He let fly the five sharp arrows and lodged them in Shiva’s breast. The trance was now broken and Shiva awoke. The Lord’s soul was much agitated. Opening his eyes he looked in all directions.

When he saw Kamadeva hiding among the mango leaves, he flew into a rage, which made all the three spheres tremble. Then he opened his third eye, and the moment he looked at the god of love, he was burnt to ashes.

A loud wail went up throughout the world; the gods were alarmed but the demons were glad. The thought of (the loss of) love’s delights made the voluptuary sad, but aspirant ascetics were relieved of a thorn, as it were.

Ascetics were relieved, but Rati (Kama’s wife) fainted as soon as she heard of her husband’s fate. Weeping and wailing and mourning in various ways, she approached Shiva; and making loving entreaties in all possible ways, she stood before him with folded hands. Seeing the helpless woman, the gracious Lord, who is so easily appeased, prophesied as follows:

‘Henceforth, O Rati, your husband shall be called Ananga (the bodiless); he shall dominate all even without a body. Now hear how you shall meet him again.

When Krishna becomes incarnate in the family of Yadu to relieve the earth of its heavy burden, your lord shall be born again as his son (Pradyumna); my worlds shall not fail.

On hearing the words of Shiva, Rati retired. I now turn to relate another part of my story. When Brahma (the Creator) and the other gods heard these tidings, they first went together to Vaikuntha (the abode of Vishnu).