Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 11
कामाश्रम
प्रवेशः / Entry into Kāma’s Hermitage at the Sarayū–Gaṅgā Confluence
कन्दर्पो मूर्तिमानासीत्काम इत्युच्यते बुधै:।तपस्यन्तमिह स्थाणुं नियमेन समाहितम्।।1.23.10।। कृतोद्वाहं तु देवेशं गच्छन्तं समरुद्गगणम्।धर्षयामास दुर्मेधा हुङ्कृतश्च महात्मना।।1.23.11।।
kandarpo mūrtimān āsīt kāma ity ucyate budhaiḥ |
tapasyantam iha sthāṇuṁ niyamena samāhitam || 1.23.10 ||
kṛtodvāhaṁ tu deveśaṁ gacchantaṁ samarudgagaṇam |
dharṣayāmāsa durmedhā huṅkṛtaś ca mahātmanā || 1.23.11 ||
「ここにはかつて、カンダルパが肉身をもって現れ住した。賢者たちは彼をカーマと呼ぶ。この地で、神々の主たるスダーヌ（シヴァ）が、新たに婚した妃とともに、戒律を守り厳しい苦行に深く没入しておられたとき、愚かなカーマはマルトの軍勢とともに通りがかり、主を悩まし挑んだ。すると大いなる主は恐るべき咆哮を放たれた。」
When the night turned into day-break, the eminent ascetic Viswamitra, addressing the descendants of Kakutstha (Rama and Lakshmana) who were lying on a bed of leaves said:
FAQs
Dharma as restraint and reverence: desire (kāma) becomes destructive when it violates tapas and disrespects the sacred; discipline protects truth and spiritual order.
Viśvāmitra begins a local sacred-history: Kāma/Kandarpa offends Śiva during his austerity, prompting Śiva’s fierce response.
Śiva’s unwavering tapas (self-mastery) contrasted with Kāma’s lack of discernment—highlighting the Ramayana’s esteem for self-control.