The Birth of Kumāra 1.20

1.20

asūta sā nāgavadhūpabhogyaṃ mainākamambhonidhibaddhasakhyam |
kruddhe'pi pakṣacchidi vṛtraśatrāvavedanājñaṃ kuliśakṣatānām ||

Well might that ancient Hill by merit claim
The power and glory of a monarch's name—
Nurse of pure herbs that grace each holy rite,
Earth's meetest bearer of unyielding might;
The Lord of Life for this ordained him king,
And bade him share the sacred offering.
Gladly obedient to the law divine,
He chose a consort to prolong his line;
No child of earth, born of the Sages' will,
The fair nymph Mena pleased the sovran Hill;
To her he sued, nor was his prayer denied,
The Saints' beloved was the Mountain's bride;
Crowned with all bliss and beauty were the pair.
He passing glorious, she was heavenly fair;
Swiftly the seasons, winged with love, flew on,
And made her mother of a noble son—
The great Maináka, who in triumph led
His Serpent beauties to the bridal bed;
And once when Indra's might those pinions rent
That bare the swift Hills through the firmament.
(So fierce his rage, no Mountain could withstand
The wild bolt flashing from his red right hand,)
He fled to Ocean, powerful to save,
And hid his glory 'neath the friendly wave.