01.068
Library: Despite explaining the significance of wife and Son, Dushyanta rejects Shakuntala.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
pratijñāya tu duḥṣante pratiyāte śakuntalā। garbhaṃ suṣāva vāmoruḥ kumāramamitaujasam ॥1-68-1॥
After making a promise, when King Duḥṣanta returned, Śakuntalā, known for her beauty, gave birth to a son endowed with immense energy.
triṣu varṣeṣu pūrṇeṣu dīptānalasamadyutim। rūpaudāryaguṇopetaṃ dauḥṣantiṃ janamejaya ॥1-68-2॥
In three full years, Janamejaya, the son of Dauḥṣanti, who was endowed with beauty and noble qualities, shone with the brilliance of a blazing fire.
jātakarmādisaṁskāraṁ kaṇvaḥ puṇyakṛtāṁ varaḥ। tasyātha kārayāmāsa vardhamānasya dhīmataḥ ॥1-68-3॥
Kaṇva, the most virtuous sage, then arranged for the wise Vardhamāna to undergo the birth and other sacred rites.
dantaiḥ śuklaiḥ śikharibhiḥ siṃhasaṃhanano yuvā. cakrāṅkitakaraḥ śrīmānmahāmūrdhā mahābalaḥ ॥ kumāro devagarbhābhaḥ sa tatrāśu vyavardhata ॥1-68-4॥
The young prince, with teeth as white as mountain peaks and a lion-like build, marked with wheel symbols on his hands, prosperous, with a great head and immense strength, grew quickly there, resembling a god.
ṣaḍvarṣa eva bālaḥ sa kaṇvāśramapadaṃ prati। vyāghrānsiṃhānvarāhāṃśca gajāṃśca mahiṣāṃstathā ॥1-68-5॥
The six-year-old boy went towards Kanva's hermitage, encountering tigers, lions, boars, elephants, and buffaloes along the way.
baddhvā vṛkṣeṣu balavānāśramasya samantataḥ। ārohandamayaṃścaiva krīḍaṃśca paridhāvati ॥1-68-6॥
The strong one ties things to the trees all around the hermitage, climbs them, subdues, plays, and runs around energetically.
tato'sya nāma cakruste kaṇvāśramanivāsinaḥ। astvayaṃ sarvadamanaḥ sarvaṃ hi damayatyayam ॥1-68-7॥
Then the inhabitants of Kanva's hermitage named him Sarvadamana, as he indeed tames everything.
sa sarvadamano nāma kumāraḥ samapadyata। vikrameṇaujasā caiva balena ca samanvitaḥ ॥1-68-8॥
The prince named Sarvadamana grew up to be endowed with great prowess, energy, and strength.
taṁ kumāram ṛṣir dṛṣṭvā karma cāsyātimānuṣam। samayo yauvarājyāyety abravīc ca śakuntalām ॥1-68-9॥
The sage, upon witnessing the prince's extraordinary actions, told Shakuntala that it was time for him to become the crown prince.
tasya tadbalamājñāya kaṇvaḥ śiṣyānuvāca ha। śakuntalāmimāṃ śīghraṃ sahaputrāmito''śramāt ॥ bhartre prāpayatādyaiva sarvalakṣaṇapūjitām ॥1-68-10॥
Understanding his strength, Kaṇva instructed his disciples to quickly send Śakuntalā, along with her son, from the hermitage to her husband today, as she is adorned with all auspicious signs.
nārīṇāṃ ciravāso hi bāndhaveṣu na rocate. kīrticāritradharmaghnastasmānnayata māciram ॥1-68-11॥
The prolonged stay of women among relatives is not pleasing, as it destroys fame, character, and virtue; therefore, do not keep them for long.
tathetyuktvā tu te sarve pratiṣṭhantāmitaujasaḥ। śakuntalāṃ puraskṛtya saputrāṃ gajasāhvayam ॥1-68-12॥
After saying thus, all the mighty ones departed, leading Shakuntala and her son to Hastinapura.
gṛhītvāmaragarbhābhaṃ putraṃ kamalalocanam। ājagāma tataḥ śubhrā duḥṣantaviditādvanāt ॥1-68-13॥
Śakuntalā, having taken her lotus-eyed son who resembled a divine child, then came from the forest known to King Duṣyanta.
abhisṛtya ca rājānaṃ viditā sā praveśitā. saha tenaiva putreṇa taruṇādityavarcasā ॥1-68-14॥
She approached the king and was admitted, known as she was, with her son who had the splendor of the young sun.
pūjayitvā yathānyāyamabravīttaṃ śakuntalā। ayaṃ putrastvayā rājanyauvarājye'bhiṣicyatām ॥1-68-15॥
After performing the worship as per the rules, Shakuntala addressed him, saying: "Let this son be anointed as the crown prince by you, O king."
tvayā hyayaṃ suto rājanmayyutpannaḥ suropamaḥ। yathāsamayametaminvartasva puruṣottama ॥1-68-16॥
O king, this son, born in me by you, is like a god. Act according to the time, O best of men.
yathā samāgame pūrvaṃ kṛtaḥ sa samayastvayā। taṃ smarasva mahābhāga kaṇvāśramapadaṃ prati ॥1-68-17॥
As previously agreed in the meeting, remember, O fortunate one, to proceed towards Kanva's hermitage.
so'tha śrutvaiva tadvākyaṃ tasyā rājā smarannapi| abravīnna smarāmīti kasya tvaṃ duṣṭatāpasi ॥1-68-18॥
Upon hearing her words, the king, though recalling, said, "I do not remember. To whom do you belong, wicked ascetic?"
dharmakāmārthasambandhaṁ na smarāmi tvayā saha। gaccha vā tiṣṭha vā kāmaṁ yadvāpīcchasi tatkuru ॥1-68-19॥
I do not recall any relationship of duty, desire, or purpose with you. You may go or stay as you please, or do whatever you wish.
saivamuktā varārohā vrīḍiteva manasvinī. visañjñe eva ca duḥkhena tasthau sthāṇurivācalā ॥1-68-20॥
Having been spoken to in this manner, the beautiful-bodied and wise woman stood there, appearing ashamed and as if unconscious due to sorrow, like an immovable pillar.
saṁrambhāmarṣatāmrākṣī sphuramāṇoṣṭhasaṁpuṭā| kaṭākṣairnirdahantīva tiryagrājānamaikṣata ॥1-68-21॥
With eyes red from anger and impatience, and lips quivering, she cast a burning sideways glance at the king.
ākāraṃ gūhamānā ca manyunābhisamīritā। tapasā sambhṛtaṃ tejo dhārayāmāsa vai tadā ॥1-68-22॥
Concealing her form and stirred by anger, she harnessed the energy she had accumulated through penance.
sā muhūrtam iva dhyātvā duḥkhāmarṣasamanvitā. bhartāram abhisamprekṣya kruddhā vacanam abravīt ॥1-68-23॥
She paused for a moment as if in meditation, filled with sorrow and anger, and looking at her husband, she spoke in anger.
jānannapi mahārāja kasmādevaṃ prabhāṣase| na jānāmīti niḥsaṅgaṃ yathānyaḥ prākṛtastathā ॥1-68-24॥
O great king, even though you know, why do you speak thus? I do not know, being detached, like any other ordinary person.
atra te hṛdayaṃ veda satyasyaivānṛtasya ca। kalyāṇa bata sākṣī tvaṃ mātmānamavamanyathāḥ ॥1-68-25॥
Here, your heart knows both truth and falsehood. Indeed, you are a noble witness; do not underestimate yourself.
yo'nyathā santamātmānamanyathā pratipadyate। kiṃ tena na kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ coreṇātmāpahāriṇā ॥1-68-26॥
Who acts contrary to his true nature, what sin is not committed by him, the thief who steals his own self?
eko'hamasmīti ca manyase tvaṁ; na hṛcchayaṁ vetsi muniṁ purāṇam| yo veditā karmaṇaḥ pāpakasya; tasyāntike tvaṁ vṛjinaṁ karoṣi ॥1-68-27॥
You believe yourself to be unique, but you do not understand the desires of the ancient sage. You act sinfully in the presence of one who knows the nature of sin.
manyate pāpakaṃ kṛtvā na kaścidvetti māmiti। vidanti cainaṃ devāśca svaścaivāntarapūruṣaḥ ॥1-68-28॥
He believes that after committing a sin, no one is aware of him. However, the gods and the inner self are indeed aware of him.
ādityacandrāvanilānalau ca; dyaurbhūmirāpo hṛdayaṃ yamaśca| ahaśca rātriśca ubhe ca sandhye; dharmaśca jānāti narasya vṛttam ॥1-68-29॥
The sun, moon, wind, and fire; the sky, earth, waters, heart, and Yama; day and night, both twilights; and Dharma knows the conduct of man.
yamo vaivasvatastasya niryātayati duṣkṛtam। hṛdi sthitaḥ karmasākṣī kṣetrajño yasya tuṣyati ॥1-68-30॥
Yama, the son of Vivasvat, releases the sins of those whose inner witness, the knower of the field situated in the heart, is pleased.
na tu tuṣyati yasya eṣaḥ puruṣasya durātmanaḥ। taṃ yamaḥ pāpakarmāṇaṃ niryātayati duṣkṛtam ॥1-68-31॥
Yama is displeased with the wicked man whose evil actions lead him to hell.
avamanyātmanātmānamanyathā pratipadyate। devā na tasya śreyāṃso yasyātmāpi na kāraṇam ॥1-68-32॥
Disregarding oneself, one acts contrary to their nature. The gods do not favor the prosperity of someone whose own self is not even a cause for their actions.
svayaṃ prāpteti māmevaṃ māvamaṃsthāḥ pativratām. arghyārhāṃ nārcayasi māṃ svayaṃ bhāryāmupasthitām ..1-68-33..
"Having arrived personally, do not disregard me, your devoted wife. You do not offer worship to me, who is worthy of offerings, even though I am present here as your wife."
kimarthaṃ māṃ prākṛtavadupaprekṣasi saṃsadi। na khalvahamidaṃ śūnye raumi kiṃ na śṛṇoṣi me ॥1-68-34॥
Why do you treat me as if I am ordinary in the assembly? Indeed, I am not shouting this into the void. Can you not hear me?
yadi me yācamānāyā vacanaṁ na kariṣyasi। duḥṣanta śatadhā mūrdhā tataste'dya phaliṣyati ॥1-68-35॥
If you do not fulfill my request, Duḥṣanta, your head will shatter into a hundred pieces today.
bhāryāṃ patiḥ sampraviśya sa yasmājjāyate punaḥ। jāyāyā iti jāyātvaṃ purāṇāḥ kavayo viduḥ ॥1-68-36॥
The ancient poets understood that the concept of wifehood is derived from the husband entering the wife, from whom he is reborn.
yadāgamavataḥ puṁsastadapatyaṁ prajāyate| tattārayati santatyā pūrvapretānpitāmahān ॥1-68-37॥
When a man's offspring is born, it is believed that the progeny liberates the ancestors and grandfathers who have passed away.
punnāmno narakādyasmātpitaraṃ trāyate sutaḥ। tasmātputra iti proktaḥ svayameva svayambhuvā ॥1-68-38॥
A son is called 'putra' because he delivers his father from the hell named Punnāmnaḥ, as declared by Brahmā himself.
sā bhāryā yā gṛhe dakṣā sā bhāryā yā prajāvatī| sā bhāryā yā patiprāṇā sā bhāryā yā pativratā ॥1-68-39॥
A true wife is one who is skilled in managing the household, is capable of bearing children, is devoted to her husband, and remains chaste.
ardhaṁ bhāryā manuṣyasya bhāryā śreṣṭhatamaḥ sakhā। bhāryā mūlaṁ trivargasya bhāryā mitraṁ mariṣyataḥ ॥1-68-40॥
A wife is considered half of a man's existence; she is his best friend. She is the foundation of the three aims of life and remains a companion even in death.
bhāryāvantaḥ kriyāvantaḥ sabhāryā gṛhamedhinaḥ। bhāryāvantaḥ pramodante bhāryāvantaḥ śriyānvitāḥ ॥1-68-41॥
Men with wives, who are active and householders, rejoice and are endowed with wealth.
sakhāyaḥ pravivikteṣu bhavantyetāḥ priyaṃvadāḥ। pitaro dharmakāryeṣu bhavantyārtasya mātaraḥ ॥1-68-42॥
Friends are sweet-spoken in solitude; fathers act as mothers in the religious duties of the distressed.
kāntāreṣvapi viśrāmo narasyādhvanikasya vai। yaḥ sadāraḥ sa viśvāsyastasmāddārāḥ parā gatiḥ ॥1-68-43॥
Even in the wilderness, a traveler finds rest. A man with a wife is trustworthy; hence, a wife is the ultimate refuge.
saṁsarantam api pretaṁ viṣameṣvekapātinam। bhāryaivānveti bhartāraṁ satataṁ yā pativratā ॥1-68-44॥
A devoted wife always follows her husband, even in difficult times, whether he is wandering or dead, like a shadow.
prathamaṃ saṃsthitā bhāryā patiṃ pretya pratīkṣate. pūrvaṃ mṛtaṃ ca bhartāraṃ paścātsādhvyanugacchati ॥1-68-45॥
First, the wife stands waiting for her husband after his death. Previously, the virtuous woman follows her deceased husband.
etasmātkāraṇādrājanpāṇigrahaṇamiṣyate| yadāpnoti patirbhāryāmiha loke paratra ca ॥1-68-46॥
For this reason, O king, marriage is desired because when a husband obtains a wife, it is beneficial both in this world and in the afterlife.
ātmātmanai 'va janitaḥ putra ity ucyate budhaiḥ। tasmād bhāryāṃ naraḥ paśyen mātṛvat putram ātaram ॥1-68-47॥
The wise say that a son is born from oneself. Therefore, a man should regard his wife as a mother and his son as a mother.
bhāryāyāṃ janitaṃ putramādarśe svamivānanam। hlādate janitā preṣkya svargaṃ prāpyeva puṇyakṛt ॥1-68-48॥
A son born to a wife is like seeing one's own reflection in a mirror. The parent rejoices as if they have attained heaven, similar to the joy of a virtuous person reaching paradise.
dahyamānā manoduḥkhairvyādhibhiścāturā narāḥ। hlādante sveṣu dāreṣu gharmārtāḥ salileṣviva ॥1-68-49॥
Clever men, tormented by mental anguish and diseases, find solace in their wives just as those suffering from heat find relief in water.
susaṁrabdho'pi rāmāṇāṁ na brūyādapriyaṁ budhaḥ। ratiṁ prītiṁ ca dharmaṁ ca tāsvāyattamavekṣya ca ॥1-68-50॥
Even if one is very eager, a wise person should not speak unpleasantly about the Ramas, as pleasure, affection, and duty are dependent on them.
ātmano janmanaḥ kṣetraṃ puṇyaṃ rāmāḥ sanātanam। ṛṣīṇāmapi kā śaktiḥ sraṣṭuṃ rāmāmṛte prajāḥ ॥1-68-51॥
The birthplace of the self is sacred and eternally associated with Rama. Even the sages have no power to create beings without Rama.
paripatya yadā sūnur dharaṇīreṇuguṇṭhitaḥ। pitur āśliṣyate 'ṅgāni kim ivāsty adhikaṃ tataḥ ॥1-68-52॥
When the son, after wandering and being covered in the dust of the earth, embraces his father's limbs, what could be more fulfilling than that?
sa tvaṃ svayamanuprāptaṃ sābhilāṣamimaṃ sutam। prekṣamāṇaṃ ca kākṣeṇa kimarthamavamanyase ॥1-68-53॥
Why do you disregard this son whom you yourself have obtained with desire, looking upon him with your eyes?
aṇḍāni bibhrati svāni na bhindanti pipīlikāḥ| na bharethāḥ kathaṃ nu tvaṃ dharmajñaḥ sansvamātmajam ॥1-68-54॥
Ants carry their own eggs without breaking them. How can you, who are knowledgeable in dharma, not support your own son?
na vāsasāṃ na rāmāṇāṃ nāpāṃ sparśastathā sukhaḥ। śiśorāliṅgyamānasya sparśaḥ sūnoryathā sukhaḥ ॥1-68-55॥
The happiness derived from the touch of a child being embraced is unparalleled, not found in the touch of clothes, pleasing things, or waters.
brāhmaṇo dvipadāṃ śreṣṭho gaurvariṣṭhā catuṣpadām। gururgarīyasāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ putraḥ sparśavatāṃ varaḥ ॥1-68-56॥
Among bipeds, the Brahmin is the most distinguished; among quadrupeds, the cow holds the highest place. The teacher is the foremost among the venerable, and the son is the most cherished among those who can be touched.
spṛśatu tvāṃ samāśliṣya putro'yaṃ priyadarśanaḥ। putrasparśātsukhatarḥ sparśo loke na vidyate ॥1-68-57॥
Let this handsome son embrace and touch you; there is no touch in the world more delightful than that of a son.
triṣu varṣeṣu pūrṇeṣu prajātāhamariṃdama। imaṃ kumāraṃ rājendra tava śokapraṇāśanam ॥1-68-58॥
O King, in three full years, I have borne this prince, who will be the destroyer of your grief, O subduer of enemies.
āhartā vājimedhasya śatasaṅkhyasya paurava| iti vāgantarikṣe māṃ sūtake'bhyavadatpurā ॥1-68-59॥
The voice in the sky once addressed me during the birth, saying, 'O descendant of Puru, performer of the hundred horse sacrifices.'
nanu nāmāṅkam āropya snehād grāmāntaraṃ gatāḥ। mūrdhni putrān upāghrāya pratinandanti mānavāḥ ॥1-68-60॥
Indeed, people, out of affection, place a name-mark and go to another village, where they greet their sons by smelling their heads.
vedeṣvapi vadantīmaṃ mantravādaṃ dvijātayaḥ। jātakarmaṇi putrāṇāṃ tavāpi viditaṃ tathā ॥1-68-61॥
The twice-born also recite this mantra in the Vedas. It is known to you during the birth ceremony of sons.
aṅgādaṅgātsambhavasi hṛdayādabhijāyase। ātmā vai putranāmāsi sa jīva śaradaḥ śatam ॥1-68-62॥
You are born from every limb and from the heart. Indeed, you are called son; may he live for a hundred years.
poṣo hi tvadadhīno me santānamapi cākṣayam। tasmāttvaṃ jīva me vatsa susukhī śaradāṃ śatam ॥1-68-63॥
Indeed, my nourishment and imperishable progeny depend on you. Therefore, my child, may you live very happily for a hundred years.
tvadaṅgebhyaḥ prasūto'yaṃ puruṣātpuruṣo'paraḥ। sarasīvāmale''tmānaṃ dvitīyaṃ paśya me sutam ॥1-68-64॥
From your limbs, another man is born from the man. Like in the clear lake, see my second self, my son.
yathā hyāhavanīyo'gnirgārhapatyātpraṇīyate। tathā tvattaḥ prasūto'yaṃ tvamekaḥ sandvidhā kṛtaḥ ॥1-68-65॥
Just as the sacrificial fire is taken from the household fire, you too are born from it, manifesting in two forms.
mṛgapakṛṣṭena hi te mṛgayāṃ paridhāvatā। ahamāsāditā rājankumārī piturāśrame ॥1-68-66॥
O king, while you were engaged in the hunt drawn by the deer, I, the princess, was found in my father's hermitage.
urvaśī pūrvacittiśca sahajanyā ca menakā। viśvācī ca ghṛtācī ca ṣaḍevāpsarasāṃ varāḥ ॥1-68-67॥
Urvaśī, Pūrvacitti, Sahajanī, Menakā, Viśvācī, and Ghṛtācī are considered the six foremost Apsarases.
tāsāṃ māṃ menakā nāma brahmayonirvarāpsarāḥ। divaḥ samprāpya jagatīṃ viśvāmitrādajījanat ॥1-68-68॥
Among them, Menaka, the most distinguished apsara born from Brahma, descended from heaven to earth and bore a child with Vishwamitra.
sā māṃ himavataḥ pṛṣṭhe suṣuve menakāpsarāḥ। avakīrya ca māṃ yātā parātmajamivāsatī ॥1-68-69॥
Menaka, the celestial nymph, gave birth to me on the slopes of the Himalayas and then abandoned me, scattering away like an unfaithful woman with someone else's child.
kiṁ nu karmāśubhaṁ pūrvaṁ kṛtavatyasmi janmani| yadahaṁ bāndhavaistyaktā bālye samprati ca tvayā ॥1-68-70॥
What unfortunate deed did I commit in a past life that has led to my abandonment by relatives in my childhood and now by you?
kāmaṃ tvayā parityaktā gamiṣyāmyahamāśramam। imaṃ tu bālaṃ santyaktuṃ nārhasyātmajamātmanā ॥1-68-71॥
I am willingly abandoned by you and will go to the hermitage. However, you should not abandon this child, your own son, by yourself.
duḥṣanta uvāca॥
Duḥṣanta spoke.
na putramabhijānāmi tvayi jātaṃ śakuntale। asatyavacanā nāryaḥ kaste śraddhāsyate vacaḥ ॥1-68-72॥
I do not acknowledge a son born from you, O Shakuntala. Women are known to speak untruths; who will trust your words?
menakā niranukrośā bandhakī jananī tava। yayā himavataḥ pṛṣṭhe nirmālyeva praveritā ॥1-68-73॥
Menaka, your merciless mother and captivator, was thrown away on the back of Himavat as if she were discarded flowers.
sa cāpi niranukrośaḥ kṣatrayoniḥ pitā tava। viśvāmitro brāhmaṇatve lubdhaḥ kāmaparāyaṇaḥ ॥1-68-74॥
He, your father, who is of warrior origin and merciless, is Viśvāmitra, who is greedy and devoted to desires in his pursuit of becoming a Brahmin.
menakāpsarasāṃ śreṣṭhā maharṣīṇāṃ ca te pitā। tayorapatyaṃ kasmāttvaṃ puṃścalīvābhidhāsyasi ॥1-68-75॥
Menaka, the foremost among the Apsaras, and your father, one of the great sages. Why would you, their child, speak as if you were a wanton woman?
aśraddheyamidaṃ vākyaṃ kathayantī na lajjase। viśeṣato matsakāśe duṣṭatāpasi gamyatām ॥1-68-76॥
You shamelessly speak this unbelievable statement, especially in my presence, wicked sage, leave at once.
kva maharṣiḥ sadaivograḥ sāpsarā kva ca menakā। kva ca tvamevaṃ kṛpaṇā tāpasīveṣadhāriṇī ॥1-68-77॥
Where is the great sage, always fierce, with the apsara, and where is Menaka? And where are you, thus miserable, wearing ascetic attire?
atikāyaśca putraste bālo'pi balavānayam। katham alpena kālena śālaskandha ivodgataḥ ॥1-68-78॥
Atikaya, your son, though young, is strong. How has he grown so quickly, like a shala tree?
sunikṛṣṭā ca yoniste puṃścalī pratibhāsi me| yadṛcchayā kāmarāgājjātā menakayā hyasi ॥1-68-79॥
You seem to me to be of degraded origin, appearing as an unchaste woman; indeed, you are born by chance from the lust of Menaka.
sarvam etat parokṣaṃ me yat tvaṃ vadasi tāpasi। nāhaṃ tvām abhijānāmi yatheṣṭaṃ gamyatāṃ tvayā ॥1-68-80॥
All this seems indirect to me, O sage, as you speak. I do not recognize you. You may go as you wish.
