शृणु भद्रे मम सुते मम वाक्यं शुचिस्मिते
Hear my words, O gentle one, my daughter, O pure-smiling one.
पतिव्रतानां नारीणां विशिष्टमिति चोच्यते। पतिशुश्रूषणं पूर्वं मनोवाक्कायचेष्टितैः
It is said that among women devoted to their husbands, the foremost duty is service to the husband—by mind, speech, and bodily actions.
अनुज्ञाता मया पूर्वं पूजयैतद्व्रतं तव। एतेनैव च वृत्तेन पुण्याँल्लोकानवाप्य च
With my prior permission, you have observed this vow; by this very conduct, you will attain blessed worlds.
तस्यान्ते मानुषे लोके विशिष्टां तप्स्यसे श्रियम्। तस्माद्भद्रेऽद्य यातव्यं समीपं पौरवस्य ह
At the end of this, in the world of men, you will obtain distinguished prosperity; therefore, gentle one, today you must go to the presence of the descendant of Puru.
स्वयं नायाति मत्वा ते गतं कालं शुचिस्मिते। गत्वाऽऽराधय राजानं दुष्यन्तं हितकाम्यया
Since he does not come himself, thinking the time has passed, O pure-smiling one, go and propitiate King Dushyanta with a desire for his welfare.
दौष्यन्तिं यौवराज्यस्थं दृष्ट्वा प्रीतिमवाप्स्यसि। देवतानां गुरूणां च क्षत्रियाणां च भामिनि
Seeing Dushyanta established in the position of crown prince, you will feel joy; for the gods, elders, and Kshatriyas, O beautiful one—
भर्तॄणां च विशेषेम हितं संगमनं भवेत्। तस्मात्पुत्रि कुमारेण गन्तव्यं मत्प्रियेप्सया
And especially for husbands, union is beneficial; therefore, daughter, you must go with your son, wishing for my pleasure.
प्रतिवाक्यं न दद्यास्त्वं शपिता मम पादयोः
You must not give any reply; you are bound by my command.
एवमुक्त्वा सुतां तत्र पौत्रं कण्वोऽभ्यभाषत। परिष्वज्य च बाहुभ्यां मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय पौरवम्
Having thus spoken to his daughter, Kanva addressed his grandson there, embracing the Paurava with his arms and smelling his head.
सोमवंशोद्भवो राजा दुष्यन्त इति विश्रुतः। तस्याग्रमहिषी चैषा तव माता शुचिव्रता
The king, famed as Dushyanta, is born of the lunar dynasty; this pure-vowed lady is his chief queen and your mother.
गन्तुकामा भर्तृपार्श्वं त्वया सह सुमध्यमा। गत्वाऽभिवाद्य राजनं यौवराज्यमवाप्स्यसि
Desiring to go to her husband’s side, this slender-waisted lady will go with you; having gone, after saluting the king, you will obtain the crown prince’s position.
स पिता तव राजेन्द्रस्तस्य त्वं वशगो भव। पितृपैतामहं राज्यमातिष्ठस्व स्वभावतः
He is your father, the lord of kings; you must be obedient to him. Rule the kingdom inherited from your father and grandfather by your own nature.
तस्मिन्काले स्वराज्यस्थो मामनुस्मर पौरव
When you are established in your own sovereignty, O descendant of Puru, do not forget me.
अभिवाद्य मुनेः पादौ पौरवो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। त्वं पिता मम विप्रर्षे त्वं माता त्वं गतिश्च मे
Having bowed to the sage’s feet, the Paurava spoke these words: 'You are my father, O sage among Brahmins, you are my mother, you are also my refuge.'
न चान्यं पितरं मन्ये त्वामृते तु महातपः। तव शुश्रूषणं पुण्यमिह लोके परत्र च
O great ascetic, except for you, I do not consider anyone else my father; serving you is meritorious in this world and the next.
शकुन्तला भर्तृकामा स्वयं यातु यथेष्टतः। अहं सुश्रूषणपरः पादमूले वसामि वः
Let Shakuntala, desiring a husband, go as she wishes; I will remain at your feet, devoted to your service.
क्रीडां व्यालमृगैः सार्धं करिष्ये न पुरा यथा। त्वच्छासनपरो नित्यं स्वाध्यायं च करोम्यहम्
I will no longer play with wild animals as before; I will always follow your instructions and diligently pursue my studies.
एवमुक्त्वा तु संश्लिष्य पादौ कण्वस्य तिष्ठतः। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्ररुरोद शकुन्तला
Having spoken thus, he embraced the feet of Kanva, who stood there; hearing his words, Shakuntala began to weep.
स्नेहात्पितुश्च पुत्रस्य हर्षशोकसमन्विता। निशाम्य रुदतीमार्तां दौष्यन्तिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Filled with both the affection of a father and the joy and sorrow of a son, hearing her cry in distress, the daughter of Dushyanta spoke.
श्रुत्वा भगवतो वाक्यं किं रोदिषि शकुन्तले। गन्तव्यं काल्य उत्थाय भर्तृप्रीतिस्ववास्ति चेत्
Hearing the revered one's words, she said, 'Why do you weep, Shakuntala? If you wish to please your husband, you must depart at dawn.'
एकस्तु कुरुते पापं फलं भुङ्क्ते महाजनः। मया निवारितो नित्यं न करोषि वचो मम
Each person alone commits sin and alone reaps its fruit; I have always restrained you, yet you do not heed my words.
निःसृतान्कुञ्जरान्नित्यं बाहुभ्यां संप्रमथ्य वै। वनं च लोडयन्नित्यं सिंहव्याघ्रगणैर्वृतम्
You would constantly drive out elephants with your arms, and always roam the forest filled with lions and tigers.
एवंविधानि चान्यानि कृत्वा वै पुरुनन्दन। रुषितो भगवांस्तात तस्मादावां विवासितौ
Having done such things and others, O joy of the Puru line, the venerable one became angry, and thus we both were banished.
नाहं गच्छामि दुष्यन्तं नास्मि पुत्र हितैषिणी। पादमूले वसिष्यामि महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः
I will not go to Dushyanta, nor am I a well-wisher of my son; I will remain at the feet of the great-souled sage.
एवमुक्त्वा तु रुदती पपात मुनिपादयोः। एवं विलपतीं कण्वश्चानुनीय च हेतुभिः। पुनः प्रोवाच भगवानानृशंस्याद्धितं वचः
Having spoken thus, she fell weeping at the sage's feet; as she lamented in this way, Kanva gently consoled her with reasons and again spoke compassionate, beneficial words.
शकुन्तले शृणुष्वेदं हितं पथ्यं च भामिनि। पतिव्रताभावगुणान्हित्वा साध्यं न किंचन
Shakuntala, listen to this beneficial and wholesome advice, dear one: except for the virtues of a devoted wife, nothing else is truly attainable.
प्रतिव्रतानां देवा वै तुष्टाः सर्वरप्रदाः। प्रसादं च करिष्यन्ति आपदो मोक्षयन्ति च
The gods are pleased with devoted wives and grant them all boons; they show favor and deliver them from calamities.
पतिप्रसादात्पुण्यं च प्राप्नुवन्ति न चाशुभम्। तस्माद्गत्वा तु राजानमाराधय शुचिस्मिते
By her husband's favor, a woman attains merit and never misfortune; therefore, go to the king and win his favor, O pure-smiled one.
शकुन्तलां तथोक्त्वा वै शाकुन्तलमथाब्रवीत्। दौहित्रो मम पौत्रस्त्वमिलिलस्य महात्मनः
Having thus spoken to Shakuntala, he then addressed her son: 'O child of Shakuntala, you are the grandson of the great-souled Ilila.'
शृणुष्व वचनं सत्यं प्रब्रवीमि तवानघ। मनसा भर्तृकामा वै वाग्भिरुक्त्वा पृथग्विधम्
Hear my true words, O sinless one: though she desires her husband in her heart and has spoken various words, the noble lady does not wish to go.