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## Second Study: The Story of Kamadeva
**[101]** When the god in the form of an elephant approached the ascetic Kamadeva, he spoke to him. Having spoken, the god in the form of an elephant said to the ascetic Kamadeva, "O Kamadeva! Ascetic! As long as you do not abandon (your conduct, your vows, your renunciation, your rejection, your fasting), as long as you do not break them, I will immediately rush upon your body. Having rushed upon your body, I will wrap myself around your neck from behind with my sharp tail. Having wrapped myself around your neck, I will pierce your chest with my sharp, poisonous fangs. Just as you have been tormenting and harassing living beings untimely, you will be tormented and harassed untimely."
When the god in the form of an elephant could not deter, disturb, or change the ascetic Kamadeva from his meditation, he retreated slowly, exhausted, weary, and dejected. He retreated and went out of the fasting hall. Having gone out of the fasting hall, he abandoned his form as an elephant, which was a result of his actions. Having done so, he assumed the form of a divine, terrifying serpent.
This serpent was fierce, powerful, and terrible, with a large body. He was black, like a vessel for melting lead and tin. His eyes were filled with poison and anger. He looked like a heap of kohl. His eyes were red. His forked tongue was restless, flickering out. Due to his blackness, he looked like the braid of the earth (the earth, personified as a woman). He spread his fierce, blazing, crooked, thick, rough, and terrifying hood. He hissed like a blacksmith's bellows. His fierce anger could not be restrained.
The god in the form of a serpent came to the place where the fasting hall was, where the ascetic Kamadeva was. Having come, he spoke to the ascetic Kamadeva, "O Kamadeva! If you do not abandon your conduct, your vows (renunciation, rejection, fasting), if you do not break them, I will immediately rush upon your body. Having rushed upon your body, I will wrap myself around your neck from behind with my sharp tail. Having wrapped myself around your neck, I will pierce your chest with my sharp, poisonous fangs. Just as you have been tormenting and harassing living beings untimely, you will be tormented and harassed untimely."
**[108]** When the ascetic Kamadeva heard these words spoken by the god in the form of a serpent, he remained steadfast in his meditation. The god spoke again, a second time, and a third time, but Kamadeva remained steadfast in his meditation.
**[109]** Then the god in the form of a serpent approached the ascetic Kamadeva, who remained steadfast. Having approached, he rushed upon Kamadeva's body. Having rushed upon his body, he wrapped himself around his neck from behind with his sharp tail.