[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [Poetry (mahākāvya, lyric, messenger poems, stotra, Prakrit kāvya)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya) › [Court epics (sargabandha)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya) › [Śiva, Pārvatī, Skanda and Devī epics](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva) › [The Birth of Kumāra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava) › 1.31 # The Birth of Kumāra 1.31 Kumārasaṃbhava 1.31 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [1.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.31) asambhṛtaṃ maṇḍanamaṅgayaṣṭeranāsavākhyaṃ karaṇaṃ madasya | kāmasya puṣpavyatiriktamastraṃ bālyātparaṃ sātha vayaḥ prapede || > As yet the maiden was unknown to fame, > And Mountain-lady was her only name; > But when her mother, filled with anxious care > At her stern penance, cried Forbear! Forbear! > To a new title was the warning; turned, > And Uma was the name the maiden earned. > Loveliest was she of all his lovely race, > And dearest to her father;—on her face > Looking with love he ne'er could satisfy > The thirsty glances of a parent's eye; > When spring-tide bids a thousand flowrets bloom > Loading the breezes with their rich perfume, > Though here and there the wandering bee may rest, > He loves his own—his darling Mango—best. > The Gods' bright river bathes with gold the skies, > And pure sweet eloquence adorns the wise; > The flambeau's glory is the shining fire.— > She was the pride, the glory of her sire. > Shedding new lustre on his old descent, > His loveliest child, his richest ornament. > The sparkling Ganga laved her heavenly home, > And o'er her islets would the maiden roam > Amid the dear companions of her play > With ball and doll to while the hours away. > As swans in autumn in assembling bands > Fly back to Ganga's well-remembered sands: > As herbs beneath the darksome shades of night > Collect again their scattered rays of light: > So dawned upon the maiden's waking mind > The far-off memory of her life resigned, > And all her former learning in its train, > Feelings, and thoughts, and knowledge came again. > Now beauty's prime, that craves from art no aid. > Ripened the loveliness of that young maid— > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1853, The Birth of the War-God (cantos 1–7) > That scorns the wine-cup's help to fire the heart, > The bow of Love without his flowery dart; > There was a glory beaming from her face, > With love's own light, and every youthful grace: > Ne'er pictured lily more divinely fair > Unclosed her beauty to the morning air. > Bright as a Lotus, springing where she trod, > Her glowing feet shed radiance o'er the sod: > That arching neck, the step, the glance aside. > The proud swans taught her as they stemmed the tide, > Whilst of the maiden they would fondly learn > Her anclets' pleasant music in return. > When the Almighty Maker first began > The marvellous beauty of that child to plan. > In full fair symmetry each rounded limb > Grew neatly fashioned and approved by Him: > The rest was faultless, for the Artist's care > Formed each young charm most excellently fair. > As if his moulding hand would fain express > The visible type of perfect loveliness. > What thing of beauty may the poet dare > With the smooth wonder of those limbs compare? > The young tree springing by the brooklet's side— > The rounded trunk, the forest-monarch's pride? > O no!—too cold, too chilling cold, the tree,— > This, too unyielding for such rivalry. > Her hidden beauties though no tongue may tell, > Yet Siva's love will aid the fancy well; > No other maid could deem her boasted charms > Worthy the clasp of such a husband's arms. > Between the partings of fair Uma's vest > Came hasty glimpses of a lovely breast: > So closely there the kissing hillocks rose, > Scarce could the Lotus in the vale repose; > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1853, The Birth of the War-God (cantos 1–7) - [Previous: 1.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.30) - [Next: 1.32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.32) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1) ## Translations (1) - [The Birth of the War-God (cantos 1–7)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava~en-griffith.1.p6.p1) — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1853, English ## Linked texts (1) - [Rasagaṅgādhara (ed. Durgāprasāda and Kāśīnātha Śarma)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.art.alamkara.sahitya.rasagangadhara*durgaprasada1894.32.p5) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.31) · Pramāṇa