The sage’s mind was deluded and no longer under his control. Shiva’s attendants felt amused at this and greatly enjoyed the fun. Even though the sage heard their mockery, he could not follow it, his intellect was too bewildered to understand it.

No one perceived this extraordinary phenomenon, but the princess saw him as he was. When she beheld his monkey face and frightful body, she was filled with indignation.

Then with her girl companions the princess glided like a swan. With the wreath of victory in her lotus hands she went round, surveying each of her royal suitors.

Never for a moment would she let her eyes rest on the spot where Narada sat, swollen with pride. Again and again the sage would raise himself and fidget about; the attendants of Shiva smiled to see his plight.

Then went there the gracious Lord, wearing the form of a king, and gladly the princess placed the wreath of victory round his neck. Thus Lakshmi’s lord carried off the bride to the despair of all the assembled kings.

The sage was utterly bewildered; for infatuation had robbed him of his reason. He felt as if a gem had dropped from a loosened knot. Then said Shiva’s attendants with a smile. “Go and look at your face in a mirror!”

With these words both ran off in great alarm. The sage looked at his reflection in the water. He grew most furious when he beheld his form, and he pronounced a very dreadful curse on Shiva’s henchmen: