[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) › 7.18 # The Birth of Kumāra 7.18 Kumārasaṃbhava 7.18 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [7.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.7.18) rekhābibhaktaśca vibhaktagātryāḥ kiñcinmadhūcchiṣṭavimṛṣṭarāgaḥ | kāmapyabhikhyāṃ sphuritairapuṣyadāsannalāvaṇyaphalo'dhraroṣṭhaḥ || > With sweetest influence a star of power > Had joined the spotted Moon—at that blest hour > To deck fair Uma many a noble dame > And many a gentle maid assiduous came; > And well she graced their toil, more brightly fair > With feathery grass and wild flowers in her hair— > A silken robe flowed free below her waist. > Her sumptuous head a glittering arrow graced— > So shines the young unclouded Moon at last. > Greeting the Sun, its darksome season past. > Sweet-scented Lodra dust and Sandal dyed > The delicate beauties of the fair young bride. > Veiled with a soft light robe: her tiring-girls > Then led her to a chamber decked with pearls > And paved with sapphires, where the lulling sound > Of choicest music breathed divinely round. > There o'er the Lady's limbs they poured by turns > Streams of pure water from their golden urns. > Fresh from the cooling bath the lovely Maid > In fairest white her tender form arrayed— > So opes the Kása all her shining flowers > Lured from their buds by softly falling showers. > Then to a court with canopies o'erhead > A crowd of noble dames the Maiden led— > A court for solemn rites, where gems and gold > Adorn the pillars that the roof uphold. > There on a couch they set her with her face > Turned toward the East—so lovely then the grace > Of that dear Maid, so ravishing her smile, > E'en her attendants turned to gaze awhile, > For though the brightest gems around her lay, > Her brighter beauty stole their eyes away. > Through her long tresses one a flower-wreath wound, > And one with fragrant grass her temples crowned, > While o'er her head sweet clouds of incense rolled > To dry and perfume every shining fold. > Bright dyes of Saffron and the scented wood > Adorned her beauty, till the Maiden stood > Fairer than Ganga when the Love-birds play > O'er sandy islets in her silvery bay. > To what rare beauty shall her maids compare > Her clear brow shaded by her glossy hair? > Less dazzling pure the sacred Lotus shines > Flecked by the thronging bees in dusky lines— > Less bright the Moon, when a dark band of cloud > Enhances beauties which it could not shroud. > Behind her ear a head of barley drew > The eye to gaze upon its golden hue, > But then her cheek with glowing Saffron dyed > To richer beauty called the glance aside; > Though from those lips where Beauty's guerdon lay > The vermeil tints were newly washed away. > Yet o'er them, as she smiled, a ray was thrown > Of quivering brightness that was all their own. > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1853, The Birth of the War-God (cantos 1–7) - [Previous: 7.17](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.7.17) - [Next: 7.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.7.19) - [Up: 7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.7) ## Translations (1) - [The Birth of the War-God (cantos 1–7)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava~en-griffith.7.p3) — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1853, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.7.18](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.kavya.mahakavya.saiva.kumarasambhava.7.18) · Pramāṇa