Texts 7-8
sā ca kāmasya vai patnī
ratir nāma yaśasvinī
patyur nirdagdha-dehasya
dehotpattim pratīkṣatī
nirūpitā śambareṇa
sā sūdaudana-sādhane
kāmadevaṁ śiśuṁ buddhvā
cakre snehaṁ tadārbhake
sā — she; ca — and; kāmasya — of Cupid; vai — in fact; patnī — the wife; ratiḥ nama — named Rati; yaśasvinī — famous; patyuḥ — of her husband; nirdagdha — burnt to ashes; dehasya — whose body; deha — of a body; utpattim — the attainment; pratīkṣatī — waiting; nirūpitā — appointed; śambareṇa — by Śambara; sā — she; sūda-odana — of vegetables and rice; sādhane — in the preparation; kāma-devam — as Cupid; śiśum — the infant; buddhvā — understanding; cakre — she developed; sneham — love; tadā — then; arbhake — for the child.
Māyāvatī 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 Śambara to prepare vegetables and rice. Māyāvatī understood that this infant was actually Kāmadeva, and thus she began to feel love for Him.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains this story as follows: When Cupid’s body was burned to ashes, Rati worshiped Lord Śiva to obtain another body for Cupid. Śambara, having also come to Śiva for a benediction, was recognized by the lord first, who told him, “You should now ask for your benediction.” Śambara, struck with lust at seeing Rati, replied that he wanted her as his benediction, and Śiva complied. Lord Śiva then consoled the sobbing Rati, telling her, “Go with him, and in his very home you will attain what you desire.” Thereupon, Rati bewildered Śambara with her deluding power and, taking the name Māyāvatī, remained in his house untouched.