sÄ ca kÄmasya vai patnÄ«
ratir nÄma yaÅ›asvinÄ«
patyur nirdagdha-dehasya
dehotpattim pratīkṣatī
nirÅ«pitÄ Å›ambareṇa
sÄ sÅ«daudana-sÄdhane
kÄmadevaá¹ Å›iÅ›uá¹ buddhvÄ
cakre snehaá¹ tadÄrbhake
sÄ - she; ca - and; kÄmasya - of Cupid; vai - in fact; patnÄ« - the wife; ratiḥ nama - named Rati; yaÅ›asvinÄ« - famous; patyuḥ - of her husband; nirdagdha - burnt to ashes; dehasya - whose body; deha - of a body; utpattim - the attainment; pratÄ«ká¹£atÄ« - waiting; nirÅ«pitÄ - appointed; Å›ambareṇa - by Åšambara; sÄ - she; sÅ«da-odana - of vegetables and rice; sÄdhane - in the preparation; kÄma-devam - as Cupid; Å›iÅ›um - the infant; buddhvÄ - understanding; cakre - she developed; sneham - love; tadÄ - then; arbhake - for the child.
MÄyÄvatÄ« was in fact Cupid’s renowned wife, Rati. While waiting for her husband to obtain a new body — his previous one having been burnt up — she had been assigned by Åšambara to prepare vegetables and rice. MÄyÄvatÄ« understood that this infant was actually KÄmadeva, and thus she began to feel love for Him.
ÅšrÄ«la ViÅ›vanÄtha CakravartÄ« explains this story as follows: When Cupid’s body was burned to ashes, Rati worshiped Lord Åšiva to obtain another body for Cupid. Åšambara, having also come to Åšiva for a benediction, was recognized by the lord first, who told him, “You should now ask for your benediction.†Śambara, struck with lust at seeing Rati, replied that he wanted her as his benediction, and Åšiva complied. Lord Åšiva then consoled the sobbing Rati, telling her, “Go with him, and in his very home you will attain what you desire.†Thereupon, Rati bewildered Åšambara with her deluding power and, taking the name MÄyÄvatÄ«, remained in his house untouched.
