Ice Cannot Approach the Fire
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 90
Doha 90 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bhavani accepts the sages' words according to their understanding. They imagine Kama existed near Shiva until the recent fire. She knows Shambhu as eternally unborn, faultless, desireless, absorbed, and untouched by enjoyment.
Her service was offered to Shiva in that very knowledge, with love through action, mind, and speech. The compassionate Lord will therefore make the vow true. Kama's destruction does not contradict her path. It confirms the nature of the one she chose.
Fire burns by its essence. Ice cannot approach without losing its form. So desire reached Mahesh and vanished before a purity it could never inhabit. Shiva did not become desireless through burning Kama. Kama burned because Shiva had always been free.
Ice enters the flame and disappears, while the fire remains what it always was.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनि बोलीं मुसकाइ भवानी। उचित कहेहु मुनिबर बिग्यानी।। तुम्हरें जान कामु अब जारा। अब लगि संभु रहे सबिकारा।। हमरें जान सदा सिव जोगी। अज अनवद्य अकाम अभोगी।। जौं मैं सिव सेये अस जानी। प्रीति समेत कर्म मन बानी।। तौ हमार पन सुनहु मुनीसा। करिहहिं सत्य कृपानिधि ईसा।। तुम्ह जो कहा हर जारेउ मारा। सोइ अति बड़ अबिबेकु तुम्हारा।। तात अनल कर सहज सुभाऊ। हिम तेहि निकट जाइ नहिं काऊ।। गएँ समीप सो अवसि नसाई। असि मन्मथ महेस की नाई।।
Hearing this, Bhavani smiled and spoke: "O wisest of sages, you speak rightly. In your view, Shambhu has now burned Kama. But tell me, was Kama ever dear to Shambhu until now? If Shiva never had any use for desire, then burning Kama changes nothing at all. My vow stands just as it was."