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.
इन्द्रसद्मप्रतीकाशं संपूर्णं वित्तसंचयैः। तस्य मध्ये सभा दिव्या नानारत्नविभूषिता
Resembling Indra's own mansion, filled with heaps of wealth, and at its center was a divine assembly hall adorned with various jewels.
तस्यां सभायां राजर्षिः सर्वालङ्कारभूषितः। ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैश्चापि मन्त्रिभिश्चापि संवृतः
In that assembly hall, the royal sage, adorned with all ornaments, was surrounded by Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and counselors.
संस्तूयमानो राजेन्द्रः सूतमागधबन्दिभिः। कार्यार्थिषु तदाऽभ्येत्य कृत्वा कार्यं गतेषु सः
Praised by bards, genealogists, and minstrels, the king attended to those who came with requests, and when their business was done, he dismissed them.
सुखासीनोऽभवद्राजा तस्मिन्काले महर्षयः। शकुन्तानां स्वनं श्रुत्वा निमित्तज्ञास्त्वलक्षयन्
Then the king sat at ease; at that moment, the great sages, hearing the cries of the birds, who were skilled in omens, observed the signs.
शकुन्तले निमित्तानि शोभनानि भवन्ति नः। कार्यसिद्धिं वदन्त्येते ध्रुवं राज्ञी भविष्यसि। अस्मिंस्तु दिवसे पुत्रो युवराजो भविष्यति
For Shakuntala, the omens are auspicious for us; these signs indicate the success of our purpose. Surely, you will become queen, and on this very day, your son will be made crown prince.
वर्धमानपुरद्वारं तूर्यघोषनिनादितम्। शकुन्तलां पुरस्कृत्य विविशुस्ते महर्षयः
With the sound of instruments resounding at the gate of Vardhamanapura, the great sages entered, placing Shakuntala at the forefront.
प्रविशन्तं नृपसुतं प्रशशंसुश्च वीक्षकाः। वर्धमानपुरद्वारं प्रविशन्नेव पौरवः
As the prince entered, the onlookers praised him; the descendant of Puru entered through the gate of Vardhamanapura.
इन्द्रलोकस्थमात्मानं मेने हर्षसमन्वितः
Filled with joy, he considered himself as if dwelling in Indra's own realm.
ततो वै नागराः सर्वे समाहूय परस्परम्। द्रष्टुकामा नृपसुतं समपद्यन्त भारत
Then all the townspeople, gathering together, desired to see the prince, O Bharata.
देवतेव जनस्याग्रे भ्राजते श्रीरिवागता। जयन्तेनेव पौलोमी इन्द्रलोकादिहागता
She shone before the people like a goddess, as if fortune itself had arrived, like Paulomī returning from Indra’s realm with Jayanta.