न्यमन्त्रयत चाप्येनां सा चाप्यैच्छदनिन्दिता। तौ तत्र सुचिरं कालमुभौ व्यवहरतां तदा
She invited him, and she, blameless, also wished for him; the two of them lived together there for a very long time.
रममाणौ यथाकामं यतैकदिवसं तथा। `एवं वर्षसहस्राणामतीतं नान्वचिन्तयत्
Enjoying each other as they desired, just as on a single day, thus a thousand years passed without their noticing.
कामक्रोधावजितवान्मुनिर्नित्यं समाहितः। चिरार्जितस्य तपसः क्षयं स कृतवान्मुनिः
The sage, always composed, had conquered desire and anger; yet he brought to an end the austerity he had long accumulated.
तपसः संक्षयादेव मुनिर्मोहं समाविशत्। मोहाभिभूतः क्रोधात्मा ग्रसन्मूलफलान्मुनिः
Because his austerity was depleted, the sage was overtaken by delusion; overcome by confusion and anger, he ate roots and fruits.
पादैर्जलरवं कृत्वा अन्तर्द्वीपे कुटीं गतः। मेनका गन्तुकामा तु शुश्राव जलनिस्वनम्
Making a sound in the water with his feet, he went to his hut on the island; Menakā, wishing to depart, heard the sound of the water.
तपसा दीप्तवीर्योऽसावाकाशादेति याति च। अद्य संज्ञां विजानामि ययाऽद्य तपसः क्षयः
His energy, bright from austerity, comes and goes through the sky; today I realize the sign by which his austerity is ended.
गन्तुं न युक्तमित्युक्त्वा ऋतुस्नाताथ मेनका। कामरागाभिभूतस्य मुनेः पार्स्वं जगाम ह
Saying, 'It is not proper to go,' Menakā, having bathed after her period, approached the sage who was overcome by desire and passion.
जनयामास स मुनिर्मेनकायां शकुन्तलाम्। प्रस्थे हिमवतो रम्ये मालिनीमभितो नदीम्
The sage begot on Menakā a daughter, Śakuntalā, on the beautiful slopes of Himavat, near the Mālinī river.
देवगर्भोपमां बालां सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्। शयानां शयने रम्ये मेनका वाक्यमब्रवीत्
A girl like a child of the gods, adorned with all ornaments, lay on a lovely bed; to her Menakā spoke these words.
महर्षेरुग्रतपसस्तेजस्त्वमसि भामिनि। तस्मात्स्वर्गं गमिष्यामि देवकार्यार्थमागता
'O radiant one, you possess the energy of the great sage's fierce austerity; therefore I shall go to heaven, for I came here for the work of the gods.'
जातमुत्सृज्य तं गर्भं मेनका मालिनीमनु। कृतकार्या ततस्तूर्णमगच्छच्छक्रसंसदम्
Leaving that newborn child by the Mālinī, Menakā, her task accomplished, quickly went to Indra's assembly.
तं वने विजने गर्भं सिंहव्याघ्रसमाकुले। दृष्ट्वा शयानं शकुनाः समन्तात्पर्यवारयन्। नेमां हिंस्युर्वने बालां क्रव्यादा मांसगृद्धिनः
Seeing the child lying alone in the forest, filled with lions and tigers, birds gathered all around her so that the flesh-eating beasts would not harm the girl.
पर्यरक्षन्त तां तत्र शकुन्ता मेनकात्मजाम्। उपस्प्रष्टुं गतश्चाहमपश्यं शयितामिमाम्
There the birds protected Menakā's daughter; when I went to bathe, I saw her lying there.
निर्जने विपिने रम्ये शकुन्तैः परिवारिताम्। `मां दृष्ट्वैवाभ्यपद्यन्त पादयोः पतिता द्विजाः। अब्रुञ्शकुनाः सर्वे कलं मधुरभाषिणः
In the lovely, lonely forest, surrounded by birds, as soon as they saw me, the twice-born birds approached and fell at my feet; all the birds spoke sweetly in gentle tones.
विश्वामित्रसुतां ब्रह्मन्न्यासभूतां भरस्व वै। कामक्रोधावजितवान्सखा ते कौशिकीं गतः
'O Brahmin, take up the daughter of Viśvāmitra, entrusted to you; your friend, who conquered desire and anger, has gone to the Kauśikī.'
तस्मात्पोषय तत्पुत्रीं दयावानिति तेऽब्रुवन्। सर्वभूतरुतज्ञोऽहं दयावान्सर्वजन्तुषु
Therefore, they said to me, 'Raise this daughter with compassion.' I know the speech of all creatures, and I am compassionate to all beings.
आनयित्वा ततश्चैनां दुहितृत्वे न्यवेशयम्
Then, bringing her, I established her as my daughter.
शरीरकृत्प्राणदाता यस्य चान्नानि भुञ्जते। क्रमेणैते त्रयोऽप्युक्ताः पितरो धर्मशासने
He who gives the body, he who gives life, and he whose food one eats—these three are called fathers according to the law of righteousness.
निर्जने तु वने यस्माच्छकुन्तैः परिवारिता। शकुन्तलेति नामास्याः कृतं चापि ततो मया
Because she was surrounded by birds in the lonely forest, I gave her the name Shakuntala.
एवं दुहितरं विद्धि मम विप्र शकुन्तलाम्। शकुन्तला च पितरं मन्यते मामनिन्दिता
Know, O Brahmin, that Shakuntala is my daughter; and Shakuntala, blameless one, regards me as her father.
एतदाचष्ट पृष्टः सन्मम जन्म महर्षये। सुतां कण्वस्य मामेवं विद्धि त्वं मनुजाधिप
Thus, when questioned, I told the great sage about my birth; know me as the daughter of Kanva, O king of men.
कण्वं हि पितरं मन्ये पितरं स्वमजानती। इति ते कथितं राजन्यथावृत्तं श्रुतं मया
For, not knowing her true father, she considers Kanva her father; thus, O king, I have told you what I have heard as it happened.
सुव्यक्तं राजपुत्री त्वं यथा कल्याणि भाषसे। भार्या मे भव सुश्रोणि ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
It is clear you are a royal maiden, O blessed one, as you speak; become my wife, fair-hipped one, and tell me what I should do for you.
सुवर्णमालां वासांसि कुण्डले परिहाटके। नानापत्तनजे शुभ्रे मणिरत्ने च शोभने
I will bring you a golden necklace, garments, earrings, and bracelets, O beautiful one, and various splendid jewels from many cities.
आहरामि तवाद्याहं निष्कादीन्यजिनानि च। सर्वं राज्यं तवाद्यास्तु भार्या मे भव शोभने
Today I will fetch for you necklaces and deer-skins; let the whole kingdom be yours from this day, O lovely one, become my wife.
गान्धर्वेण च मां भीरु विवाहेनैहि सुन्दरि। विवाहानां हि रम्भोरु गान्धर्वः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते
Come, timid one, marry me by the Gandharva rite, O beautiful lady; for among all forms of marriage, the Gandharva is said to be the best, O slender-waisted one.
फलाहारो गतो राजन्पिता मे इत आश्रमात्। मुहूर्तं संप्रतीक्षस्व स मां तुभ्यं प्रदास्यति
My father has gone, O king, to gather fruits from the hermitage; wait a moment, and he will give me to you.
पिता हि मे प्रभुर्नित्यं दैवतं परमं मम। यस्मै मां दास्यति पिता स मे भर्ता भविष्यति
For my father is always my lord, my highest deity; the one to whom my father gives me, he will be my husband.
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने। पुत्रस्तु स्थाविरे भावे न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति
A father protects a girl in childhood, a husband protects her in youth, and a son in old age; a woman is not fit for independence.
समन्यमाना राजेन्द्र पितरं मे तपस्विनम्। अधर्मेण हि धर्मिष्ठ कथं वरमुपास्महे
Honoring my ascetic father, O king, how could I, who value righteousness, seek a husband unrighteously?