Kamadeva Lays Down His Flower Bow
Bala Kanda, Doha 126
Doha 126 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Every ally of Kamadeva has failed. Spring, fragrance, music, beauty, breeze, and the play of celestial maidens remain spread through the hermitage, yet the sage sits untouched at their centre.
Fear replaces the god's delight. He accepts defeat within his own heart before any word is spoken. The flower bow lowers, and the power sent to disturb Narada now approaches him without weapon or pride.
Kama falls at the sage's feet with all his companions and speaks from deep distress. The attempted assault ends not in retaliation but in surrender. The next test will arise not from desire entering Narada's meditation, but from victory entering Narada's mind.
The flower bow touches the ground, and conquered Kama clasps the feet he could not shake.
Read the passage from the Manas

AI-created devotional illustration · Doha 126
Kama admits defeat, afraid, grasps Narada's feet and speaks distressed words; helpers outside selected frame
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 140 · printed pages 138. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-127. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Kama and helpers veryafraid; admitting defeat he goes to grasp the sage's feet speaking deeply distressed words
- Selected Kama footclasp, helpers remain sourcecontext withoutinvented count/namedportraits; later kindly reassurance/report toIndra belongC127
Artistic choices
- Approved imagined naturalbrown clean-shaven longhaired Narada creamochre/darkbeads/Vaishnavmark and naturalbrown clean-shaven longhair floralcirclet Kama rosecream/greensash pearls/floralarmband retained; exactagesfacesdressjewels notauthenticated
- Narada now eyesopen seatedartistlowledge kneesbent feetground, Kama kneelingleanforward twohands on eachfoot/ankle, anxiousupturnedface; specific legarrangement/gesture/ledge artchoices, physicalfootcontactsource verifiedclosecrop
- Customary vina besideNarada and flowering cave/forest/nearbyriver/mountain imaginedcontext notgeographicallyauthenticated; matteflattenedforegroundfigures with moredetailedbotanicallandscape thanreference, no readablewords or visiblemagic
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
सहित सहाय सभीत अति मानि हारि मन मैन। गहेसि जाइ मुनि चरन तब कहि सुठि आरत बैन।।126।।
With all his allies, Kamadeva was utterly terrified and accepted defeat in his heart. He went and clasped the sage's feet, speaking words of deep distress.