The Burning of Kama

Verse 1 (skanda.1.59.1)

॥नारद उवाच॥ एवं श्रुत्वा सभार्यः स प्रमोदप्लुतमानसः॥ प्रणम्य मामिति प्राह यद्येवं पुण्यवानहम्

nārada uvāca evaṁ śrutvā sabhāryaḥ sa pramodaplutamānasaḥ praṇamya māmiti prāha yadyevaṁ puṇyavānaham

Narada said: Having heard this, he, together with his wife, his mind flooded with joy, bowed to me and said: 'If it is so, then I am indeed blessed —'

Verse 2 (skanda.1.59.2)

पुनः किंचित्प्रवक्ष्यामि पुत्र्या मे दक्षिणः करः॥ उत्तानः कारणं किं तच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि नारद

punaḥ kiṁcitpravakṣyāmi putryā me dakṣiṇaḥ karaḥ uttānaḥ kāraṇaṁ kiṁ tacchrotumicchāmi nārada

'— yet I would ask something more: why does my daughter's right hand lie open, upturned? What is the reason for this? I wish to hear it, O Narada.'

Verse 3 (skanda.1.59.3)

इति पृष्टोऽस्मि शैलेन प्रावोचं कारणं तदा॥ सर्वदैव करो ह्यस्याः सर्वेषां प्राणिनां प्रति

iti pṛṣṭo'smi śailena prāvocaṁ kāraṇaṁ tadā sarvadaiva karo hyasyāḥ sarveṣāṁ prāṇināṁ prati

Thus asked by the mountain, I then told him the reason: 'This hand of hers is ever open toward all living beings —'

Verse 4 (skanda.1.59.4)

अभयस्य प्रदाताऽसावुत्तानस्तु करस्ततः॥ एषा भार्या जगद्भर्तुर्वृषांकस्य महीधर

abhayasya pradātā'sāvuttānastu karastataḥ eṣā bhāryā jagadbharturvṛṣāṁkasya mahīdhara

'— it is the giver of fearlessness, and that is why her hand is upturned. She, O mountain-lord, is the wife of the bull-bannered sustainer of the world —'

Verse 5 (skanda.1.59.5)

जननी सर्वलोकस्य भाविनी भूतभाविनी॥ तद्यथा शीघ्रमेवैषा योगं यातु पिनाकिना

jananī sarvalokasya bhāvinī bhūtabhāvinī tadyathā śīghramevaiṣā yogaṁ yātu pinākinā

'— the mother of all the worlds, the one who is to be, the source of all that has been and shall be. So let her, as soon as possible, be united with the wielder of the Pinaka.'

Verse 6 (skanda.1.59.6)

त्वया विधेयं विधिवत्तथा शैलेन्द्रसत्तम॥ अस्त्यत्र सुमहतकार्यं देवानां हिमभूधर

tvayā vidheyaṁ vidhivattathā śailendrasattama astyatra sumahatakāryaṁ devānāṁ himabhūdhara

'This must be duly arranged by you, O foremost of the lords of mountains — a very great task of the gods lies here, O snow-mountain.'

Verse 7 (skanda.1.59.7)

इति प्रोच्य तमापृच्छ्य प्रावोचं वासवाय तत्॥ मम भूयस्तु कर्तव्यं तन्मया कृतमेव हि

iti procya tamāpṛcchya prāvocaṁ vāsavāya tat mama bhūyastu kartavyaṁ tanmayā kṛtameva hi

Having said this, and taken leave of him, I then told this to Vasava: 'What more was to be done by me, that indeed has been done —'

Verse 8 (skanda.1.59.8)

किं तु पंचशरः प्रेर्यः कार्यशेषेऽत्र वासव॥ इत्यादिश्य गतश्चाहं तारकं प्रति फाल्गुन

kiṁ tu paṁcaśaraḥ preryaḥ kāryaśeṣe'tra vāsava ityādiśya gataścāhaṁ tārakaṁ prati phālguna

'— but, O Vasava, the five-arrowed one must now be sent forth for what remains of the task.' Having thus instructed him, I went, O Phalguna, toward Taraka —

Verse 9 (skanda.1.59.9)

कलिप्रियत्वात्तस्यैनमर्थं कथयितुं स्फुटम्॥ हिमाद्रिरपि मे वाक्यप्रेरितः पार्वतीं प्रति

kalipriyatvāttasyainamarthaṁ kathayituṁ sphuṭam himādrirapi me vākyapreritaḥ pārvatīṁ prati

— out of my fondness for discord, to tell him this matter plainly. And the Himalaya too, urged by my words, instructed Parvati —

Verse 10 (skanda.1.59.10)

भवस्याराधनां कर्तुं ससखीमादिशत्तदा॥ सा तं परिचचारेशं तस्या दृष्ट्वा सुशीलताम्

bhavasyārādhanāṁ kartuṁ sasakhīmādiśattadā sā taṁ paricacāreśaṁ tasyā dṛṣṭvā suśīlatām

— together with her companion, to perform the worship of Bhava. She then attended upon that Lord, and he, seeing her fine conduct —

Verse 11 (skanda.1.59.11)

पुष्पतोयफलाद्यानि नियुक्ता पार्वती व्यधात्॥ महेन्द्रोपि च मद्वाक्यात्स्मरं सस्मार भारत

puṣpatoyaphalādyāni niyuktā pārvatī vyadhāt mahendropi ca madvākyātsmaraṁ sasmāra bhārata

— Parvati, so appointed, brought him flowers, water, fruits, and the like. And Mahendra too, at my word, O Bharata, called to mind Smara.

Verse 12 (skanda.1.59.12)

स च तत्स्मरणं ज्ञात्वा वसंतरतिसंयुतः॥ चूतांकुरास्त्रःऋ सहसा प्रादुरासीन्मनोभवः

sa ca tatsmaraṇaṁ jñātvā vasaṁtaratisaṁyutaḥ cūtāṁkurāstraḥṛ sahasā prādurāsīnmanobhavaḥ

And he, knowing that he was thus called to mind, together with Vasanta and Rati, his arrow the mango-shoot, appeared suddenly — that Mind-born one.

Verse 13 (skanda.1.59.13)

तमाह च वचो धीमान्स्मरन्निव च तं स्पृशन्॥ उपदेशेन बहुना किं त्वां प्रति रतिप्रिय

tamāha ca vaco dhīmānsmaranniva ca taṁ spṛśan upadeśena bahunā kiṁ tvāṁ prati ratipriya

And the wise Indra spoke to him, as if recalling him and touching him: 'What need is there of much instruction to you, O beloved of Rati?'

Verse 14 (skanda.1.59.14)

चित्ते वससि तेन त्वं वेत्सि भूतमनोगतम्॥ तथापि त्वां वदिष्यामि स्वकार्यपरतां स्मरन्

citte vasasi tena tvaṁ vetsi bhūtamanogatam tathāpi tvāṁ vadiṣyāmi svakāryaparatāṁ smaran

'You dwell within the heart itself, and so you know what passes in the minds of all beings. Yet still I shall tell you, bearing in mind our own task —'

Verse 15 (skanda.1.59.15)

ममैकं सुमहत्कार्यं कर्तुमर्हसि मन्मथ॥ महेश्वरं कृपानाथं सतीभार्यावियोजितम्

mamaikaṁ sumahatkāryaṁ kartumarhasi manmatha maheśvaraṁ kṛpānāthaṁ satībhāryāviyojitam

'— you ought to accomplish one very great task for me, O Manmatha: Maheshvara, the lord of compassion, parted from his wife Sati —'

Verse 16 (skanda.1.59.16)

संयोजय पुनर्देव्या हिमाद्रिगृहजातया॥ देवी देवश्च तुष्टौ ते करिष्यत इहेप्सितम्

saṁyojaya punardevyā himādrigṛhajātayā devī devaśca tuṣṭau te kariṣyata ihepsitam

'— unite him once more with the goddess born in the house of the Himalaya. Once the goddess and the god are pleased, they will grant you here what you desire.'

Verse 17 (skanda.1.59.17)

॥मदन उवाच॥ अलीकमेतद्देवेन्द्र स हि देवस्य पोरतिः॥ नान्यासादयितव्यानि तेजांसि मुनरब्रवीत्

madana uvāca alīkametaddevendra sa hi devasya poratiḥ nānyāsādayitavyāni tejāṁsi munarabravīt

Madana said: 'This is a false hope, O lord of gods; for that is a matter of the deity's own delight. The sages have said that one should not attempt to approach the splendor of another.'

Verse 18 (skanda.1.59.18)

वेदान्तेषु च मां विप्रा गर्हसंयति पुनःपुनः॥ महाशनो महापाप्मा कामोऽयम नलो गहान्

vedānteṣu ca māṁ viprā garhasaṁyati punaḥpunaḥ mahāśano mahāpāpmā kāmo'yama nalo gahān

'And in the Vedanta, the Brahmins condemn me again and again: This Kama is a great glutton, a great sinner, a hidden fire —'

Verse 19 (skanda.1.59.19)

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनां नित्यवैरिणा॥ तस्मादयं सदा त्याज्यः कामऽहिरिव सत्तमैः

āvṛtaṁ jñānametena jñānināṁ nityavairiṇā tasmādayaṁ sadā tyājyaḥ kāma'hiriva sattamaiḥ

'— knowledge is veiled by him, the eternal enemy of the wise; therefore he must always be shunned by the virtuous, like a snake — so they say of Kama.'

Verse 20 (skanda.1.59.20)

एवं शीलस्य मे कस्मात्प्रतुष्यति महेश्वरः॥ मद्यपस्येव पापस्य वासुदेवो जगद्गुरः

evaṁ śīlasya me kasmātpratuṣyati maheśvaraḥ madyapasyeva pāpasya vāsudevo jagadguraḥ

'Being of such disreputable character, why then would Maheshvara be pleased with me? It would be as though Vasudeva, the teacher of the world, were pleased with a sinful drunkard.'

Verse 21 (skanda.1.59.21)

॥इंद्र उवाच॥ मैवं ब्रूहि महाभाग त्वां विनाकः पुमान्भुवि॥ धर्ममर्थं तथा कामं मोक्षं वा प्राप्तुमीश्वरः

iṁdra uvāca maivaṁ brūhi mahābhāga tvāṁ vinākaḥ pumānbhuvi dharmamarthaṁ tathā kāmaṁ mokṣaṁ vā prāptumīśvaraḥ

Indra said: 'Speak not so, O illustrious one! Without you, no man on earth is able to attain dharma, artha, kama, or moksha.'

Verse 22 (skanda.1.59.22)

यत्किंचित्साध्यते लोके मूलं तस्य च कामना॥ कथं कामं विनिंदति तस्मात्ते मोक्षसाधकाः

yatkiṁcitsādhyate loke mūlaṁ tasya ca kāmanā kathaṁ kāmaṁ viniṁdati tasmātte mokṣasādhakāḥ

'Whatever is accomplished at all in this world, desire is the root of it; how then do those who seek liberation revile you as mere desire?'

Verse 23 (skanda.1.59.23)

सत्यं चापि श्रुतेर्वाक्यं तव रूपं त्रिधागतम्॥ तामसं राजसं चैव सात्त्विकं चापि मन्मथ

satyaṁ cāpi śrutervākyaṁ tava rūpaṁ tridhāgatam tāmasaṁ rājasaṁ caiva sāttvikaṁ cāpi manmatha

'And indeed the word of the Shruti is true: your form comes in three kinds, O Manmatha — tamasic, rajasic, and also sattvic.'

Verse 24 (skanda.1.59.24)

अमुक्तितः कामनया रूपं तत्तामसं तव॥ सुखबुद्ध्या स्पृहा या च रूपं तद्राजसं तव

amuktitaḥ kāmanayā rūpaṁ tattāmasaṁ tava sukhabuddhyā spṛhā yā ca rūpaṁ tadrājasaṁ tava

'Desire arising from the lack of liberation — that is your tamasic form; and the craving that comes from the wish for pleasure — that is your rajasic form.'

Verse 25 (skanda.1.59.25)

केवलं यावदर्थार्थं तद्रूपं सात्त्विकं तव॥ तत्ते रूपत्रयमिदं ब्रूहि नोपासते हि के

kevalaṁ yāvadarthārthaṁ tadrūpaṁ sāttvikaṁ tava tatte rūpatrayamidaṁ brūhi nopāsate hi ke

'That which is solely for the sake of life's proper ends — that is your sattvic form. This, then, is your threefold form — tell me, who indeed does not worship it?'

Verse 26 (skanda.1.59.26)

त्वं साक्षात्परमः पूज्यः कुरु कार्यमिदं हि नः॥ अथ वा पीडितान्दृष्ट्वा सामान्यानपि पंडिताः॥ स्वप्राणैरपि त्रायांति परमेतन्महाफलम्

tvaṁ sākṣātparamaḥ pūjyaḥ kuru kāryamidaṁ hi naḥ atha vā pīḍitāndṛṣṭvā sāmānyānapi paṁḍitāḥ svaprāṇairapi trāyāṁti parametanmahāphalam

'You are, in truth, supremely worthy of worship — accomplish, then, this task of ours. And besides, seeing even ordinary folk in distress, the wise save them even at the cost of their own lives — and that, indeed, is of the highest merit.'

Verse 27 (skanda.1.59.27)

इति संचिंत्य कार्यं त्वं सर्वथा कुरु तत्स्फुटम्

iti saṁciṁtya kāryaṁ tvaṁ sarvathā kuru tatsphuṭam

'Reflecting thus, accomplish this task of ours in every way — do it plainly, without fail.'

Verse 28 (skanda.1.59.28)

इत्या कर्ण्य तथेत्युक्त्वा वसंतरतिसंयुतः॥ पिकादिसैन्यसंपन्नो हिमाद्रिं प्रययौ स्मरः

ityā karṇya tathetyuktvā vasaṁtaratisaṁyutaḥ pikādisainyasaṁpanno himādriṁ prayayau smaraḥ

Hearing this, and saying 'So be it,' Smara, accompanied by Vasanta and Rati, furnished with an army of cuckoos and the like, set out toward the Himalaya.

Verse 29 (skanda.1.59.29)

तत्रापश्यत शंभोः स पुण्यमाश्रममंडलम्॥ नानावृक्षसमाकीर्णं शांतसत्त्वसमाकुलम्

tatrāpaśyata śaṁbhoḥ sa puṇyamāśramamaṁḍalam nānāvṛkṣasamākīrṇaṁ śāṁtasattvasamākulam

There he beheld the sacred hermitage-grounds of Shambhu, thronged with trees of many kinds, filled with peaceful creatures.

Verse 30 (skanda.1.59.30)

तत्रापश्यत्त्रिनेत्रस्य वीरकंनाम द्वारपम्॥ यथा साक्षान्महेशानं गणआंश्चायुतशोऽस्य च

tatrāpaśyattrinetrasya vīrakaṁnāma dvārapam yathā sākṣānmaheśānaṁ gaṇaāṁścāyutaśo'sya ca

There he saw the doorkeeper of the three-eyed Lord, named Viraka, standing as though he were Maheshana himself in person, and his hosts of attendants by the thousands.

Verse 31 (skanda.1.59.31)

ददर्श च महेशानं नासाग्रकृतलोचनम्॥ देवदारुद्रुमच्छायावेदिका मध्यमाश्रितम्॥ समाकायं सुखासीनं समाधिस्थं महेश्वरम्

dadarśa ca maheśānaṁ nāsāgrakṛtalocanam devadārudrumacchāyāvedikā madhyamāśritam samākāyaṁ sukhāsīnaṁ samādhisthaṁ maheśvaram

And he saw Maheshana, his eyes fixed upon the tip of his nose, seated upon a platform in the shade of a deodar tree, his body erect, comfortably seated, Maheshvara absorbed in deep meditation,

Verse 32 (skanda.1.59.32)

निस्तरंगं विनिर्गृह्य स्थितमिंद्रियगोचरान्॥ आत्मानमात्मना देवं प्रविष्टं तपसो निधिम्

nistaraṁgaṁ vinirgṛhya sthitamiṁdriyagocarān ātmānamātmanā devaṁ praviṣṭaṁ tapaso nidhim

waveless, having withdrawn the senses from their objects, the god who had entered, by his own self, into his own Self, that treasury of austerity.

Verse 33 (skanda.1.59.33)

तं तथाविधमालोक्य सोंतर्भेदाय यत्नवान्॥ भ्रमरध्वनिव्याजेन विवेश मदनो मनः

taṁ tathāvidhamālokya soṁtarbhedāya yatnavān bhramaradhvanivyājena viveśa madano manaḥ

Beholding him thus, striving to disturb him from within, Madana entered his mind under the pretext of the humming of a bee.

Verse 34 (skanda.1.59.34)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवो विकासितविलोचनः॥ सस्मार नगराजस्य तनयां रक्तमानसः

etasminnaṁtare devo vikāsitavilocanaḥ sasmāra nagarājasya tanayāṁ raktamānasaḥ

At that moment, the god, his eyes opening wide, his mind now tinged with passion, thought of the daughter of the king of mountains.

Verse 35 (skanda.1.59.35)

निवेदिता वीरकेण विवेश च गिरेः सुता॥ तस्मिन्काले महाभागा सदा यद्वदुपैति सा

niveditā vīrakeṇa viveśa ca gireḥ sutā tasminkāle mahābhāgā sadā yadvadupaiti sā

Announced by Viraka, the mountain's daughter entered — that most fortunate one, who at that time approached, as was her constant custom.

Verse 36 (skanda.1.59.36)

ततस्तस्यां मनः स्वीयमनुरक्तमवेक्ष्य च॥ निगृह्य लीलया देवः स्वकं पृष्ठमवैक्षत॥ तावदापूर्णधनुषमपश्यत रतिप्रियम्

tatastasyāṁ manaḥ svīyamanuraktamavekṣya ca nigṛhya līlayā devaḥ svakaṁ pṛṣṭhamavaikṣata tāvadāpūrṇadhanuṣamapaśyata ratipriyam

Then, noticing his own mind grown fond of her, the god, restraining it with ease, looked behind him — and there he beheld Rati's beloved, his bow drawn full.

Verse 37 (skanda.1.59.37)

तन्नाशकृपया देवो नानास्थानेषु सोऽगमत्॥ तावत्पस्यति पृष्ठस्तमाकृष्य धनुषः शरम्

tannāśakṛpayā devo nānāsthāneṣu so'gamat tāvatpasyati pṛṣṭhastamākṛṣya dhanuṣaḥ śaram

Out of mercy, wishing for his destruction, the god moved swiftly to various places; and there each time, looking behind him, he saw him again, his arrow drawn upon the bow.

Verse 38 (skanda.1.59.38)

स नदीः पर्वताश्चैव आश्रमान्सरसीस्तथा॥ परिभ्रमन्महादेवः पृष्ठस्थं तमवैक्षत

sa nadīḥ parvatāścaiva āśramānsarasīstathā paribhramanmahādevaḥ pṛṣṭhasthaṁ tamavaikṣata

Wandering over rivers and mountains, hermitages and lakes, Mahadeva kept seeing him standing behind him.

Verse 39 (skanda.1.59.39)

जगत्त्रयं परिभ्रम्य पुनरागात्स्वमाश्रमम्॥ पृष्ठस्थमेव तं वीक्ष्य निःश्वासं मुमुचे हरः

jagattrayaṁ paribhramya punarāgātsvamāśramam pṛṣṭhasthameva taṁ vīkṣya niḥśvāsaṁ mumuce haraḥ

Having wandered through the three worlds, he returned again to his own hermitage; and, seeing him still standing right behind him, Hara let out a deep sigh.

Verse 40 (skanda.1.59.40)

ततस्तृतीयनेत्रोत्थवह्निना नाकवासिनाम्॥ क्रोशतां गमितः कामो भस्मत्वं पांडुनंदन

tatastṛtīyanetrotthavahninā nākavāsinām krośatāṁ gamitaḥ kāmo bhasmatvaṁ pāṁḍunaṁdana

Then, by the fire that rose from his third eye, even as the dwellers of heaven cried out, Kama, O son of Pandu, was reduced to ashes.

Verse 41 (skanda.1.59.41)

सस तु तं भस्मसात्कृत्वा हरनेत्रोद्भवोऽनलः॥ व्यजृंभत जगद्दग्धुं ज्वालापूरितदिङ्मुखः

sasa tu taṁ bhasmasātkṛtvā haranetrodbhavo'nalaḥ vyajṛṁbhata jagaddagdhuṁ jvālāpūritadiṅmukhaḥ

And that fire, born of Hara's eye, having reduced him to ashes, then spread out further to burn the whole world, filling the quarters with its flames.

Verse 42 (skanda.1.59.42)

ततो भवो जगद्धेतोर्व्यभजज्जातवेदसम्॥ साहंकारे जने चंद्रे सुमनस्सु च गीतके

tato bhavo jagaddhetorvyabhajajjātavedasam sāhaṁkāre jane caṁdre sumanassu ca gītake

Then Bhava, for the sake of the world, distributed that fire — into proud men, into the moon, into flowers, into song,

Verse 43 (skanda.1.59.43)

भृंगेषु कोकिलास्येषु विहारेषु स्मरानलम्॥ तत्प्राप्तौ स्नेहसंयुक्तं कामिनां हृदयं किल

bhṛṁgeṣu kokilāsyeṣu vihāreṣu smarānalam tatprāptau snehasaṁyuktaṁ kāmināṁ hṛdayaṁ kila

into bees, into the voices of cuckoos, into the pleasures of love — that fire of Smara. Upon its arrival, it is the heart of lovers, joined by affection —

Verse 44 (skanda.1.59.44)

ज्वालयत्यनिशं सोऽग्निर्दुश्चिकित्स्योऽसुखावहः॥ विलोक्य हरनिःश्वासज्वालाभस्मीकृतं स्मरम्

jvālayatyaniśaṁ so'gnirduścikitsyo'sukhāvahaḥ vilokya haraniḥśvāsajvālābhasmīkṛtaṁ smaram

— which that fire, incurable and bringer of no happiness, burns without cease. Seeing Smara reduced to ashes by the flame of Hara's sigh,

Verse 45 (skanda.1.59.45)

विललाप रतिर्द्दीना मधुना बंधुना सह॥ विलपंती सुबहुशो मधुना परिसांत्विता

vilalāpa ratirddīnā madhunā baṁdhunā saha vilapaṁtī subahuśo madhunā parisāṁtvitā

the wretched Rati wept aloud, together with her companion Madhu; weeping again and again, she was consoled at length by Madhu.

Verse 46 (skanda.1.59.46)

रत्याः प्रलापमाकर्ण्य देवदेवो वृषध्वजः॥ कृपया परया प्राह कामपत्नीं निरीक्ष्य च

ratyāḥ pralāpamākarṇya devadevo vṛṣadhvajaḥ kṛpayā parayā prāha kāmapatnīṁ nirīkṣya ca

Hearing Rati's lament, the god of gods, the bull-bannered one, with the utmost compassion, looking upon Kama's wife, spoke —

Verse 47 (skanda.1.59.47)

अमूर्तोऽपि ह्ययं भद्रे कार्यं सर्वं पतिस्तव॥ रतिकाले ध्रुवं बाले करिष्यति न संशयः

amūrto'pi hyayaṁ bhadre kāryaṁ sarvaṁ patistava ratikāle dhruvaṁ bāle kariṣyati na saṁśayaḥ

'Though bodiless now, O gracious one, your husband shall still accomplish every task; at the time of union, O maiden, he will surely act, without doubt.'

Verse 48 (skanda.1.59.48)

यदा विष्णुश्च भविता वसुदेवात्मजो विभुः॥ तदै तस्य सुतो यः स्यात्सपतिस्ते भविष्यति

yadā viṣṇuśca bhavitā vasudevātmajo vibhuḥ tadai tasya suto yaḥ syātsapatiste bhaviṣyati

'When Vishnu shall become the mighty son of Vasudeva, then whoever shall be his son — he shall become your husband.'

Verse 49 (skanda.1.59.49)

सा प्रणम्य ततो रुद्रमिति प्रोक्ता रतिस्ततः॥ जगाम स्वेच्छया गत्या वसंतादिभिरन्विता

sā praṇamya tato rudramiti proktā ratistataḥ jagāma svecchayā gatyā vasaṁtādibhiranvitā

She, thus addressed, bowed to Rudra, and Rati then departed, going as she wished, accompanied by Vasanta and the others.