गन्तुं नेच्छति कल्याणी तस्मात्तात वहस्व वै। शक्तस्त्वं प्रतिगन्तुं च मुनिभिः सह पौरव
Therefore, my child, you must carry her; you are able to return with the sages, O descendant of Puru.
इत्युक्त्वा सर्वदमनं कण्वः शिष्यानथाब्रवीत्। शकुन्तलामिमां शीग्रं सपुत्रामाश्रमादितः
Having said this to Sarvadamana, Kanva then addressed his disciples: 'Quickly take Shakuntala and her son from the hermitage.'
भर्तुः प्रापयताभ्याशं सर्वलक्षणपूजिताम्। नारीणां चिरवासो हि बान्धवेषु न रोचते
Bring her, honored with all auspicious marks, near her husband; for women do not find long residence among relatives pleasing.
कीर्तिचारित्रधर्म्नस्तस्मान्नयत मा चिरम्
Therefore, do not delay—lead her away, for the sake of reputation, conduct, and righteousness.
धर्माभिपूजितं पुत्रं काश्यपेन निशाम्य तु। काश्यपात्प्राप्य चानुज्ञां मुमुदे च शकुन्तला
Hearing that her son was honored by the righteous Kāśyapa, and having received permission from Kāśyapa, Śakuntalā rejoiced.
कण्वस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रतिगच्छेति चासकृत्। तथेत्युक्त्वा तु कण्वं च मातरं पौरवोऽब्रवीत्। किं चिरायसि मातस्त्वं गमिष्यामो नृपालयम्
Hearing Kaṇva’s words, and being repeatedly told to depart, the descendant of Puru said to Kaṇva and his mother, 'Mother, why do you delay? We shall go to the king’s palace.'
एवमुक्त्वा तु तां देवीं दुष्यन्तस्य महात्मनः। अभिवाद्य मुनेः पादौ गन्तुमैच्छत्स पौरवः
Having spoken thus to that noble lady, wife of Duṣyanta, the descendant of Puru, after bowing to the sage’s feet, wished to depart.
शकुन्तला च पितरमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः। प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य तदा पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Śakuntalā, with joined palms, bowed to her father, and after circumambulating him, spoke these words.
अज्ञानान्मे पिता चेति दुरुक्तं वापि चानृतम्। अकार्यं वाप्यनिष्टं वा क्षन्तुमर्हति तद्भवान्
If, out of ignorance, I have ever said 'he is not my father,' or spoken harshly, falsely, improperly, or undesirably, may you forgive me for that.
एवमुक्तो नतशिरा मुनिर्नोवाच किंचन। मनुष्यभावात्कण्वोऽपि मुनिरश्रूण्यवर्तयत्
Thus addressed, the sage, head bowed, said nothing; even Kaṇva, though a sage, shed tears because of his human nature.
अब्भक्षान्वायुभक्षांश्च शीर्णपर्णाशनान्मुनीन्। फलमूलाशिनो दान्तान्कृशान्धमनिसंततान्
He summoned ascetics who lived on water or air, who ate fallen leaves, who subsisted on fruits and roots, who were restrained, emaciated, with veins prominent.
व्रतिनो जटिलान्मुण्डान्वल्कलाजिनसंवृतान्। समाहूय मुनिः कण्वः कारुण्यादिदमब्रवीत्
He called together ascetics who kept vows, wore matted hair or were shaven, clothed in bark or skins; and Kaṇva, moved by compassion, spoke these words.
मया तु लालिता नित्यं मम पुत्री यशस्विनी। वने जाता विवृद्धा च न च जानाति किंचन
This illustrious daughter of mine, born and raised in the forest, has always been cherished by me, and knows nothing of the world.
आश्रमात्तु पथा सर्वैर्नीयतां क्षत्रियालयम्। द्वितीययोजने विप्राः प्रतिष्ठानं प्रतिष्ठितम्
Let her be escorted by all of you from the hermitage to the house of the Kṣatriya; at the second yojana, O Brāhmaṇas, the city of Pratiṣṭhāna is situated.
प्रतिष्ठाने पुरे राजा शाकुन्तलपितामहः। अध्युवास चिरं कालमुर्वश्या सहितः पुरा
In the city of Pratiṣṭhāna, the king—Śakuntalā’s grandfather—once dwelled for a long time with Urvaśī.
अनूपजाङ्गलयुतं धनधान्यसमाकुलम्। प्रतिष्ठितं पुरवरं गङ्गायामुनसङ्गमे
That excellent city of Pratiṣṭhāna, at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā, abounds in marshes and jungles, and is filled with wealth and grain.
तत्र सङ्गममासाद्य स्नात्वा हुतहुताशनाः। शाकमूलफलाहारा निवर्तध्वं तपोधनाः। अन्यथा तु भवेद्विप्रा अध्वनो गमने श्रमः
There, upon reaching the confluence, after bathing and offering oblations into the fire, and eating vegetables, roots, and fruits, you ascetics should return; otherwise, O Brāhmaṇas, the journey will bring fatigue.
तथेत्युक्त्वा च ते सर्वे प्रातिष्ठन्त महौजसः। `शकुन्तलां पुरस्कृत्य दुष्यन्तस्य पुरं प्रति
Saying 'so be it,' all those mighty ascetics set out, leading Śakuntalā toward Duṣyanta’s city.
गृहीत्वा चामरप्रख्यं पुत्रं कमललोचनम्। आजग्मुश्च पुरं रम्यं दुष्यन्ताध्युषितं वनात्
Taking the lotus-eyed boy, resplendent like a yak-tail fan, they came from the forest to the beautiful city where Duṣyanta dwelled.
शकुन्तलां समादाय मुनयो धर्मवत्सलाः। ते वनानि नदीः शैलान्गिरिप्रस्रवणानि च
The ascetics, devoted to righteousness, took Śakuntalā and traversed forests, rivers, mountains, and mountain streams.
कन्दराणि नितम्बांश्च राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च। आश्रमाणि च पुण्यानि गत्वा चैव गतश्रमाः
Having traversed mountain valleys, riverbanks, kingdoms, cities, and sacred hermitages, they continued on, their fatigue dispelled.
शनैर्मध्याह्नवेलायां प्रतिष्ठानं समाययुः। तां पुरीं पुरुहूतेन ऐलस्यार्थे विनिर्मिताम्
Gradually, at midday, they reached Pratishthana, the city built by Puruhuta for the sake of the son of Ila.
परिघाट्टालकैर्मुख्यैरुपकल्पशतैरपि। शतघ्नीचक्रयन्त्रैश्च गुप्तामन्यैर्दुरासदाम्
Guarded by strong gates, battlements, and hundreds of arrangements, with engines for hurling stones and machines for defense, it was difficult for enemies to approach.
हर्म्यप्रसादसंबाधां नानापण्यविभूषिताम्। मण्टपैः ससभै रम्यैः प्रपाभिश्च समावृताम्
Crowded with mansions and palaces, adorned with various goods, surrounded by beautiful halls with pavilions and delightful assembly places, and encircled by water-houses.
राजमार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिताम्। कैलासशिखराकारैर्गोपुरैः समलङ्कृताम्
Graced by a great royal road, well laid out and splendid, decorated with gateways resembling the peaks of Kailasa.
द्वारतोरणनिर्यूहैर्मङ्गलैरुपशोभिताम्। उद्यानाम्रवणोपेतां महतीं सालमेखलाम्
Adorned with auspicious gateways, arches, and exits, and surrounded by gardens and mango groves, it was a vast city girdled by sala trees.
सर्वपुष्करिणीभिश्च उद्यानैश्च समावृताम्। वर्णाश्रमैः स्वधर्मस्थैर्नित्योत्सवसमाहितैः
Encircled by all kinds of lotus ponds and gardens, inhabited by people of all classes and stages of life, steadfast in their own duties and ever engaged in festivals.
धनधान्यसमृद्धैश्च संतुष्टै रत्नपूजितैः। कृतयज्ञैश्च विद्वद्भिरग्निहोत्रपरैः सदा
Prosperous with wealth and grain, content, honored with jewels, and always filled with learned men who had performed sacrifices and were devoted to fire rituals.
वर्जिता कार्यकरणैर्दानशीलैर्दयापरैः। अधर्मभीरुभिः सर्वैः स्वर्गलोकजिगीषुभिः
Free from those who act wrongly, generous and compassionate, all were averse to unrighteousness and desirous of attaining the heavenly worlds.
एवंविधजनोपेतमिन्द्रलोकमिवापरम्। तस्मिन्नगरमध्ये तु राजवेश्म प्रतिष्ठितम्
Filled with such people, it resembled another world of Indra; in the midst of that city stood the royal palace.