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.
सोऽथ श्रुत्वापि तद्वाक्यं तस्या राजा स्मरन्नपि। अब्रवीन्न स्मरामीति त्वया भद्रे समागमम्
But even after hearing those words and remembering her, the king said, 'I do not remember our union, O gentle lady.'
मैथुनं च वृथा नाहं गच्छेयमिति मे मतिः। नाभिजानामि कल्याणि त्वया सह समागमम्
'I do not wish to engage in union in vain; this is my resolve. I do not recall, O blessed one, any union with you.'
धर्मार्थकामसंबन्धं न स्मरामि त्वया सह। गच्छ वा तिष्ठ वा कामं यद्वापीच्छसि तत्कुरु
'I do not remember any connection of righteousness, wealth, or desire with you. Go or stay as you wish, or do whatever else you desire.'
संरम्भामर्षताम्राक्षी स्फुरमाणोष्ठसंपुटा। कटाक्षैर्निर्दहन्तीव तिर्यग्राजानमैक्षत
Her eyes reddened with anger and indignation, her lips quivering, she glanced sideways at the king as if burning him with her gaze.
आकारं गूहमाना च मन्युना च समीरितम्। तपसा संभृतं तेजो धारयामास वै तदा
Concealing her expression and the agitation caused by anger, she restrained the energy she had gained through austerity.
सा मुहूर्तमिव ध्यात्वा दुःखामर्षसमन्विता। भर्तारमभिसंप्रेक्ष्य यथान्यायं वचोऽब्रवीत्
After reflecting for a moment, filled with grief and indignation, she looked at her husband and spoke words in accordance with propriety.
जानन्नपि महाराज कस्मादेवं प्रभाषसे। न जानामीति निःशङ्कं यथान्यः प्राकृतस्तथा
'Though you know, O great king, why do you speak in this way? Without hesitation you say you do not know, just as an ordinary man would.'
तस्य ते हृदयं वेद सत्यस्यैवानृतस्य च। साक्षिणं बत कल्याणमात्मानमवमन्यसे
'Your heart knows both truth and falsehood. Alas, you disregard your own self, which is the witness, O blessed one.'
योऽन्यथा सन्तमात्मानन्यथा प्रतिपद्यते। किं तेन न कृतं पापं चोरेणात्मापहारिणा
'He who, being one thing, behaves as another—what sin has he not committed, like a thief who steals his own self?'
एकोऽहमस्मीति च मन्यसे त्वं न हृच्छयं वेत्सि मुनिं पुराणम्। यो वेदिता कर्मणः पापकस्य तस्यान्तिके त्वं वृजिनं करोषि
'You think you are alone, but you do not know the ancient sage in your heart, who knows the deeds of sin; in his presence you commit wrong.'