The Birth of Kumāra 7.28

7.28

akhaṇḍitaṃ prema labhasva patyurityucyate tābhirumā sma namrā |
tayā tu tasyārdhaśarīrabhājā paścātkṛtāḥ snigdhajanāśiṣo' pi ||

The happy Mother took the golden dye
And raised to hers young Uma's beaming eye—
Then swelled her bosom with maternal pride
As thus she decked her darling for a bride—
Oh, she had longed to trace on that fair brow
The nuptial line, yet scarce could mark it now!
On Uma's rounded arm the woollen band
Was fixt securely by the Nurse's hand—
Blind with the tears that filled her swimming eye,
In vain the Mother strove that band to tie.
Spotless as curling foam-flakes stood she there,
As yielding soft, as graceful and as fair—
Or like the glory of an autumn night
Robed by the full Moon in a veil of light.
Then at her Mother's hest, the Maid adored
The spirit of each high ancestral Lord,
Nor failed she next the noble Dames to greet,
And give due honour to their reverend feet.
They raised the Maiden as she bowed her head—
"Thine be the fulness of his love!"—they said;
Half of his being, blessing high as this
Can add no rapture to her perfect bliss.
Well-pleased Himálaya viewed the pomp and pride
Meet for his daughter, meet for Siva's bride.
Then sought the Hall with all his friends to wait
The bridegroom's coming with a Monarch's state.