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.
शकुन्तला नतशिराः परं हर्षमवाप्य च।' पूजयित्वा यथान्यायमब्रवीत्तं शकुन्तला
Shakuntala, bowing her head, filled with great joy, honored the king as was proper and spoke to him.
अभिवादय राजानं पितरं ते दृढव्रतम्। एवमुक्त्वा सुतं तत्र लज्जानतमुखी स्थिता
She said, ‘Bow to the king, your father, steadfast in his vows’; saying this, she stood there with her face lowered in modesty.
स्तम्भमालिङ्ग्य राजानं प्रसीदस्वेत्युवाच सा। शाकुन्तलोपि राजानमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः
Clinging to a pillar, she said to the king, ‘Be gracious’; and the son of Shakuntala, too, greeted the king with joined palms.
हर्षेणोत्फुल्लनयनो राजानं चान्ववैक्षत। दुष्यन्तो धर्मबुद्ध्या तु चिन्तयन्नेव सोब्रवीत्
With eyes wide in joy, he looked at the king; but Dushyanta, considering with a mind set on righteousness, spoke as follows.
किमागमनकार्यं ते ब्रूहि त्वं वरवर्णिनि। करिष्यामि न संदेहः सपुत्राया विशेषतः
What is the purpose of your coming? Speak, O lady of beautiful complexion. I will do it without doubt, especially for you and your son.
प्रसीदस्व महाराज वक्ष्यामि पुरुषोत्तम। एष पुत्रो हि ते राजन्मय्युत्पन्नः परंतप
Be gracious, O great king, and I will speak, O best of men. This son, O king, has been born to you from me, O subduer of foes.
तस्मात्पुत्रस्त्वया राजन्यौवराज्येऽभिषिच्यताम्। यथोक्तमाश्रमे तस्मिन्वर्तस्व पुरुषोत्तम
Therefore, O king, let this son be consecrated by you as crown prince. And as was agreed in the hermitage, abide by that, O best of men.
मया समागमे पूर्वं कृतः स समयस्त्वया। तत्त्वं स्मर महाबाहो कण्वाश्रमपदं प्रति
Previously, at our meeting, you made that promise. Remember that, O mighty-armed one, concerning the hermitage of Kanva.
तस्योपभोगसक्तस्य स्त्रीषु चान्यासु भारत। शकुन्तला सपुत्रा च मनस्यन्तरधीयत
But as he became attached to enjoyments and to other women, O descendant of Bharata, Shakuntala, with her son, faded from his mind.
स धारयन्मनस्येनां सपुत्रां सस्मितां तदा। तदोपगृह्य मनसा चिरं सुखमवाप सः
Then, holding her and her son in his mind, with a smile, he embraced them in thought and for a long time attained happiness.