Chapter 101 - Destruction of Kāma (madanadāha)

The sages said:

1. How did the mother goddess, the splendid Satī become the daughter of the lord Himavān.? How did she attain Śiva, lord of the chiefs of Devas as her husband?

Sūta said:

2. O excellent brahmins, that excellent lady by her own will resorted to the body of Menā. By practising penance she was born as the daughter of Himavān.

3-7. The lord of the mountains celebrated her post-natal and other rites. When she attained twelfth year she performed a penance. Along with her, her younger sister of splendid face too performed the penance. Both the sisters were different entities. She was bowed to by all the worlds. The sages surrounded her and eulogised her for her penance. She was called Aparṇā and her younger sister of splendid face was called Ekaparṇā.^[1] The third excellent sister was Ekapāṭalā. The supreme lord Śiva was captivated by her penance.

8. In. the meantime, there was an Asura of great splendour, named Tāraka. He was the son of Tāra.

9. He had three sons:—Tārakākṣa, Vidyunmālī and Kamalākṣa.

10. Their grandfather was an Asura of great strength named Tāra. By means of his penance as also by the grace of lord Brahmā, he had acquired great power.

11. Tāra of great splendour conquered the three worlds consisting of the mobile and immobile beings. At the outset he conquered Viṣṇu too.

12. A fierce, thrilling fight ensued between them. It lasted a thousand divine years without intermission, both by day and night.

13. Seizing Viṣṇu along with his chariot, he hurled him a hundred yojanas away. Defeated in battle by Tāra, the Garuḍa-bannered deity Viṣṇu fled.

14. Tāra, the son of Diti, acquired boons and strength a hundred times more from Brahmā. He occupied the entire universe.

15-16. The lord of the chiefs of Daityas conquered Devas along with their chief, Indra. With his Māyā he prevented Devas from functioning as lords of the worlds. Devas along with Indra were afflicted with fear. Although they were heroic they never attained peace. Afflicted with fear they never got a refuge.

17. Then the glorious lord of the immortal beings rushed to Āṅgirasa and said in the presence of Devas.

18. “O sir, the great Dānava Tāraka is the son of Tāra. We have been overpowered by him as calves by the lordly bull.

19. O highly blessed one, O Bṛhaspati, Devas whirl about here and there like birds in a cage. They have no fixed abode. In the great fight they have been defeated and are now afraid of him.

20. Due to the power of this demon, O excellent Āṅgirasa, all those weapons of ours which never failed before have now become futile.

21-24. This demon fought with Viṣṇu, O Bṛhaspati, for twenty thousand years and still he has not been killed by him. Since be has not been defeated in battle even by the powerful Viṣṇu how can people like us stand in front of him in battle?”

Thus requested by Indra, Bṛhaspati the preceptor of Devas approached lord Brahmā^[2] along with the thousand-eyed Indra as well as other leaders of Devas. He spoke to him. Brahmā the dispeller of the agony of his devotees heard everything orally conveyed by him with love. Then he spoke to Bṛhaspati in the presence of Devas including Indra.

25-30 “I know your distress, O leading Devas. Still, listen now. Satī, the goddess born of Rudra’s body rebuked Dakṣa^[3] and became born as Umā the daughter of Himavān. She is bowed to by all the worlds. O excellent Devas, let her try to captivate the lofty mind of lord Rudra by means of her beauty. Through their union lord Skanda will be born who will sportingly kill the demon Tāraka. He will be known as Śaktidhara (holder of Śakti or spear), Ṣaḍāsya (six-faced), Dvādaśabhuja (twelve-armed), Senānī (commander-in-chief), Pāvaki (son of ñre), Svāheya (son of Svāhā), Kārttikeya (son of Kṛttikās), Gāṅgeya (son of Gaṅgā), Śaradhāmaja (born in the abode of the forest Śara, lord Śākha, Viśākha, Naigameśa, Senāpati (commander-in-chief), Kumāra, Mahāsena (having a great army). Though he will be only a small boy, he will kill Tāraka and protect Devas.”

31-33. Thus advised by Brahmā, Parameṣṭhin, Bṛhaspati of good holy rites bowed to the lord of Devas. Accompanied by Devas including Indra, he went to the peak of the mountain Meru and remembered Kāma. On being remembered by the preceptor of Devas, Kāma came along with his wife Rati. With palms joined iṇ reverence, he spoke to Bṛhaspati sitting along with Indra, O excellent brahmins.

34-38. “O Bṛhaspati, since I am remembered by you I have come here in your presence. Tell me what I have to do.” Thus, he who was summoned by Bṛhaspati spoke to him. Lord Indra too honoured the fish-emblemed god and said:—“Unite Umā happily with Śiva today whereby the bull-emblemed lord can sport with her. Take adequate steps for the same along with your wife Rati. Mahādeva, if pleased, will grant you excellent boon. He is already separated from her. On acquiring Umā the daughter of the lord of the mountain he will be delighted.” On being told thus, Kāma bowed to Indra the lord of Śacī and of Devas and decided to go to the penance grove of the lord of Devas in the company of Rati.

39-46. He was accompanied also by Vasanta his comrade. He decided to join the lord with Pārvatī. Beholding Kāma laughingly, the lord stared at him contemptuously. Then the fire blazed forth from his third eye burned Kāma as he stood by his side. Rati then cried piteously. On hearing her lamentations, the bull-emblemed lord was overwhelmed by mercy. He looked at her mercifully and said:—“O gentle lady, it is true that your husband is unembodied. But at the time of dalliance he will do everything that has to be done. There is no doubt about this. When Viṣṇu of great renown becomes the son of Vasudeva as a result of the curse of Bhṛgu, when he incarnates for the welfare of worlds, the son born to him will be your husband. On hearing this, Rati the wife of Kama, the lady of pure smiles, bowed to Rudra and went along with Vasanta with the hope of regaining her husband.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The purāṇa mentions the three daughters, of the lord of the Himālayas, viz. Aparṇā, Ekaparṇā, Ekapāṭalā. The eldest Aparṇā (or Haimavatī) was married to Śiva. Cf. v-26 of this chapter.

[2]:

Kuśadhvaja [Kuśadhvajam]—i.e. Brahmā.

[3]:

vinindya devam—Satī reproached her father for not inviting Śiva to the sacrifice and then as an expiation for her father’s sin she immolated herself. The Bhāgavata purāṇa records her harangue addressed to her father thus:—[yatpādapadma mahatāṃ mano'libhirniṣevitaṃ brahmarasāsavārthibhiḥ | lokasya yadvarṣati cāśiṣo'rthinastasmai bhavān druhyati viśvabandhave || atastavotpannamidaṃ kalevaraṃ na dhārayiṣye śitikaṇṭhagarhiṇaḥ | jagdhasya mohāddhi viśuddhiraṃhaso jugupsitasyoddharaṇaṃ pracakṣate ||]