गान्धर्वराक्षसौ क्षत्रे धर्म्यौ तौ मा विशङ्किथाः। पृथग्वा यदि वा मिश्रौ कर्तव्यौ नात्र संशयः
The Gandharva and Rakshasa forms are righteous for Kshatriyas—do not doubt this; whether separately or together, they may be performed—there is no uncertainty here.
सा त्वं मम सकामस्य सकामा वरवर्णिनी। गान्धर्वेण विवाहेन भार्या भवितुमर्हसि
Therefore, you, who desire me as I desire you, O beautiful one, are worthy to become my wife by the Gandharva form of marriage.
यदि धर्मपथस्त्वेव यदि चात्मा प्रभुर्मम। प्रदाने पौरवश्रेष्ठ शृणु मे समयं प्रभो
If the path of righteousness is truly mine, and if my self is my own master, O best of the Purus, listen to my condition regarding the giving away.
सत्यं मे प्रतिजानीहि यथा वक्ष्याम्यहं रहः। मयि जायेत यः पुत्रः स भवेत्त्वदनन्तरः
Swear to me truly, as I shall speak in private: the son who is born from me shall be your immediate successor.
युवराजो महाराज सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते। यद्येतदेवं दुष्यन्त अस्तु मे सङ्गमस्त्वया
He shall be the crown prince, O great king—this I truly declare to you; if this is so, O Dushyanta, let our union take place.
तस्यास्तु सर्वं संश्रुत्य यथोक्तं स विशांपतिः। दुष्यन्तः पुनरेवाह यद्यदिच्छसि तद्वद
Having agreed to all her words as spoken, the lord of the people, Dushyanta, again said: 'Tell me whatever else you desire.'
ख्यातो लोकप्रवादोयं विवाह इति शास्त्रतः। वैवाहिकीं क्रियां सन्तः प्रशंसन्ति प्रजाहिताम्
This is well known in the world as marriage, according to the scriptures; the wise praise the marriage rite as beneficial for the people.
लोकप्रवादशान्त्यर्थं विवाहं विधिना कुरु। सन्त्यत्र यज्ञपात्राणि दर्भाः सुमनसोऽक्षताः
For the sake of quelling public rumor, perform the marriage according to the rite; here are sacrificial vessels, darbha grass, flowers, and unbroken grains.
यथा युक्तो विवाहः स्यात्तथा युक्ता प्रजा भवेत्। तस्मादाज्यं हविर्लाजाः सिकता ब्राह्मणास्तव
As the marriage is properly performed, so will the offspring be proper; therefore, offer ghee, sacrificial grains, and sand, O Brahmana, for you.
वैवाहिकानि चान्यानि समस्तानीह पार्थिव। दुरुक्तमपि राजेन्द्र क्षन्तव्यं धर्मकारणात्
And all the other rites of marriage are here, O king; even harsh words, O king, should be forgiven for the sake of righteousness.
एवमस्त्विति तां राजा प्रत्युवाचाविचारयन्। अपि च त्वां हि नेष्यामि नगरं स्वं शुचिस्मिते
‘So be it,’ said the king to her, without hesitation; but, O pure-smiling one, I will not take you to my city.
यथा त्वमर्हा सुश्रोणि मन्यसे तद्ब्रवीमि ते। एवमुक्त्वा स राजर्षिस्तामनिन्दितगामिनीम्
As you are worthy, O lovely-hipped one, so I speak to you; having thus spoken, the royal sage addressed her, who was blameless in conduct.
पुरोहितं समाहूय वचनं युक्तमब्रवीत्। राजपुत्र्या यदुक्तं वै न वृथा कर्तुमुत्सहे
Summoning the priest, he spoke fitting words: 'What the princess has said, I am not able to disregard.'
क्रियाहीनो हि न भवेन्मम पुत्रो महाद्युतिः। तथा कुरुष्व शास्त्रोक्तं विवाहं मा चिरंकुरु
For my illustrious son should not be without the proper rite; therefore, perform the marriage as prescribed in the scriptures—do not delay.
एवमुक्तो नृपतिना द्विजः परमयन्त्रितः। शोभनं राजराजेति विधिना कृतवान्द्विजः
Thus addressed by the king, the twice-born, greatly constrained, performed the splendid royal rite according to the prescribed procedure.
शासनाद्विप्रमुख्यस्य कृतकौतुकमङ्गलः।' जग्राह विधिवत्पाणावुवास च तया सह
By command of the foremost Brahmin, with auspicious rituals and festivities completed, he took her hand in accordance with custom and dwelt together with her.
विश्वास्य चैनां स प्रायादब्रवीच्च पुनः पुनः। प्रेषयिष्ये तवार्थाय वाहिनीं चतुरङ्गिणीम्
Trusting her, he departed, repeatedly saying: 'For your sake, I will send a fourfold army.'
त्रैविद्यवृद्धैः सहितां नानाराजजनैः सह। शिबिकासहस्रैः सहिता वयमायान्ति बान्धवाः
Accompanied by elders versed in the three Vedas and various royal people, with thousands of palanquins, we relatives will come.
मूकाश्चैव किराताश्च कुब्जा वामनकैः सह। सहिताः कञ्चुकिवरैर्वाहिनी सूतमागधैः
Mute people, Kiratas, hunchbacks, and dwarfs, along with those wearing fine tunics, the army will be joined by charioteers and bards.
शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषैर्वनं च समुपैष्यति। तथा त्वामानयिष्यामि नगरं स्वं शुचिस्मिते
With the sound of conches and drums, the procession will reach the forest; thus, O pure-smiling one, I will bring you to my city.
अन्यथा त्वां न नेष्यामि स्वनिवेशमसत्कृताम्। सर्वमङ्गलसत्कारैः सुभ्रु सत्यं करोमि ते
Otherwise, I will not take you to my abode, honored one; with all auspicious hospitality, O beautiful-browed, I pledge this to you in truth.
एवमुक्त्वा स राजर्षिस्तामनिन्दितगामिनीम्। परिष्वज्य च बाहुभ्यां स्मितपूर्वमुदैक्षत
Having spoken thus, the royal sage embraced her, who walked blamelessly, and looked at her with a smile.
प्रदक्षिणीकृतां देवीं पुनस्तां परिषस्वजे। शकुन्तला सा सुमुखी पपात नृपपादयोः
He embraced the lady again after circumambulating her; Shakuntala, with a lovely face, fell at the king's feet.
तां देवीं पुनरुत्थाप्य मा शुचेति पुनः पुनः। शपेयं सुकृतेनैव प्रापयिष्ये नृपात्मजे
Raising the lady again, he repeatedly said, 'Do not grieve'; I swear by my good deeds, O daughter of the king, I will bring you.
इति तस्याः प्रतिश्रुत्य स नृपो जनमेजय। मनसा चिन्तयन्प्रायात्काश्यपं प्रति पार्थिव
Having thus promised her, the king Janamejaya departed, pondering in his mind, heading toward Kashyapa.
भगवांस्तपसा युक्तः श्रुत्वा किं नु करिष्यति। तं न प्रसाद्यागतोऽहं प्रसीदेति द्विजोत्तमम्। एवं संचिन्तयन्नेव प्रविवेश स्वकं पुरम्
The blessed one, engaged in austerity, hearing this, wondered what he would do; 'I have come without appeasing him—will the eminent Brahmin be pleased?' Thus thinking, he entered his own city.
ततो मुहूर्ते याते तु कण्वोऽप्याश्रममागमत्। शकुन्तला च पितरं ह्रिया नोपजगाम तम्
After a moment had passed, Kanva also arrived at the hermitage; Shakuntala, out of modesty, did not approach her father.
शङ्कितेव च विप्रर्षिमुपचक्राम सा शनैः। ततोऽस्य भारं जग्राह आसनं चाप्यकल्पयत्
As if apprehensive, she slowly approached the sage; then she took his burden and prepared a seat for him.
प्राक्षालयच्च सा पादौ काश्यपस्य महात्मनः। न चैनं लज्जयाऽशक्नोदक्षिभ्यामभिवीक्षितुम्
She washed the feet of the great-souled Kashyapa, but out of shame could not look at him with her eyes.
शकुन्तला च सव्रीडा तमृषिं नाभ्यभाषत। तस्मात्स्वधर्मात्स्खलिता भीता सा भरतर्षभ
Shakuntala, bashful, did not speak to the sage; fearful, O bull among Bharatas, she had slipped from her own duty.