The Dalliance of Lord of Death

Sri Rāma

1. -5. There is one who is excellent and the best in vile sports and enjoyments. He creates and controls this world. He is called God of Time. The form of his violent elf-vibration is action. He does not desire any form other than action. Just as snow melts away due to heat, all humanity and physical elements become weak and distressed by him. All this visible world is his ball room. Here he dances continuously and relentlessly. The third one (of the Time orms)* is Yama, the god whose roar is violent, frightful and cruel. He wears the shape and body of “kapalika” and dances in the world like one intoxicated.
   *(First is the Time of Action, second is the destroyer Time)

6. -9. O muni, this Yama, who dances to soulful tunes, as if eternally, is extremely fond of his wife called “Niyati”. The three flowed “Ganga”, the moon-white “Sesha” are the sacred threads on his chest of “Samsara”. (For Yama) the orbs and halves of moon and sun are bracelets on the hands. He holds the delightful lotus with the egg of universe as filament , in his hand. His garment is star shaped sky, bordered with tornadoes, called “Puskaras”. This garment is washed white in the vast ocean (at the time) of dissolution.

10. -14. In the presence of such Yama (of Time), his consert Niyati dances relentlessly, causing a spate of creations and beginnings. He visits his dancing wife in the hall of the world, cleverly, in the form of a non-circular vibration, with a beginning and end. All god-countries are her (Niyati’s) beautiful jewels. The vast region from the sky to the nether world is her long hair. Hell is her foot-jewel. These are tied around with strings called bad actions. Nether worlds are her feet. On the face of this lady is the beauty spot of musk. This spot is painted by “Chitragupta” and created by maids called actions.

15. -18. At the time of dissolution, this Devi dances to the signs and directions of Lord Kala (Yama). Then, fierce and violent sounds of breaking mountains emerge out of her steps. While dancing, a garland of dead peacocks of “Kumara” will be whirling and rolling on her breast. From the three huge eye-openings, violent and fierce sounds will be emerging. Her face is covered by long locks of hair. Her braided hair with hibiscus flowers swings like huge fans. The mighty dancing “Bhairava’s” stomach is her gourd. The body of “Indra” with its thousand openings is her begging bowl.

19. -25. Emaciated bodies , like staffs, with craniums at their heads, are filling the sky. This all-destroying “Devi” seems to be afraid of herself (in that form). With that universal form, the “Devi” looks effulgent, dancing at the time of dissolution. “Tumbura” and such (musicians) flee (from their dwellings) hearing such thundering and violent sounds emerging from the dense “Puskara” tornadoes and violently swinging “damarus”. For Yama in the dancing hall which is bright with the moon-disc, the star-spangled moonlighted sky is the crest jewel of peacock feathers. On one of his ears, shines the ear ring of “Himalaya” bones and on the other, the ear ring of “Meru” of golden hue. Sun and moon are the jewels on cheeks. The “lokaloka” mountain rang is his girdle. The many hued cloud-complex is his upper garment. This is flapping due to the breeze crossing over.

26. -32. Emaciated bodies , like staffs, with craniums at their heads, are filling the sky. This all-destroying “Devi” seems to be afraid of herself (in that form). With that universal form, the “Devi” looks effulgent, dancing at the time of dissolution. “Tumbura” and such (musicians) flee (from their dwellings) hearing such thundering and violent sounds emerging from the dense “Puskara” tornadoes and violently swinging “damarus”. For Yama in the dancing hall which is bright with the moon-disc, the star-spangled moonlighted sky is the crest jewel of peacock feathers. On one of his ears, shines the ear ring of “Himalaya” bones and on the other, the ear ring of “Meru” of golden hue. Sun and moon are the jewels on cheeks. The “lokaloka” mountain rang is his girdle. The many hued cloud-complex is his upper garment. This is flapping due to the breeze crossing over.