[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) › 4.22 # The Birth of Kumāra 4.22 Kumārasaṃbhava 4.22 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [4.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.4.22) kriyatāṃ kathamantyamaṇḍanaṃ paralokāntaritasya te mayā | samameva gato'syatarkitāṃ gatimaṅgena ca jīvitena ca || > Yes, I will fly to thee, of thee bereft. > And leave this world which thou, my life, hast left— > Cold, gloomy, now this wretched world must be. > For all its pleasures came from only thee. > When night has veiled the city in its shade > Thou, only thou, canst soothe the wandering maid, > And guide her trembling at the thunder's roar > Safe through the darkness to her lover's door. > In vain the wine-cup, as it circles by, > Lisps in her tongue and sparkles in her eye, > Long locks are streaming, and the cheek glows red, > But all is mockery, Love—dear Love—is dead. > The Moon, sweet spirit, shall lament for thee. > Late, dim, and joyless shall his rising be,— > Days shall fly on, and he forget to take > His full bright glory, mourning for thy sake. > Say, Káma, say, whose arrow now shall be > The soft green shoot of thy dear Mango tree. > The favourite spray which Köils love so well, > And praise in sweetest strain its wondrous spell? > This line of bees which strings thy useless bow > Hums mournful echo to my cries of woe; > Come in thy lovely shape and teach again > The Köil's mate, that knows the tender strain. > Her gentle task to waft to longing ears > The lover's hope, the distant lover's fears. > Come, bring once more that ecstasy of bliss. > The fond dear look, the smile, and ah! that kiss! > Fainting with woe, my soul refuses rest > When memory pictures how I have been blest. > See, thou didst weave a garland, love, to deck > With all Spring's fairest buds thy Reti's neck; > Sweet are those flowers as they were culled to-day, > And is my Káma's form more frail than they? > His pleasant task my lover had begun. > But stern Gods took him ere the work was done; > Return, my Káma, at thy Reti's cry, > One foot 's untinted with the rosy dye. > Now will I hie me to the fatal pile, > And ere Heaven's Maids have hailed thee with a smile, > Or on my love their winning glances thrown, > I will be there, and claim thee for mine own; > Yet though I come, my lasting shame will be > That I have lived one moment after thee. > Ah, how shall I thy funeral rites prepare, > Gone soul and body to the viewless air? > With thy dear Spring I've seen thee talk and smile. > Shaping an arrow for thy bow the while; > Where is he now, thy darling friend, the giver > Of many a bright sweet arrow for thy quiver? > Is he too sent upon death's dreary path, > Scorched by the cruel God's inexorable wrath?" > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1853, The Birth of the War-God (cantos 1–7) - [Previous: 4.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.4.21) - [Next: 4.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.4.23) - [Up: 4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.4) ## Translations (1) - [The Birth of the War-God (cantos 1–7)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava~en-griffith.4.p5) — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1853, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.4.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.4.22) · Pramāṇa