The Mission Given to Kamadeva
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 83
Doha 83 · Movement 1 of 2
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Brahma orders the gods to act with trust that Ishvara will assist. Sati has been reborn in Himavan's house and completed her tapasya for Shiva, yet Mahadeva remains sealed in meditation, detached from every worldly movement.
The plan is perilous. Kamadeva must approach Shiva and disturb the stillness of his mind. Then the gods will bow before Shankara and arrange the marriage with splendour. The welfare of heaven depends upon someone entering the radiance no desire has ever crossed.
The assembly knows what the mission may cost. To die for the good of others is praised as noble, they say. After their invocation, Kamadeva appears beneath his fish banner, carrying the flower bow whose gentleness conceals formidable power.
The gods fall silent as the bearer of the flower bow steps forward toward possible death.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 83
Kama appears with an inactive flower bow and fish banner as two representative gods welcome him with praise.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 99, 100 · printed pages 97, 98. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-083. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- The gods praise earnestly and Kama, flower-arrowed/fish-bannered, appears
Artistic choices
- Final appearance selected; no earlier marriage-coercion plan, Shiva disturbing or realized wedding
- Kama newly imaginative young adult male warm brown skin clean-shaven wavy black hair flower wreath cream/palegreen dhoti rose/gold shawl gold jewellery, idle flower-tipped sugarcane-like bow/flower arrows/fish banner; physique/age/likeness/attributes conventional not authenticated
- Two representative devas' approved appearances reused with joined hands/pleased faces, Kama natural standing relaxed arms, mats/bough/hills/coral field added; count of devas representative/source-unspecified
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
मोर कहा सुनि करहु उपाई। होइहि ईस्वर करिहि सहाई।। सतीं जो तजी दच्छ मख देहा। जनमी जाइ हिमाचल गेहा।। तेहिं तपु कीन्ह संभु पति लागी। सिव समाधि बैठे सबु त्यागी।। जदपि अहइ असमंजस भारी। तदपि बात एक सुनहु हमारी।। पठवहु कामु जाइ सिव पाहीं। करै छोभु संकर मन माहीं।। तब हम जाइ सिवहि सिर नाई। करवाउब बिबाहु बरिआई।। एहि बिधि भलेहि देवहित होई। मर अति नीक कहइ सबु कोई।। अस्तुति सुरन्ह कीन्हि अति हेतू। प्रगटेउ बिषमबान झषकेतू।।
"Hear my counsel and take action. The Lord will help, and all will come to pass. The Sati who gave up her body at the sacrifice of Daksha has been born again in the house of Himachal."