te - they; ittham - in this way; apakurvantaḥ - trying to do harm; muneḥ - to the sage; tat - his; tejasā - by the potency; mune - O sage (Śaunaka); dahyamānāḥ - feeling burned; nivavṛtuḥ - they desisted; prabodhya - having awakened; ahim - a snake; iva - as if; arbhakāḥ - children.

O learned Śaunaka, while Cupid and his followers tried to harm the sage, they felt themselves being burned alive by his potency. Thus they stopped their mischief, just like children who have aroused a sleeping snake.