Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa: Cantos I-VIII (Edited with Commentary of Mallinatha, a Literal English Translation, Notes and Introduction)

The most important Kavyas of Kalidasa - Raghuvamsa and Kumarasambhava - are distinguished by their independence of treatment and excellence of poetical beauty. The Kumarasambhava varies from the loveliness of spring and the delights of married love to the utter desolation induced by the death of beloved. The subject is unquestionably a daring one: the events which brings about the marriage of Lord Siva to Uma and the birth of Skanda.

The prose order of each sloka has been given in the commentary by using bold type, the words not actually repeated by Mallinatha being enclosed within rectangular brackets. The notes explain allusions, grammatical peculiarities not noticed by Mallinatha, copious extracts from other commentaries being given for this purpose. The book includes text, the commentary of Mallinatha, a literal English translation, notes and introduction.

Preface:

At the suggestion of some professors and readers from several parts of India where this poem is studied as a text-book, I have added the 8th canto in this edition, thus giving the complete poem in one volume. As regards the additional cantos (9-17) found in some copies of the Kumarasambhava, scholars are now generally agreed that they are spurious, being the work of some other poet. I have also taken this opportunity to submit the whole work to a thorough revision, with special attention to the needs of the class of students for whom this edition is intended.

As in other books edited by me, the prose order of each sloka has been given in the commentary by using bold type, the words not actually repeated by Mallinatha being enclosed within rectangular brackets. The notes explain all allusions, and grammatical peculiarities not noticed by Mallinatha, copious extracts from other commentaries being given for this purpose. The introduction also gives a summary of all the eight cantos in English. The main outline of the story, as found in the Siva-Purana, has also been given in original Sanskrit. Important additions have been made in the Notes, and in this respect I thankfully acknowledge the help derived from the Trivandrum Sanskrit Series edition with the commentaries of Arunagirinatha and Narayana. As before, I am indebted also to the editions of Deshpande and Chakravarti. Any suggestions etc. to further increase the usefulness of this edition will be most thankfully received.

M. R. Kale
Bombay,
January 1923

Preface to the Sixth Edition:

The edition of Kumarasambhava was not available for past several years. Some editions of other authors contain only five or less cantos and therefore need to have a complete poem was much felt. This edition which is a reprint of Fifth edition containing all the eight cantos of the poem, is hoped to be of special use to students. I am much thankful to Shri Sundarlal Jain of M/s Motilal Banarsidass of Delhi-7, who undertook to publish the sixth edition in a short time.

V. M. Kale
Bombay-16,
Jan. 1967.