ରତିଦେଵି କୃତ ଶ୍ରୀ ଶିଵ ସ୍ତୋତ୍ରମ୍

Rati's hymn to Shiva from the Matsya Purana, spoken by Kama's widow to the god who has just burnt her husband to ash — which gives the second verse a double edge that no translation quite carries. Salutation to Shiva who is free of affliction, salutation to Shiva who is made of mind, salutation to Shiva worshipped by the gods, to you who are always the best of gracious ones to devotees. Salutation to Bhava, to him from whom becoming arises; salutation to you who have destroyed the mind-born one — that is Kama's own name being used of his destroyer — salutation to you of the hidden great vow, salutation to the refuge, deep in your own maya. Thirteen verses, and she never once asks directly.