एवमस्त्विति तां राजा प्रत्युवाचाविचारयन्। अपि च त्वां हि नेष्यामि नगरं स्वं शुचिस्मिते
‘So be it,’ said the king to her, without hesitation; but, O pure-smiling one, I will not take you to my city.
यथा त्वमर्हा सुश्रोणि मन्यसे तद्ब्रवीमि ते। एवमुक्त्वा स राजर्षिस्तामनिन्दितगामिनीम्
As you are worthy, O lovely-hipped one, so I speak to you; having thus spoken, the royal sage addressed her, who was blameless in conduct.
पुरोहितं समाहूय वचनं युक्तमब्रवीत्। राजपुत्र्या यदुक्तं वै न वृथा कर्तुमुत्सहे
Summoning the priest, he spoke fitting words: 'What the princess has said, I am not able to disregard.'
क्रियाहीनो हि न भवेन्मम पुत्रो महाद्युतिः। तथा कुरुष्व शास्त्रोक्तं विवाहं मा चिरंकुरु
For my illustrious son should not be without the proper rite; therefore, perform the marriage as prescribed in the scriptures—do not delay.
एवमुक्तो नृपतिना द्विजः परमयन्त्रितः। शोभनं राजराजेति विधिना कृतवान्द्विजः
Thus addressed by the king, the twice-born, greatly constrained, performed the splendid royal rite according to the prescribed procedure.
शासनाद्विप्रमुख्यस्य कृतकौतुकमङ्गलः।' जग्राह विधिवत्पाणावुवास च तया सह
By command of the foremost Brahmin, with auspicious rituals and festivities completed, he took her hand in accordance with custom and dwelt together with her.
विश्वास्य चैनां स प्रायादब्रवीच्च पुनः पुनः। प्रेषयिष्ये तवार्थाय वाहिनीं चतुरङ्गिणीम्
Trusting her, he departed, repeatedly saying: 'For your sake, I will send a fourfold army.'
त्रैविद्यवृद्धैः सहितां नानाराजजनैः सह। शिबिकासहस्रैः सहिता वयमायान्ति बान्धवाः
Accompanied by elders versed in the three Vedas and various royal people, with thousands of palanquins, we relatives will come.
मूकाश्चैव किराताश्च कुब्जा वामनकैः सह। सहिताः कञ्चुकिवरैर्वाहिनी सूतमागधैः
Mute people, Kiratas, hunchbacks, and dwarfs, along with those wearing fine tunics, the army will be joined by charioteers and bards.
शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषैर्वनं च समुपैष्यति। तथा त्वामानयिष्यामि नगरं स्वं शुचिस्मिते
With the sound of conches and drums, the procession will reach the forest; thus, O pure-smiling one, I will bring you to my city.
अन्यथा त्वां न नेष्यामि स्वनिवेशमसत्कृताम्। सर्वमङ्गलसत्कारैः सुभ्रु सत्यं करोमि ते
Otherwise, I will not take you to my abode, honored one; with all auspicious hospitality, O beautiful-browed, I pledge this to you in truth.
एवमुक्त्वा स राजर्षिस्तामनिन्दितगामिनीम्। परिष्वज्य च बाहुभ्यां स्मितपूर्वमुदैक्षत
Having spoken thus, the royal sage embraced her, who walked blamelessly, and looked at her with a smile.
प्रदक्षिणीकृतां देवीं पुनस्तां परिषस्वजे। शकुन्तला सा सुमुखी पपात नृपपादयोः
He embraced the lady again after circumambulating her; Shakuntala, with a lovely face, fell at the king's feet.
तां देवीं पुनरुत्थाप्य मा शुचेति पुनः पुनः। शपेयं सुकृतेनैव प्रापयिष्ये नृपात्मजे
Raising the lady again, he repeatedly said, 'Do not grieve'; I swear by my good deeds, O daughter of the king, I will bring you.
इति तस्याः प्रतिश्रुत्य स नृपो जनमेजय। मनसा चिन्तयन्प्रायात्काश्यपं प्रति पार्थिव
Having thus promised her, the king Janamejaya departed, pondering in his mind, heading toward Kashyapa.
भगवांस्तपसा युक्तः श्रुत्वा किं नु करिष्यति। तं न प्रसाद्यागतोऽहं प्रसीदेति द्विजोत्तमम्। एवं संचिन्तयन्नेव प्रविवेश स्वकं पुरम्
The blessed one, engaged in austerity, hearing this, wondered what he would do; 'I have come without appeasing him—will the eminent Brahmin be pleased?' Thus thinking, he entered his own city.
ततो मुहूर्ते याते तु कण्वोऽप्याश्रममागमत्। शकुन्तला च पितरं ह्रिया नोपजगाम तम्
After a moment had passed, Kanva also arrived at the hermitage; Shakuntala, out of modesty, did not approach her father.
शङ्कितेव च विप्रर्षिमुपचक्राम सा शनैः। ततोऽस्य भारं जग्राह आसनं चाप्यकल्पयत्
As if apprehensive, she slowly approached the sage; then she took his burden and prepared a seat for him.
प्राक्षालयच्च सा पादौ काश्यपस्य महात्मनः। न चैनं लज्जयाऽशक्नोदक्षिभ्यामभिवीक्षितुम्
She washed the feet of the great-souled Kashyapa, but out of shame could not look at him with her eyes.
शकुन्तला च सव्रीडा तमृषिं नाभ्यभाषत। तस्मात्स्वधर्मात्स्खलिता भीता सा भरतर्षभ
Shakuntala, bashful, did not speak to the sage; fearful, O bull among Bharatas, she had slipped from her own duty.
अभवद्दोषदर्शित्वाद्ब्रह्मचारिण्ययन्त्रिता। स तदा व्रीडितां दृष्ट्वा ऋषिस्तां प्रत्यभाषत
Because she saw fault in herself, restrained by her vow of celibacy, she was bashful; seeing her thus, the sage addressed her.
सव्रीडैव च दीर्घायुः पुरेव भविता न च। वृत्तं कथय रम्भोरु मा त्रासं च प्रकल्पय
Even bashful, you will live long as before; tell me what has happened, O slender-thighed one, and do not be afraid.
ततः प्रक्षाल्य पादौ सा विश्रान्तं पुनरब्रवीत्। निधाय कामं तस्यर्षेः कन्दानि च फलानि च
Then, having washed his feet, she spoke again to the resting sage, having placed before him, as he wished, roots and fruits.
ततः संवाह्य पादौ सा विश्रान्तं वेदिमध्यमा। शकुन्तला पौरवाणां दुष्यन्तं जग्मुषी पतिम्
Then, after massaging his feet, Shakuntala, the best among women, who was to become the wife of Dushyanta of the Paurava line, withdrew.
ततः कृच्छ्रादतिशुभा सव्रीडा श्रमती तदा। सगद्गदमुवाचेदं काश्यपं सा शुचिस्मिता
Then, though weary and exceedingly beautiful, she, modest and smiling purely, spoke these faltering words to Kashyapa.
राजा ताताजगामेह दुष्यन्त इलिलात्मजः। मया पतिर्वृतो योऽसौ दैवयोगादिहागतः
Father, the king Dushyanta, son of Ilila, has come here; he, whom I accepted as husband by divine ordination, has arrived.
तस्य तात प्रसीद त्वं भर्ता मे सुमहायशाः। अतः सर्वं तु यद्वृत्तं दिव्यज्ञानेन पश्यसि
Therefore, father, be gracious; my husband is of great fame. By your divine insight, you see all that has happened.
चक्षुषा स तु दिव्येन सर्वं विज्ञाय काश्यपः
Then Kashyapa, by his divine vision, perceived everything.
ततो धर्मिष्ठतां मत्वा धर्मे चास्खलितं मनः। उवाच भगवान्प्रीतस्तद्वृत्तं सुमहातपाः
Then, recognizing her righteousness and her mind unswerving from duty, the blessed, greatly austere sage, pleased, spoke about what had occurred.
एवमेतन्मया ज्ञातं दृष्टं दिव्येन चक्षुषा। त्वयाऽद्य राजान्वयया मामनादृत्य यत्कृतम्
So it is, I have known and seen all this with my divine sight—what you have done today, disregarding me, for the sake of the royal lineage.