Kama's Origin

Suta said

Hearing this, the best of sages asked again for accounts that destroy all sins.

Narada said

Brahma, I have heard Shambhu's auspicious story flow from your lotus mouth, but I am not content. Tell me of Sati's divine account: how was Sati born from Daksha's wife? How did Hara's mind turn to accepting a wife? Why, in anger at Daksha, did Sati give up her body, and how was she born again as the Himalaya's daughter? How did Parvati perform fierce austerity and how did her marriage happen? How did she come to share the body of Smara's destroyer? No one dispels doubts like you.

Brahma replied

Listen to this divine, purifying account of Sati and Shiva, the supreme secret among secrets. In earlier times Shambhu himself told it to Vishnu, his noble devotee, who had asked with devotion for the sake of others; then I asked Vishnu, Shiva's supreme devotee, and out of love for me he told me in detail. I will tell the ancient account of Shiva and Shivaa; it gives everything wished for. Originally Shiva was without qualities and without an alternative, formless when separated from Shakti, only consciousness, beyond existent and nonexistent. With Shakti the lord took a second form with qualities. United with Uma he acquired this divine form, yet being greater than the greatest he remained indifferent. Vishnu was born from his left, I from his right, and Rudra from his heart. Sadashiva divided himself into three forms, Brahma creator, Vishnu preserver, Rudra destroyer. I worshipped him and began creating all subjects, gods, asuras and others. I created the Prajapatis, Daksha foremost, and the supreme gods, and thought myself best of all and was very pleased. I created Marichi, Atri, Pulaha, Pulastya, Angiras, Kratu, Vasishtha, Narada, Daksha, Bhrigu and other great lords as mind-born sons. Then from my mind a beautiful lady was born, lovely in every limb, named Sandhya, also Divakshanta, Sayam and Sandhyajapantika. Her graceful eyebrows charmed even sages' minds. In the world of gods, among mortals and in the nether regions there was none her equal, complete in every quality, no woman like her in the three times. Seeing her I was moved and my mind full of many thoughts; my sons, Daksha, Marichi and the other creators of subjects, also thought as I did.

From Brahma's mental thoughts a handsome man arose, wonderful, golden, broad-chested, fine-nosed, round-thighed, with waves of blue hair and charming joined eyebrows, a moon-like face, a chest like a door covered with body hair, a form like a cloud or elephant, in blue garments, with reddish hands, eyes, face, feet and fingers, slim-waisted, fine-toothed, fragrant like a rutting elephant, lotus-petal eyes with fragrant lashes, a conch-shell throat, a banner bearing a fish, tall, mounted on a sea-monster, with five flowers for weapons and a flower-decked bow, handsome, glancing sideways with darting eyes; a fragrant wind blew and the erotic sentiment attended him. Seeing him, my sons Daksha and the others were curious and amazed, and their minds quickly swerved, overwhelmed by desire, and they lost patience. The man saw me and bowed humbly: "Brahma, what shall I do? Give me a fitting task, so I may be respected as a man, with pride, a proper place and a wife. Lord of the three worlds, tell me." Hearing the great-souled man, the creator was surprised for a while, then controlled his mind, cast aside wonder and instructed the man, Kama. "In this form, with arrows of five flowers, you will delude men and women and carry on the eternal work of creation. None in the three worlds, gods or beings moving or still, will withstand your power. I, Vasudeva and Sthanu (Shiva) will come under your sway; how much more others who have life. Invisible in form, you will always enter the hearts of beings and create the sensation of pleasure, and carry on creation. Your flowery arrows will always find an easy target in minds and you will madden all beings. So I have engaged you to carry creation forward. My sons will tell you the meaning of your names." Having said so, the best of gods looked to his sons and soon sat on his lotus seat.