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.'
पस्पर्श चापि पाणिभ्यां सुतां श्रीमिवरूपिणीम्
He touched his daughter, radiant in beauty, with his hands.
अद्यप्रभृति देवी त्वं दुष्यन्तस्य महात्मनः। पतिव्रतानां या वृत्तिस्तां वृत्तिमनुपालय
From this day forward, O noble lady, you are the wife of the great-souled Duṣyanta; uphold the conduct that is proper for devoted wives.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा धर्मात्मा तां विशुद्ध्यर्थमस्पृशत्। स्पृष्टमात्रे शरीरे तु परं हर्षमवाप सा
Having spoken thus, the righteous one refrained from touching her for the sake of purity; but at the mere touch upon her body, she experienced great joy.
प्रतिज्ञाय च दुष्यन्ते प्रतियाते दिने दिने। `गर्भश्च ववृधे तस्यां राजपुत्र्यां महात्मनः
After Duṣyanta had departed, having pledged himself, day by day the royal maiden bore the growing child of that great soul.
शकुन्तला चिन्तयन्ती राजानं कार्यगौरवात्। दिवारात्रमनिद्रैव स्नानभोजनवर्जिता
Śakuntalā, constantly thinking of the king out of the gravity of her situation, remained sleepless day and night, neglecting bathing and food.
राजप्रेषणिका विप्राश्चतुरङ्गबलान्विताः। अद्य श्वो वा परश्वो वा समायान्तीति निस्चिता
Certain that the king's messengers, brāhmaṇas, and troops would arrive today, tomorrow, or the day after, she waited.
दिनान्पक्षानृतून्मासानयनानि च सर्वशः। गण्यमानानि वर्षाणि व्यतीयुस्त्रीणि भारत
Days, fortnights, seasons, months, and all the years passed by as she counted them, O Bhārata, and three years elapsed.
त्रिषु वर्षेषु पूर्णेषु ऋषेर्वचनगौरवात्। ऋषिपत्न्यः सुबहुशो हेतुमद्वाक्यमब्रुवन्
When three years had fully passed, out of respect for the sage's words, the wives of the sage spoke to her many times with words of reason.
शृणु भद्रे लोकवृत्तं श्रुत्वा यद्रोचते तव। तत्कुरुष्व हितं देवि नावमान्यं गुरोर्वचः
"Listen, dear one, to the ways of the world; do what pleases you after hearing. O lady, the words of the guru should not be disregarded; do what is beneficial."
देवानां दैवतं विष्णुर्विप्राणामग्निर्ब्रह्म च। नारीणां दैवतं भर्ता लोकानां ब्राह्मणो गुरुः
Viṣṇu is the deity of the gods, Agni of the brāhmaṇas, and Brahmā as well; for women, the husband is the deity, and for the worlds, the brāhmaṇa is the teacher.