भ्रुवौ भुग्ने किंचिद्भुवनभयभङ्गव्यसनिनि त्वदीये नेत्राभ्यां मधुकररुचिभ्यां धृतगुणम्। धनुर्मन्ये सव्येतरकरगृहीतं रतिपतेः प्रकोष्ठे मुष्टौ च स्थगयति निगूढान्तरमुमे॥
bhruvau bhugnē kiṁcid bhuvana-bhaya-bhaṅga-vyasanini tvadīyē nētrābhyāṁ madhukara-rucibhyāṁ dhṛta-guṇam। dhanur manyē savyētaraka-ra-gṛhītaṁ rati-patēḥ prakōṣṭhē muṣṭau ca sthagayati nigūḍhāntaram umē॥
Translation
O Uma, your slightly curved eyebrows, devoted to dispelling world’s fears, with your bee-charming eyes holding the string, I consider as Kamadeva’s bow, held by his left hand, concealing the hidden space on the forearm and fist.
Word by word
- bhruvau
- eyebrows
- bhugnē
- slightly curved
- kiṁcit
- somewhat
- bhuvana
- world
- bhaya
- fear
- bhaṅga
- dispelling
- vyasanini
- devoted to
- tvadīyē
- your
- nētrābhyāṁ
- with eyes
- madhukara
- bee
- rucibhyāṁ
- with charm
- dhṛta
- held
- guṇam
- string
- dhanuḥ
- bow
- manyē
- I consider
- savyētaraka-ra-gṛhītaṁ
- held by the left hand
- rati-patēḥ
- of Kamadeva
- prakōṣṭhē
- on forearm
- muṣṭau
- in fist
- ca
- and
- sthagayati
- conceals
- nigūḍha
- hidden
- antaram
- space
- umē
- O Uma
Meaning
The Goddess’s eyebrows (bhruvau), gently curved and fear-dispelling (bhuvana-bhaya-bhaṅga), paired with her captivating eyes (nētrābhyāṁ), resemble Kamadeva’s bow (dhanuḥ), with the eyes as the string (guṇam). The bow’s form hides its inner space, symbolizing mystery. Addressed as umē, her features evoke divine charm. In Śrīvidyā, her eyebrows represent icchā śakti (will-power). The verse reflects Shakta devotion, likening her beauty to Kamadeva’s weapon of love