Desire Unleashes Its Army
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 84
Doha 84 · Movement 1 of 3
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Kamadeva accepts. The Vedas call service to others the highest dharma, and saints praise the one willing to give the body for another's welfare. He bows to the gods, gathers his companions, and departs with the flower bow in hand, certain that conflict with Shiva means death.
Before reaching Mahadeva, he spreads his influence across creation. Vedic boundaries collapse in an instant. Celibacy, vow, self restraint, patience, dharma, knowledge, wisdom, good conduct, japa, yoga, and detachment stand like an army of discernment before the assault.
Then fear breaks their ranks. The disciplines that guarded inward freedom flee as desire occupies the field. Kamadeva has made the whole world his battlefield before aiming a single arrow at Shiva.
Across creation, the army of discernment turns and runs before the flower banner.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 84
Kama agrees earnestly to help the gods, joining his hands while two representative devas listen.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 100, 101 · printed pages 98, 99. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-084. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Kama agrees to perform gods' task, saying beneficence is highest dharma according to scripture
Artistic choices
- Independent first agreement portion selected, later departure/foreboding/universal desire influence outside scene
- Approved Kama/two unnamed representative devas' imaginative appearances reused, Kama joined agreement hands and calm resolved face, gods attentive hopeful resting poses, inactive flower bow/quiver/fish banner, grove/stream/mountains/mats/glass flowers added; ages/faces/poses not authenticated
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
तदपि करब मैं काजु तुम्हारा। श्रुति कह परम धरम उपकारा।। पर हित लागि तजइ जो देही। संतत संत प्रसंसहिं तेही।। अस कहि चलेउ सबहि सिरु नाई। सुमन धनुष कर सहित सहाई।। चलत मार अस हृदयँ बिचारा। सिव बिरोध ध्रुव मरनु हमारा।। तब आपन प्रभाउ बिस्तारा। निज बस कीन्ह सकल संसारा।। कोपेउ जबहि बारिचरकेतू। छन महुँ मिटे सकल श्रुति सेतू।। ब्रह्मचर्ज ब्रत संजम नाना। धीरज धरम ग्यान बिग्याना।। सदाचार जप जोग बिरागा। सभय बिबेक कटकु सब भागा।।
Still, I will do your work. The Vedas declare that the highest dharma is upakara, service to others. One who gives up his body for the good of another is forever praised by the saints.