That is probably the only way to help the gods.’ ‘The idea is excellent,’ everyone said. The gods then prayed with great devotion and the god of love, armed with five arrows and having a fish emblazoned on his banner, appeared.

The gods explained all their distress, and when he heard their tale, the god of love reflected a little and spoke thus with a smile, ‘Though I expect no good results for myself from hostility to Shiva.

I shall do you this service, for the scriptures say benevolence is the highest of virtues. The saints ever commend him who lays down his life for another’s weal’.

So saying, the god of love bowed his head to them all and departed with his attendants, with the bow of flowers in his hand. As he left, Love thought within himself that hostility to Shiva would mean certain death to him.

Then he hastened to exhibit his power and brought the whole world under his sway. When Kamadeva (who bears a fish for his emblem) betrayed his anger; all the barriers imposed by the scriptures were swept away in a moment.

The whole army of prudence (discriminating knowledge), - continence, religious vows, self-restrain of many kinds, fortitude, piety, spiritual wisdom, and the knowledge of qualified divinity both with form and without form, morality, muttering of prayers, Yoga (contemplative union with God), dispassion and so on, took to fight in panic.

Prudence took to flight with his allies; his great warriors turned to flee on the field of battle. They all went and hid themselves in the sacred books, as in mountain-caves. There arose a turmoil in the world, and everybody said, ‘My goodness, what is going to happen? What power will protect us? Who is that extraordinary being with two heads to conquer whom Rati’s lord has lifted his bow and arrows in wrath?’