इति ब्रुवन्तस्ते सर्वे महर्षीनिदमब्रुवन्। अभिवादयन्तः सहिता महर्षीन्देववर्चसः
Thus speaking, they all approached the great sages, greeting them together—those sages radiant with divine splendor.
अद्य नः सफलं जन्म कृतार्थाश्च ततो वयम्। एवं ये स्म प्रपश्यामो महर्षीन्सूर्यवर्चसः
Today our birth is fruitful, and we are fulfilled, for we behold these great sages, radiant as the sun.
इत्युक्त्वा सहिताः केचिदन्वगच्छन्त पौरवम्। हैमवत्याः सुतमिव कुमारं पुष्करेक्षणम्
Having spoken thus, some of them together followed the Paurava prince, lotus-eyed like the son of Himavat.
ये केचिदब्रुवन्मूढाः शाकुन्तलदिदृक्षवः। कृष्णाजिनेन संछन्नाननिच्छन्तो ह्यवेक्षितुम्
But some, deluded and eager to see Shakuntalā, said they did not wish to look upon her, as she was covered with a black antelope skin.
पिशाचा इव दृश्यन्ते नागराणां विरूपिणः। विना सन्ध्यां पिशाचास्ते प्रविशन्ति पुरोत्तमम्
They appeared like fiends, those deformed townsfolk; like spirits entering the great city without the twilight hour.
क्षुत्पिपासार्दितान्दीनान्वल्कलाजिनवाससः। त्वगस्थिभूतान्निर्मांसान्धमनीसन्ततानपि
Emaciated by hunger and thirst, clad in bark and animal skins, reduced to skin and bone, without flesh, with veins exposed—
पिङ्गलाक्षान्पिङ्गजटान्दीर्घदन्तान्निरूदरान्। विशीर्षकानूर्ध्वहस्तान्दृष्ट्वा हास्यन्ति नागराः
With tawny eyes, matted tawny hair, long teeth, gaunt faces, shattered heads, and upraised arms—seeing them, the townspeople laughed.
एवमुक्तवतां तेषां गिरं श्रुत्वा महर्षयः। अन्योन्यं ते समाहूय इदं वचनमब्रुवन्
Hearing such words from them, the great sages called to one another and spoke this speech:
उक्तं भगवता वाक्यं न कृतं सत्यवादिना। पुरप्रवेशनं नात्र कर्तव्यमिति शासनम्
The command spoken by the venerable one, who speaks the truth, has not been followed: 'Entry into the city must not be made'—such was the instruction.
किं कारणं प्रवेक्ष्यामो नगरं दुर्जनैर्वृतम्। त्यक्तसङ्गस्य च मुनेर्नगरे किं प्रयोजनम्
Why should we enter a city filled with wicked people? What purpose does a city serve for an ascetic who has abandoned attachment?
गमिष्यामो वनं तस्माद्गङ्गायामुनसङ्गमम्। एवमुक्त्वा मुनिगणाः प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम्
Therefore, let us go to the forest, to the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna. Having said this, the group of sages departed as they had come.
गतान्मुनिगणान्दृष्ट्वा पुत्रं संगृह्य पाणिना। मातापितृभ्यां रहिता यथा शोचन्ति दारकाः
Seeing the sages depart, she took her son by the hand; like children bereft of their parents, she grieved.
तथा शोकपरीताङ्गी धृतिमालम्ब्य दुःखिता। गतेषु तेषु विप्रेषु राजमार्गेण भामिनी
Thus, her body overcome by sorrow, yet steadying herself in her grief, the radiant lady walked the royal road after the brahmins had left.
पुत्रेणैव सहायेन सा जगाम शनैः शनैः। अदृष्टपूर्वान्पश्यन्वै राजमार्गेण पौरवः
With only her son as companion, she went slowly, observing things never seen before as she walked the royal road of the Pauravas.
हर्म्यप्रसादचैत्यांश्च सभा दिव्या विचित्रिताः। कौतूहलसमाविष्टो दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागतः
She saw mansions, palaces, shrines, and splendid, wondrous assembly halls; filled with curiosity, she gazed in amazement.
सर्वे ब्रुवन्ति तां दृष्ट्वा पद्महीनामिव श्रियम्। गत्या च संहीसदृशीं कोकिलेन स्वरे समाम्
All, seeing her, said she was like beauty deprived of the lotus, her gait like a swan’s, her voice as sweet as a cuckoo’s.
मुखेन चन्द्रसदृशीं श्रिया पद्मालयासमाम्। स्मितेन कुन्दसदृशीं पद्मगर्भसमत्वचम्
Her face was like the moon, her beauty rivaled that of Lakshmi herself, and her smile resembled the jasmine blossom, with a complexion as radiant as the heart of a lotus.
पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षीं तप्तजाम्बूनदप्रभाम्। करान्तमितमध्यैषा सुकेशी संहतस्तनी
Her eyes were wide like lotus petals, her glow like molten gold; her hands reached to her knees, her hair was lovely, and her breasts were full and close-set.
जघनं सुविशालं वै ऊरू करिकरोपमौ। रक्ततुङ्गतलौ पादौ धरण्यां सुप्रतिष्ठितौ
Her hips were broad and shapely, her thighs like the trunks of young elephants; her feet were high-arched and red, firmly planted upon the earth.
एवं रूपसमायुक्ता स्वर्गलोकादिवागता। इति स्म सर्वेऽमन्यन्त दुष्यन्तनगरे जनाः
Endowed with such beauty, she seemed to have descended from the world of the gods; so thought all the people in Dushyanta’s city.
पुनः पुनरवोचंस्ते शाकुन्तलगुणानपि। सिंहेक्षणः सिंहदंष्ट्रः सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः
Again and again they spoke of Shakuntala’s virtues: lion-eyed, lion-toothed, lion-shouldered, and mighty-armed.
सिंहोरस्कः सिंहबलः सिंहविक्रान्तगाम्ययम्। पृथ्वंसः पृथुवक्षाश्च छत्राकारशिरा महान्
With a lion’s chest, lion’s strength, lion’s stride, broad shoulders, a wide chest, and a head shaped like a parasol, he was great indeed.
पाणिपादतले रक्तो रक्तास्यो दुन्दुभिस्वनः। राजलक्षणयुक्तश्च राजश्रीश्चास्य लक्ष्यते
With red palms and soles, a red mouth, a voice like a drum, marked with royal signs, and the splendor of royalty evident in him.
आकारेण च रूपेण शरीरेणापि तेजसा। दुष्यन्तेन समो ह्येष कस्य पुत्रो भविष्यति
In form, beauty, body, and energy, he was the equal of Dushyanta; whose son could he be?
एवं ब्रुवन्तस्ते सर्वे प्रशशंसुः सहस्रशः। युक्तिवादानवोचन्त सर्वाः प्राणभृतः स्त्रियः
Thus, as they spoke, all praised them by the thousands; all the women, speaking with reason, joined in.
बान्धवा इव सस्नेहा अनुजग्मुः शकुन्तलाम्। पौराणां तद्वचः श्रुत्वा तूष्णींभूता शकुन्तला
With affection like relatives, they followed Shakuntala; hearing the words of the city folk, Shakuntala fell silent.
वेश्मद्वारं समासाद्य विह्वला सा नृपात्मजा। चिन्तयामास सहसा कार्यगौरवकारणात्
Reaching the palace door, the king’s daughter was overcome and began to ponder at once, weighed down by the gravity of her task.
लज्जया च परीताङ्गी राजन्राजसमक्षतः। अघृणा किं नु वक्ष्यामि दुष्यन्तं मम कारणात्
Her body filled with shame, she thought, ‘How can I, without embarrassment, speak to the king about my own cause?’
एवमुक्त्वा तु कृपणा चिन्तयन्ती शकुन्तला।' अभिसृत्य च राजानं वेदिता सा प्रवेशिता
Having spoken thus, the sorrowful Shakuntala, lost in thought, approached the king and was admitted to his presence.
सह तेन कुमारेण तरुणादित्यवर्चसा। `सिंहासनस्थं राजानं महेन्द्रसदृशद्युतिम्
With her son, radiant as the rising sun, she approached the king, who was seated on his throne, shining like Indra himself.