THE SAGE MARKANDEYA TEMPTED BY CUPID AND HIS FOLLOWERS

The devotional mystic Märkandeya maintained rigid celibacy through penance, study of the Vedas and self-discipline. With his mind thus free of all disturbances, he turned it inward and meditated on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who lies beyond the material senses.

During the seventh reign of Manu, the current age, Lord Indra came to know of Märkandeya's austerities and became fearful of his growing mystic potency. To ruin the sage's spiritual practice. Lord Indra sent Cupid, beautiful celestial singers, dancing girls, the season of spring and the sandalwood-scented breeze from the Malaya Hills, along with greed and intoxication personified.

Cupid, the master of many heavenly women, came there holding his bow and arrows. He was followed by groups of Gandharvas playing musical instruments and singing. The women danced before the sage, and the celestial singers sang to the charming accompaniment of drums, cymbals and viņās.

While the son of passion [greed personified], spring and the other servants of Indra all tried to agitate Märkandeya's mind, Cupid drew his five-headed arrow and fixed it upon his bow. Thinking he had conquered the sage, he shot his arrow. But all these attempts to seduce Märkandeya proved futile, just like the useless endeavors of an atheist.