[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) › 1.38 # The Birth of Kumāra 1.38 Kumārasaṃbhava 1.38 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [1.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.38) tasyāḥ praviṣṭā natanābhirandhraṃ rarāja tanvī navalomarājiḥ | nīvīmatikramya sitetarasya tanmekhalāmadhyamaṇerivārciḥ || > 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) > And if her loosened zone e'er slipped below, > All was so bright beneath the mantle's flow. > So dazzling bright, as if the maid had braced > A band of gems to sparkle round her waist; > While the dear dimples of her downy skin > Seemed fitting couch for Love to revel in. > Her arms were softer than the flowery dart, > Young Káma's arrow, that subdues the heart; > For vain his strife with Siva, till at last > He chose those chains to bind his conqueror fast. > E'en the new Moon poured down a paler beam > When her long fingers flashed their rosy gleam, > And brighter than Asoka's rich leaves threw > A glory round, like summer's evening hue. > The strings of pearl across her bosom thrown > Increased its beauty, and enhanced their own,— > Her breast, her jewels seeming to agree, > The adorner now, and now the adorned to be. > When Beauty gazes on the fair full Moon, > No Lotus charms her, for it blooms at noon: > If on that flower she feed her raptured eye, > No Moon is shining from the mid-day sky; > She looked on Uma's face, more heavenly fair, > And found their glories both united there. > The loveliest flower that ever opened yet > Laid in the fairest branch—a pearl that's set > In richest coral—with her smile might vie > Flashing through lips bright with their rosy dye. > And when she spoke—upon the maiden's tongue > Distilling nectar, such rare accents hung, > The sweetest note that e'er the Koil poured > Seemed harsh and tuneless as a jarring chord. > The melting glance of that soft Hquid eye, > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1853, The Birth of the War-God (cantos 1–7) - [Previous: 1.37](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.37) - [Next: 1.39](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.39) - [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.p2) — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1853, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.38](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.1.38) · Pramāṇa