Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c10.s10.2

c10.s10.2

*Kumārasambhava* offers a refutation of Bhogavāda in the sense of Epicureanism. Śiva, the deity of piousness, cannot be obtained by physical charms; to get Him, one has to purify oneself within through *tapas* (penance). Pārvatī who was proud of her charms ultimately decries *rūpa* (beauty of the physical body) from the core of her heart (*nininda rūpaṁ hṛdayena pārvatī*) and starts vigorous penance to be united with Śiva. The later appeared before her in disguise to test her resolve and faith. This led to an altercation and argument between the two.