Kumara-Sambhavam of Kalidasa – Sanskrit & English

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Kumarasambhava is a legendary Sanskrit poem written by Mahakavi Kalidasa. It is one of the most foremost and substantial examples of `Kavya` poetry. Kumarasambhava literally stands for “Birth of the War-god”, i.e. Kartikeya, Shiva`s first son.

Kumarasambhava essentially talks about the courtship of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The bulk of chapters have enormous details about the love and romance between Shiva and Parvati. It is stated that a powerful demon named Tarakasura was blessed with the boon that only the child of Lord Shiva could vanquish him and no other. Likewise, Shiva had cut short the desire for love through passionate meditation. Due to Parvati`s brilliant efforts and after much penance, she won the love of Lord Shiva.

After sometime, Shiva and Parvati were blessed with a son whom they named Kartikeya. He grew up and slew the demon Tarakasur and re-established peace and glory of Lord Indra and the divine world.

It is said that Kalidasa had left home to attain worldly knowledge and turn the ‘enlightened one’. On his return, his wife asked, “Asti Kashchit Vagvisheshah”, standing for, “Have you attained any palpable knowledge that should make me give you a special welcome?” Kalidasa gave her a fitting reply and spanning a period of few years, he wrote three great epics based on three letters spoken by his wife. From “Asti” he produced “Kumarasambhava”; from “Kaschit” he penned “Meghaduta” and from “Vagvisheshah” he wrote “Raghuvansha”.

DOWNLOAD LINKS

Kumarasambhava Cantos I-VII – Sanskrit Commentary, English Translation & Notes – MR Kale

Kumarasambhavam – Eng Translation by RTH Griffith

Kumarasambhavam with Mallinatha’s Sanskrit Commentary

Comments

Kumara-Sambhavam of Kalidasa – Sanskrit & English — 105 Comments

  8. hey, i want a good matter on the great poet kalidasa in sanskrit can u please help me, its urgent
    with regards
    manvi

    Reply ↓

  11. Apropos Kalidasa’s enlightenment, the story goes as follows : Kalidasa was a goat/shepherd and was to begin with an illiterate and had a different name. Goddess Kali appeared before him and after a dialogue wrote out on his tongue :
    “Asthi Kaschith Vaak Viseshaha” in Sanskrit after which Kalidasa became a “littérateur extraordinaire”. He then also assumed the name of ‘Kalidasa’ and became a Royal Poet in King Bhoja Raja’s court, who himself was a great sanskrit poet/author.

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  15. Can anybody provide me the Himalaya Vandana of Kalidasa’s Kumarsambhavam? I’m frantically looking for it.Pls. help.

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  16. I need raghuvamsa and kumarasambhava of Kalidasa
    Kashinath Nyaupane,
    Nepal Sanskrit university,
    Kathmandu , Nepal.

    Reply ↓

      • Meena,

        Various editions of Kumarasambhava in Telugu with translation are available at DLI (Digital Library of India).

        kumara_sambavamu_samskrutandra_tikasahitamu., 2020010005894. sri kalidasu. 1948. telugu. NULL. 178 pgs.
        Kumara_Sambhavamu., 2020010001713. kalidas. 1918. TELUGU. literature. 330 pgs.
        Nannechoda Devakrutha Kumara Sambavamu., 2020120001003. J.Mrutunjaya Rao. 1994. telugu. POERTY. 762 pgs.
        Nannechoda Devakrutha Kumara Sambavamu., 2020120035038. J.Mrutunjaya Rao. 1994. telugu. POERTY. 762 pgs.
        Sri Andhra Kumar Sambhavamu-Part-1., 2020120035568. A.Somanadha Raya. 1914. telugu. -. 117 pgs.
        sri_kumara_sambavamu., 2020010007898. mahakavi kalidasaparaneetamu. 1943. telugu. NULL. 318 pgs.

        I do not know Telugu. So, I cannot help you much in this matter. For guidance to download books from DLI, visit http://sanskritdocuments.org/scannedbooks/

        Reply ↓

    • Kavanya,

      Giving below link to Kumarasambhava in Telugu available at Digital Library of India
      sri_kumara_sambavamu., 2020010007898. mahakavi kalidasaparaneetamu. 1943. telugu. NULL. 318 pgs.

      Reply ↓

  24. Kalidas is a foremost name in field of Sanskrit literature .He was born in Uttrakhand At the route of Kedarnath shrine a place called Guptakashi near it the village Kabitha is his birth place .He was in Gupta dynasty .It is well known fact that almost Yakshya was in Himalaya and now their successor are residing in Himalaya called Khasiya or Khash . In his depiction Meghdoot the Alkapuri is certainly Almora .I am not agree with the fact that he was idiot in his early age .Without seeing Himalayaya no one can depict about Kalash and Himalaya

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    • Rajesh,

      Kadambari edited by MR Kale is available at Digital Library of India (dli.gov.in). See the details below.

      A Literal English Translation of Bana’s Kadambari., 99999990301009. Kale, M. R.. 1924. english. Literature. 304 pgs.
      Bana’s Kadambari,Ed.3., 4990010047888. Kale,M.R.. 1928. sanskrit. History. 960 pgs.
      Kadambari Purvabhaga., 99999990293340. Kale,M.R.. 1928. sanskrit. Devotional. 637 pgs.

      I could not find Kumarasambhava edited by Devadhar anywhere on the internet. You may have to borrow it from a library or buy a copy of it.

      Reply ↓

  33. sir i need kumarasambhava 3rd canto english commentary & english explanation of each sloka. I got english translation but not explanation.

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    • Rajeshbm,

      Kumarasambhava with English translation and explanation is available at DLI. Link is given below. (Scan quality is a bit poor).
      The Kumarsambhava., 99999990293133. Bhattacharya,Krishna Kamal. 1891. sanskrit. Devotional. 515 pgs.

      Reply ↓

  35. namaste, my exams are so near. canto 3rd and 4th are quite easy but in the 5th canto all commentaries is very hard to learn and understand.can i write commentary in english in the exams.i need your help. Please reply me asap.

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  46. I would like, for study purpose, a copy of the 12th canto of Raghuvamsa by Mahakavi Kalidasa, in devnagari script.
    Where can I download? No me to get copy of the book ;from stores

    Thanks a MILLION

    Ramaswamy

    Reply ↓

  49. Namaste!

    I need Sanskrit to English translation of Kumarasambhava’s 2nd sarga – Brahma Stuti and 6th sarga – Shiv Stuti. Also need sanskrit to English translation of Raghuvansh’s 10th sarga – Vishnu Stuti. Thank you very much for your help.

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  52. Where can I get kumarasambhavam with mallinaatha Suri’s commentary in Telugu script? Even the Kalidasa’s original was transliterated in Telugu script. Vedam Venkataraya Sastri wrote a preface for the book. Please help.

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  55. can anybody is aware of shiv parwati sanwad where parwati asks shiva when he comes to her and knock the door- who are you, and shiva says i am shiva.Parwati says there are two shivas, who are you. like that communication goes on in sanskrit.Pl reply

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  56. I’m thankful to U for this valuable service. I’ve downloaded many books, which R most important to me, from this site. Now, I’ve need ‘कंदर्पचूडामणि’ with original text and Sanskrit teeka or Translate in Hindi or English. so Plz. help me if possible.

    Reply ↓

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