Kama's Disturbances

Brahma said

Confounded by Shiva's maya, proud Smara went there and stayed, spreading the enticing influence of spring everywhere. Lord among sages, Vasanta's influence spread around Oushadhiprastha, where Mahesha was practising austerity. Great sage, the trees of the groves blossomed. This happened through his special powers. Fragrant flowers came on mango and ashoka trees, lighting lamps of desire. Bees swarmed around white lotuses and especially overwhelmed people with desire. The sweet calls of the cuckoos, charming and pleasing to the mind, lit lamps of desire too. Sage, the bees made many sounds, and these also were charming and kindled desire. The moon spread its lovely beams in every direction, like messengers between lovers. Even among the proud they were signs that the time for love had come. A virtuous, pleasant breeze blew, not liked at all by those parted from their beloveds. So Vasanta extended himself, overwhelming everyone with desire. The forest dwellers and the sages found it intolerable. Sage, even the insentient gave way to love's pangs; how describe the sentient and living? Such were the intolerable powers of spring, kindling desire in all beings.

Son, Hara saw that spring had come out of season. The lord, who had taken a body in his own play, thought it a great wonder. Yet the one who plays was not moved and continued his extremely hard austerities. The lord is in control of himself, and Hara is the dispeller of miseries. When Vasanta had spread everywhere, Kama stood on the left with Rati, fixing an arrow of mango blossom. He extended his powers and confounded everyone. On seeing Kama with Rati, who will not be deluded? With soldiers in the form of shringara they played at love, and with gestures and emotions they approached Hara. Madana is usually inside the mind and does not show himself outside, but he showed himself. He could see no weakness in Shambhu through which to enter. Smara could find no weakness in the supreme yogi Mahadeva. He was confused and very frightened. Shankara was absorbed in meditation, the eye on his forehead blazing like fiery flames. Who could approach him?

At that time Shivaa came there with her two friends, bringing many flowers to worship Shiva. The world describes many kinds of great beauty, but certainly what existed in Parvati surpassed them all. She held superb seasonal flowers, whose beauty could not be described even in a hundred years. As soon as the mountain's daughter approached Shiva, Shankara broke out of his meditation for an instant. Madana, who had found his opportunity, was delighted at first; rejoicing, he held his arrow and stood at Chandrashekhara's side. Sage, as if to help Kama, with the sentiments of shringara and the fragrant breeze, Parvati approached Hara. To increase the trident-wielder's interest in her, Smara drew his bow, quickly fitted the flower arrow, steadied himself and released it. As she always did, she approached Shiva, bowed, worshipped him and stood there. Parvati saw that Lord Girisha was staring at her. Out of the shyness of her womanly nature she covered her limbs. The lord remembered the boon Vidhatri had once given her. Sage, so Shiva began happily to describe her limbs.

Shiva said

Is that your face, or the moon? Are those your eyes, or lotuses? Are those your eyebrows, or great-souled Kandarpa's bow? Is that your lower lip, or a bimba fruit? Is that your nose, or a parrot's beak? Is that your voice, or a cuckoo's call? Is that your waist, or a sacrificial altar? Can her gait be described, or her beauty, or the flowers, or her garments? Every beauty and charm ever created and fashioned exists together in this woman's limbs; there is no doubt. Parvati, extraordinary in beauty, is blessed. In the three worlds no woman equals her. She is a store of excellent charm, radiant in her wonderful limbs. She will confound the sages and spread great happiness.

Brahma said

So he described her limbs again and again, thinking of the excellent boon Vidhatri had given, and then stopped. Shankara slipped his hand inside her garment and moved it. In her womanly nature she was ashamed and drew away, covered her limbs and looked at him again and again. Sage, Shivaa smiled and gave him a deep glance that brought great intoxication. Seeing her movements Shambhu was bemused, and Maheshvara, lord of great pastimes, said: "As soon as one sees her there is great joy. If one embraced her, what would the pleasure be?" He thought this only for an instant, honouring Girija. Then, supremely indifferent, the great yogi collected himself and said: "How extraordinary is this conduct! How has this delusion come over me? Ishvara, lord of beings, has fallen to this distraction through desire. I am Ishvara, yet I wished to touch someone else's limbs. How helpless an inferior being will be, and what will he not do?" Thus turned indifferent, he stopped her from sitting on the couch. How could there be a fall for Paresha, who is in all atmans?