ naiva kariṣyati

"If I, who am the Lord himself, should still desire to touch another's body, then what lesser, powerless creature would not do the very same?"

Verse 45 (shiva.rudra.81.45)

एवं वैराग्यमासाद्य पर्यङ्कासादनं च तत् । वारयामास सर्वात्मा परेशः किं पतेदिह

evaṁ vairāgyamāsādya paryaṅkāsādanaṁ ca tat vārayāmāsa sarvātmā pareśaḥ kiṁ patediha

Having thus regained his renunciation, the Supreme Lord, soul of all, restrained himself even from taking his seat upon that bed, lest he too should fall.