Description of Vasanta

Narada said

Brahma, you are blessed; you show the way to the highest truth. You have told me the account of Arundhati and who she was before. Now tell me more of Shiva's sacred deeds. Kama took his wife and left glad, Sandhya went to her austerities, and the others dispersed. What came next?

Brahma replied

Hear it with devotion; because you serve Shiva you are blessed. Since I too had been deluded, I withdrew from that spot and brooded for a long time, still under Shiva's maya and with jealousy toward him. Here is what I did. I went to where Daksha and my other sons were and, seeing Madana with Rati, felt a little cheered. I said to them: "Daksha, Marichi and the rest, listen and find a way to end my misery. Shambhu rebuked me and you only because he saw desire for a woman in us. He is a great yogi and scolded us in many ways, and I burn with it and cannot find peace. So we must strive until he accepts a wife; then I will be happy. Yet when I think it over, this aim seems all but impossible. He censured me before the sages the moment he saw me wanting a woman, so how will he take one himself? Which woman in the three worlds could hold his mind and draw him from yoga? Who could delude him? Even Manmatha cannot. He is a complete yogi who cannot bear even the word woman. Until Hara is pierced by those arrows, creation will remain middling. Nobody can answer his words. There are great asuras bound in the maya of Hari and others bound in Shambhu's; Shambhu himself has turned from samsara, which is why he has no attachment to women. So, doubtless, nothing can be done." Having said this to my sons, I turned to Madana and Rati with joy.

"Kama, you are the foremost of my sons and have pleased me in every way. Listen with affection, you and your wife. You shine with this companion and she with you, as Hrishikesha with his wife, Hari with Rama, as night with the moon. For the welfare of the universe, if you can delude the wielder of Pinaka, you will become the standard of the world. Act quickly so that Shambhu's mind turns to taking a wife. Go wherever he goes, to lonely and pleasant spots, mountains and rivers, take her with you and work on Hara, who has turned from women. Except you, no one can delude him. Only when love is born in Hara will your curse be pacified. So do what is good for yourself. Noble Bhava Maheshvara will save you only once he desires a beautiful woman and feels attachment. Make unmatched efforts, and when you delude Maheshvara you will become the standard for the universe." I said this as his father and lord of the universe.

Manmatha answered: "Lord, I will do as you say and delude Shambhu. But where is the beautiful woman who will be my weapon? Create her. When I have deluded Shambhu, he must be held by her. Devise the means, Vidhatri." As Kandarpa said this I, Vidhatri and Prajapati, thought: "Who will delude him?" And as I thought I let out a breath, and from it Vasanta, spring, was born, adorned with clusters of flowers. He was red-lotus coloured with blossoming-lotus eyes, a face like the evening's rising full moon, a fine nose, bow-arched feet, dark curling hair, a pair of earrings, and the look of the dawn sun. His stride was an elephant's, his arms thick, his shoulders high, his throat like a conch, his chest broad and his face round; handsome in every limb, dark all over and marked with every auspicious sign, he could enchant everyone and heightened desire. A fragrant breeze began to blow and all trees bloomed; hundreds of cuckoos called sweetly in the panchama note, and lotuses opened in lakes and clear ponds.

Seeing this excellent being born, Hiranyagarbha spoke gently to Madana: "He will always be your aide and do everything to please you. As the wind is the fire's friend and helps in all ways, so he will be yours and follow you. Because he is the cause of residence he will be called Vasanta. His task is to follow you and delight people. Shringara will live in him, and the Malaya breeze. He will wish you well in every sentiment and be under your control. As the sixty-four arts, feigned indifference and others are friends to Rati, so these are yours. With all these aides, Vasanta chief among them, and with Rati, strive to delude Mahadeva. I, after reflection, will use my mind to fashion the woman who will charm Hara." Addressed by me, the eldest of gods, Kama rejoiced, and with his wife bowed at my feet, and before Daksha and all my mind-born sons. Then Manmatha went to where Shambhu, the atman, was.