Spring Assaults the Hermitage
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 126
Doha 126 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kamadeva reaches Narada's hermitage and unfolds spring by divine power. Trees burst into many coloured flowers. Cuckoos pour sweetness through the branches, bees answer with deep humming, and three kinds of pleasant breeze pass over the cave, each carrying the warmth that kindles desire.
Rambha and other incomparable celestial maidens appear, skilled in every art. Songs turn through subtle melodies while water nymphs play beside the river. Seeing his forces gathered, Kama rejoices and multiplies the enchantments until the quiet forest glows with sensuous invitation.
Narada does not move. No art of Cupid enters the meditation guarded by Lakshmi's Lord. Confidence drains from Kama, and the wielder of flower arrows begins to tremble. How can desire overpower one whose great protector is Hari himself?
All spring flowers at the cave mouth, but not one petal enters Narada's stillness.
Read the passage from the Manas
तेहि आश्रमहिं मदन जब गयऊ। निज मायाँ बसंत निरमयऊ।। कुसुमित बिबिध बिटप बहुरंगा। कूजहिं कोकिल गुंजहि भृंगा।। चली सुहावनि त्रिबिध बयारी। काम कृसानु बढ़ावनिहारी।। रंभादिक सुरनारि नबीना । सकल असमसर कला प्रबीना।। करहिं गान बहु तान तरंगा। बहुबिधि क्रीड़हि पानि पतंगा।। देखि सहाय मदन हरषाना। कीन्हेसि पुनि प्रपंच बिधि नाना।। काम कला कछु मुनिहि न ब्यापी। निज भयँ डरेउ मनोभव पापी।। सीम कि चाँपि सकइ कोउ तासु। बड़ रखवार रमापति जासू।।
When Kamadeva went to that ashram, he conjured the season of spring through his maya. Trees of every kind bloomed in countless colors. Koels sang sweetly and bees hummed all around.