स्त्रियः पवित्रमतुलमेतद्दुष्यन्त धर्मतः। मासि मासि रजो ह्यासां दुरितान्यपकर्षति
Women are pure and unequaled in this, O Duṣyanta, according to dharma; month by month, their flow removes impurities.
ततः सर्वाणि भूतानि व्याजह्रस्तं समन्ततः
Then all beings spoke out together from every direction.
रेतोधाः पुत्र उन्नयति नरदेव यमक्षयात्। त्वं चास्य धाता गर्भस्य सत्यमाह शकुन्तला
The bearer of seed raises the son from the realm of Yama, O king; you are the nourisher of the embryo, Śakuntalā has spoken the truth.
पतिर्जायां प्रविशति स तस्यां जायते पुनः। अन्योन्यप्रकृतिर्ह्येषा मावमंस्थाः शकुन्तलाम्
The husband enters the wife, and in her he is born again; this is their mutual nature, do not disregard Śakuntalā.
जाया जनयते पुत्रमात्मनोऽङ्गाद्द्विधा कृतम्। तस्माद्भरस्व दुष्यन्त पुत्रं शाकुन्तलं नृप
The wife gives birth to a son from her own body, made in two parts; therefore, O Duṣyanta, bear your son Śākuntala, O king.
सुभूतिरेषा न त्याज्या जीवितं जीवयात्मजम्। शाकुन्तलं महात्मानं दुष्यन्त भर पौरवम्
This is a good fortune, not to be abandoned; let your life sustain your own son. O Duṣyanta, support the great-souled Śākuntala, the Paurava.
भर्तव्योऽयं त्वया यस्मादस्माकं वचनादपि। तस्माद्भवत्वयं नाम्ना भरतो नाम ते सुतः
Because he is to be maintained by you even more than by our command, therefore let this son of yours be named Bharata.
भरताद्भारती कीर्तिर्येनेदं भारतं कुलम्। अपरे ये च पूर्वे च भारता इति तेऽभवन्
From Bharata comes the renowned name by which this lineage is called Bhārata; those who came before and after are known as Bhāratas.
एवमुक्त्वा ततो देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः। पतिव्रतेति संहृष्टाः पुष्पवृष्टिं ववर्षिरे
Having spoken thus, the gods and the ascetic sages, rich in austerity, joyfully showered down a rain of flowers, delighted, calling her a devoted wife.
तच्छ्रुत्वा पौरवो वाक्यं व्याहृतं वे दिवौकसाम्। `सिंहासनात्समुत्थाय प्रणम्य च दिवौकसः
Hearing the words spoken by the gods, the descendant of Puru rose from his throne and bowed to the immortals.
पुरोहितममात्यांश्च संप्रहृष्टोऽब्रवीदिदम्। शृण्वन्त्वेतद्भवन्तोऽपि देवदूतस्य भाषितम्
Rejoicing, he addressed his priest and ministers, saying: 'Let all of you also hear these words spoken by the divine messenger.'
शृण्वन्तु देवतानां च महर्षीणां च भाषितम्'। अहमप्येवमेवैनं जानामि सुतमात्मजम्
'Let the words of the gods and the great sages be heard as well; I too know this son as truly my own.'
यद्यहं वचनादस्या गृह्णीयामिममात्मजम्। भवेद्धि शङ्का लोकस्य नैवं शुद्धो भवेदयम्
If I were to accept this son as my own merely on her word, there would be doubt among the people, and he would not be considered pure.
तां विशोध्य तदा राजा देवैः सह महर्षिभिः। हृष्टः प्रमुदितश्चापि प्रतिजग्राह तं सुतम्
Therefore, having clarified the matter together with the gods and great sages, the king, joyful and delighted, accepted that son.
ततस्तस्य तदा राजा पितृकर्माणि सर्वशः। कारयामास मुदितः प्रीतिमानात्मजस्य ह। मूर्ध्नि चैनं समाघ्राय सस्नेहं परिषस्वजे
Then the king, filled with happiness and affection for his son, performed all the ancestral rites; he embraced him with love, smelling his head.
सभाज्यमानो विप्रैश्च स्तूयमानश्च बन्दिभिः। मुदं स परमां लेभे पुत्रस्पर्शनजां नृपः
Honored by the Brahmins and praised by bards, the king experienced supreme joy from touching his son.
स्वां चैव भार्यां धर्मज्ञः पूजयामास धर्मतः। अब्रवीच्चैव तां राजा सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः
The righteous king also honored his own wife according to dharma, and gently spoke these words to her with soothing intent.
लोकस्यायं परोक्षस्तु संबन्धो नौ पुराऽभवत्। कृतो लोकसमक्षोऽद्य संबन्धो वै पुनः कृतः
'Previously, our relationship was hidden from the world; today, in the presence of all, our bond has been openly established again.'
तस्मादेतन्मया तस्य तन्निमित्तं प्रभाषितम्
Therefore, for that reason, I spoke thus about him.
शङ्केत वाऽयं लोकोऽथ स्त्रीभावान्मयि संगतम्। तस्मादेतन्मया चापि तच्छुद्ध्यर्थं विचारितम्
The people might suspect that, because of your womanhood, there was some impropriety with me; therefore, I also considered this for the sake of your purity.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्चैव पृथग्विधाः। त्वां देवि वूजयिष्यन्ति निर्विशङ्कां पतिव्रताम्
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, each according to their kind, will honor you, O queen, as a blameless and faithful wife.
पुत्रश्चायं वृतो राज्ये त्वमग्रमहिषी भव
This son has been chosen for the kingdom, and you, be the chief queen.
यच्च कोपनयात्यर्थं त्वयोक्तोऽस्म्यप्रियं प्रिये। प्रणयिन्या विशालाक्षितत्क्षान्तं ते मया शुभे
And whatever harsh or unpleasant words you, with beautiful eyes, spoke to me in anger, O beloved, I have forgiven them.
अनृतं वाप्यनिष्टं वा दुरुक्तं वातिदुष्कृतम्। त्वयाप्येवं विशालाक्षि क्षन्तव्यं मम दुर्वचः। क्षान्त्या पतिकृते नार्यः पातिव्रत्यं व्रजन्ति ताः
Whether false, improper, harsh, or exceedingly wrong, O large-eyed one, you too must forgive my harsh words; by patience for the sake of the husband, women attain the status of devoted wives.
एवमुक्त्वा तु राजर्षिस्तामनिन्दितगामिनीम्। अन्तःपुरं प्रवेश्याथ दुष्यन्तो महिषीं प्रियाम्
Having spoken thus, the royal sage led her, whose conduct was beyond reproach, into the inner chambers, making her his beloved queen.
वासोभिरन्नपानैश्च पूजयित्वा तु भारत। `स मातरमुपस्थाय रथन्तर्यामभाषत
Having honored her with garments, food, and drink, O descendant of Bharata, he then approached his mother and spoke to Rathantari.
मम पुत्रो वने जातस्तव शोकप्रणशनः। ऋणादद्य विमुक्तोऽहं तव पौत्रेण शोभने
My son has been born in the forest, he will dispel your sorrow; today I am freed from my debt by your grandson, O blessed one.
विश्वामित्रसुता चेयं कण्वेन च विवर्धिता। स्नुषा तव महाभागे प्रसीदस्व शकुन्तलाम्
This is the daughter of Vishvamitra, raised by Kanva; she is your daughter-in-law, O greatly fortunate one—be gracious to Shakuntala.
पुत्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा पौत्रं सा परिषस्वजे। पादयोः पतितां तत्र रथन्तर्या शकुन्तलाम्
Hearing her son's words, she embraced her grandson; and there, Rathantari embraced Shakuntala, who had fallen at her feet.
परिष्वज्य च बाहुभ्यां हर्षादश्रुण्यवर्तयत्। उवाच वचनं सत्यं लक्षये लक्षणानि च
Embracing her with both arms, she shed tears of joy and spoke these true words: I see the signs and marks.