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.
अभवद्दोषदर्शित्वाद्ब्रह्मचारिण्ययन्त्रिता। स तदा व्रीडितां दृष्ट्वा ऋषिस्तां प्रत्यभाषत
Because she saw fault in herself, restrained by her vow of celibacy, she was bashful; seeing her thus, the sage addressed her.
सव्रीडैव च दीर्घायुः पुरेव भविता न च। वृत्तं कथय रम्भोरु मा त्रासं च प्रकल्पय
Even bashful, you will live long as before; tell me what has happened, O slender-thighed one, and do not be afraid.
ततः प्रक्षाल्य पादौ सा विश्रान्तं पुनरब्रवीत्। निधाय कामं तस्यर्षेः कन्दानि च फलानि च
Then, having washed his feet, she spoke again to the resting sage, having placed before him, as he wished, roots and fruits.
ततः संवाह्य पादौ सा विश्रान्तं वेदिमध्यमा। शकुन्तला पौरवाणां दुष्यन्तं जग्मुषी पतिम्
Then, after massaging his feet, Shakuntala, the best among women, who was to become the wife of Dushyanta of the Paurava line, withdrew.
ततः कृच्छ्रादतिशुभा सव्रीडा श्रमती तदा। सगद्गदमुवाचेदं काश्यपं सा शुचिस्मिता
Then, though weary and exceedingly beautiful, she, modest and smiling purely, spoke these faltering words to Kashyapa.
राजा ताताजगामेह दुष्यन्त इलिलात्मजः। मया पतिर्वृतो योऽसौ दैवयोगादिहागतः
Father, the king Dushyanta, son of Ilila, has come here; he, whom I accepted as husband by divine ordination, has arrived.
तस्य तात प्रसीद त्वं भर्ता मे सुमहायशाः। अतः सर्वं तु यद्वृत्तं दिव्यज्ञानेन पश्यसि
Therefore, father, be gracious; my husband is of great fame. By your divine insight, you see all that has happened.
चक्षुषा स तु दिव्येन सर्वं विज्ञाय काश्यपः
Then Kashyapa, by his divine vision, perceived everything.
ततो धर्मिष्ठतां मत्वा धर्मे चास्खलितं मनः। उवाच भगवान्प्रीतस्तद्वृत्तं सुमहातपाः
Then, recognizing her righteousness and her mind unswerving from duty, the blessed, greatly austere sage, pleased, spoke about what had occurred.
एवमेतन्मया ज्ञातं दृष्टं दिव्येन चक्षुषा। त्वयाऽद्य राजान्वयया मामनादृत्य यत्कृतम्
So it is, I have known and seen all this with my divine sight—what you have done today, disregarding me, for the sake of the royal lineage.
पुंसा सह समायोगो न स धर्मोपघातकः। न भयं विद्यते भद्रे मा शुचः सुकृतं कृतम्
Union with a man is not a violation of righteousness; do not fear, gentle one, you have acted rightly.
क्षत्रियस्य तु गान्धर्वो विवाहः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते। सकामायाः सकामेन निमन्त्रः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते
For a Kshatriya, the Gandharva marriage is considered the best; when both desire and consent, that is said to be the highest.
किं पुनर्विधिवत्कृत्वा सुप्रजस्त्वमवाप्स्यसि।' धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च दुष्यन्तः पुरुषोत्तमः
How much more, when performed according to proper rites, will you obtain noble offspring; Dushyanta, righteous and great-souled, is the best of men.
अभ्यागच्छत्पतिर्यस्त्वां भजमानां शकुन्तले। महात्मा जनिता लोके पुत्रस्तव महायशाः
Your husband, O Shakuntala, who has come to you while you were devoted, is a great soul; your son will be renowned in the world.
स च सर्वां समुद्रान्तां कृत्स्नां भोक्ष्यति मेदिनीम्। परं चाभिप्रयातस्य चक्रं तस्य महात्मनः
He will enjoy the entire earth, bounded by the oceans, and the wheel of his sovereignty will advance without hindrance.
भविष्यत्यप्रतिहतं सततं चक्रवर्तिनः। प्रसन्न एव तस्याहं त्वकृते वरवर्णिनि
His wheel of empire will always be unobstructed; and for your sake, O beautiful one, I am well pleased.
ऋतवो बहवस्ते वै गता व्यर्थाः शुचिस्मिते। सार्थकं सांप्रतं ह्येतन्न च पाप्मास्ति तेऽनघे। गृहाण च वरं मत्तस्तत्कृते यदभीप्सितम्
Many seasons have passed in vain, O pure-smiling one; now this has become fruitful, and you are free from fault. Take a boon from me, whatever you desire for this reason.
मया पतिर्वृतो योऽसौ दुष्यन्तः पुरुषोत्तमः। मम चैव पतिर्दृष्टो देवतानां समक्षतः। तस्मै ससचिवाय त्वं प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
He whom I have accepted as husband, Dushyanta, the best of men, has been recognized by me as my husband in the presence of the gods; therefore, be gracious to him and his counselors.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा मनसा प्रणिधाय मनस्विनी। ततो धर्मिष्ठतां वव्रे राज्ये चास्खलनं तथा
Having spoken thus, the wise woman, intent in mind, then chose righteousness and steadfastness in the kingdom.
शकुन्तलां पौरवाणां दुष्यन्तहितकाम्यया। `एवमस्त्विति तां प्राह कण्वो धर्मभृतां वरः
For the good of Dushyanta of the Paurava line, Kanva, the foremost of the righteous, said to her, 'So be it.'