sā ca kāmasya vai patnī
ratir nāma yaśasvinī
patyur nirdagdha-dehasya
dehotpattim pratīkṣatī
nirūpitā śambareṇa
sā sūdaudana-sādhane
kāmadevaḿ śiśuḿ buddhvā
cakre snehaḿ tadārbhake
sa -- she; ca -- and; kamasya -- of Cupid; vai -- in fact; patni -- the wife; ratih nama -- named Rati; yasasvini -- famous; patyuh -- of her husband; nirdagdha -- burnt to ashes; dehasya -- whose body; deha -- of a body; utpattim -- the attainment; pratikshati -- waiting; nirupita -- appointed; sambarena -- by Sambara; sa -- she; suda-odana -- of vegetables and rice; sadhane -- in the preparation; kama-devam -- as Cupid; sisum -- the infant; buddhva -- understanding; cakre -- she developed; sneham -- love; tada -- then; arbhake -- for the child.
Mayavati 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 Sambara to prepare vegetables and rice. Mayavati understood that this infant was actually Kamadeva, and thus she began to feel love for Him.
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti explains this story as follows: When Cupid's body was burned to ashes, Rati worshiped Lord Siva to obtain another body for Cupid. Sambara, having also come to Siva for a benediction, was recognized by the lord first, who told him, "You should now ask for your benediction." Sambara, struck with lust at seeing Rati, replied that he wanted her as his benediction, and Siva complied. Lord Siva then consoled the sobbing Rati, telling her, "Go with him, and in his very home you will attain what you desire." Thereupon, Rati bewildered Sambara with her deluding power and, taking the name Mayavati, remained in his house untouched.
