The Recognition of Śakuntalā 3: tṛtīyo 'ṅkaḥ

3.1b1

(tataḥ praviśati kuśān ādāya yajamānaśiṣyaḥ)
śiṣya aho mahānubhāvaḥ pārthivo duṣyantaḥ / yat praviṣṭamātra evāśramaṃ tatrabhavati nirupadravāṇi naḥ karmāṇi saṃvṛttāni /

(Enter a pupil, with sacred grass for the sacrifice.)

Pupil (with meditative astonishment). How great is the power of King Dushyanta! Since his arrival our rites have been undisturbed.

3.1

kā kathā bāṇasaṃdhāne jyāśabdenaiva dūrataḥ /
huṃkāreṇeva dhanuṣaḥ sa hi vighnān apohati //
yāvad imān vedisaṃstaraṇārthaṃ darbhān ṛtvigbhya upaharāmi / (parikramyāvalokya ca / ākāśe) priyaṃvade kasya idam uśīrānulepanaṃ mṛṇālavanti ca nalinīpatrāṇi nīyante / (śrutim abhinīya) kiṃ bravīṣi / ātapalaṅghanād balavad asvasthā śakuntalā tasyāḥ śarīranirvāpaṇāyeti /
tarhi yatnād upacaryatām / sā khalu bhagavataḥ kaṇvasya kulapater ucchvasitam / aham api tāvad vaitānikaṃ śānty udakam asyai gautamīhaste visarjayiṣyāmi /
(iti niṣkrāntaḥ)
viṣkambhakaḥ /

He does not need to bend the bow;
For every evil thing,
Awaiting not the arrow, flees
From the twanging of the string.

[paragraph continues] Well, I will take this sacred grass to the priests, to strew the altar. (He walks and looks about, then speaks to some one not visible.) Priyamvada, for whom are you carrying this cuscus-salve and the fibrous lotus-leaves? (He listens.) What do you say? That Shakuntala has become seriously ill from the heat, and that these things are to relieve her suffering? Give her the best of care, Priyamvada. She is the very life of the hermit-father. And I will give Gautami the holy water for her. (Exit. Enter the lovelorn king.)

3.1a5

(tataḥ praviśati kāmayamānāvastho rājā)

3.1a6

rājā (sacintaṃ niḥśvasya)

King (with a meditative sigh).

3.2

jāne tapaso vīryaṃ sā bālā paravatīti me viditam /
alam asmi tato hṛdayaṃ tathāpi nedaṃ nivartayitum //
(madanabādhāṃ nirūpya) bhagavan kusumāyudha tvayā candramasā ca viśvasanīyābhyām atisaṃdhīyate kāmijanasārthaḥ / kutaḥ /

I know that stern religion's power
Keeps guardian watch my maiden o’er;
Yet all my heart flows straight to her
Like water to the valley-floor.

[paragraph continues] Oh, mighty Love, thine arrows are made of flowers. How can they be so sharp? (He recalls something.) Ah, I understand.

[paragraph continues] Indeed, the moon and thou inspire confidence, only to deceive the host of lovers.

3.3

tava kusumaśaratvaṃ śītaraśmitvam indor
dvayam idam ayathārthaṃ dṛśyate madvidheṣu /
visṛjati himagarbhair agnim indur mayūkhais
tvam api kusumabāṇān vajrasārīkaroṣi //
athavā /
adya api nūnaṃ harakopavahninas tvayi jvalaty aurva ivāmburāśau /
tvam anyathā manmatha madvidhānāṃ bhasmāvaśeṣaḥ katham ittham uṣṇaḥ //

Thy shafts are blossoms; coolness streams
From moon-rays: thus the poets sing;
But to the lovelorn, falsehood seems
To lurk in such imagining;
The moon darts fire from frosty beams;
Thy flowery arrows cut and sting.

[paragraph continues] And yet

3.4

aniśam api makaraketur manaor rujam āvahann abhimato me /
yadi madirāyatanayanāṃ tām adhikṛtya praharatīti //
(sakhedaṃ parikramya) kva nu khalu saṃsthite karmaṇi sadasyair anujñātaḥ khinnam ātmānaṃ vinodayāmi /
(niḥśvasya) kiṃ nu khalu me priyādarśanād ṛte śaraṇam anyat /
yāvad enām anviṣyāmi / (sūryam avalokya) imām ugrātapavelāṃ prāyeṇa latāvalayavatsu mālinītīreṣu sasakhījanā śakuntalā gamayati /
tatraiva tāvad gacchāmi / (parikramya saṃsparśaṃ rūpayitvā) aho pravātasubhago 'yam uddeśaḥ /

If Love will trouble her
Whose great eyes madden me,
I greet him unafraid,
Though wounded ceaselessly.

[paragraph continues] I have driven off the powers of evil, and the hermits have dismissed me. Where shall I go now to rest from my weariness? (He sighs.) There is no rest for me except in seeing her whom I love. (He looks up.) She usually spends these hours of midday heat with her friends on the vine-wreathed banks of the Malini. I will go there. (He walks and looks about.) I believe the slender maiden has just passed through this corridor of young trees. For

[paragraph continues] (He feels a breeze stirring.) This is a pleasant spot, with the wind among the trees.

3.5

śakyam aravindasurabhiḥ kaṇavāhī mālinītaraṅgāṇām /
aṅgair anaṅgataptair aviralam āliṅgituṃ pavanaḥ //

Limbs that love's fever seizes,
Their fervent welcome pay
To lotus-fragrant breezes
That bear the river-spray.

3.5a5

(parikramyāvalokya ca) asmin vetasaparikṣipte latāmaṇḍape saṃnihitayā śakuntalayā bhavitavyam / tathā hi /

[paragraph continues] (He studies the ground.) Ah, Shakuntala must be in this reedy bower. For

3.6

abnyunnatā purastād avagāḍhā jaghanagauravāt paścāt /
dvāre 'sya pāṇḍusikate padapaṅktir dṛśyate 'bhinavā //
yāvad viṭapāntareṇāvalokayāmi / (parikramya tathā kṛtvā / saharṣam) aye labdhaṃ netranirvāṇam /
eṣā me manorathapriyatamā sakusumāstaraṇaṃ śilāpaṭṭam adhiśayānā sakhībhyām anvāsyate / bhavatu /śroṣyāmy āsāṃ viśrambhakathitāni / (iti vilokayan sthitaḥ)
(tataḥ praviśati yathoktavyāpārā saha sakhībhyāṃ śakuntalā)
sakhyau (upavījya / sasneham) halā śakuntare api sukhayati nalinīpatravātaḥ /

In white sand at the door
Fresh footprints appear,
The toe lightly outlined,
The heel deep and clear.

[paragraph continues] I will hide among the branches, and see what happens. (He does so. Joyfully.) Ah, my eyes have found their heaven. Here is the darling of my thoughts, lying upon a flower-strewn bench of stone, and attended by her two friends. I will hear what they say to each other. (He stands gazing. Enter SHAKUNTALA with her two friends.)

The two friends (fanning her). Do you feel better, dear, when we fan you with these lotus-leaves?

3.6a5

śaku kiṃ vījayato māṃ sakhyau /

Shakuntala (wearily). Oh, are you fanning me, my dear girls? (The two friends look sorrowfully at each other.)

3.6a6

(sakhyau viṣādaṃ nāṭayitvā parasparam avalokayataḥ)

3.7b1

rājā balavadasvasthaśarīrā śakuntalā dṛśyate /

King. She is seriously ill. (Doubtfully.) Is it the heat, or is it as I hope? (Decidedly.) It must be so.

3.7b2

(savitarkam) tat kim ayam ātapadoṣaḥ syād uta yathā me manasi vartate / (sābhilāṣaṃ nirvarṇya) atha vā kṛtaṃ saṃdehena /

3.7

stananyastośīraṃ praśithilamṛṇālaikavalayam
priyāyāḥ sābādhaṃ kim api kamanīyaṃ vapur idam /
samas tāpaḥ kāmaṃ manasijanidāghaprasarayor
na tu grīṣmasyaivaṃ subhagam aparādhaṃ yuvatiṣu //
priyaṃvadā (janāntikam) anasūye tasya rājarṣeḥ prathamadarśanārabhya paryutsukeva śakuntalā / kiṃ nu khalv asyās tannimitto 'yam ātaṅko bhavet /
ana sakhi mama apīdṛśy āśaṅkā hṛdayasya / bhavatu / pravakṣyāmi tāvad enām (prakāśam) / sakhi praṣṭavyāsi kim api / balavān khalu te saṃtāpaḥ /
śaku (pūrvārdhena śayanād utthāya) halā kiṃ vaktukāmāsi /

With salve upon her breast,
With loosened lotus-chain,
My darling, sore oppressed,
Is lovely in her pain. Though love and summer heat
May work an equal woe,
No maiden seems so sweet
When summer lays her low.

Priyamvada (aside to ANUSUYA). Anusuya, since she first saw the good king, she has been greatly troubled. I do not believe her fever has any other cause.

Anusuya. I suspect you are right. I am going to ask her. My dear, I must ask you something. You are in a high fever.

Shakuntala (half rising.) Well, say whatever you like.

3.7a0

ana halā śakuntale anabhyantare khalv āvāṃ madanagatasya vṛttāntasya / kiṃ tu yādṛśītihāsabandheṣu kāmayamānānām avasthā śrūyate tādṛśīṃ tava paśyāmi /

Anusuya. Shakuntala dear, you have not told us what is going on in your mind. But I have heard old, romantic stories, and I can't help thinking that you are in a state like that of a lady in love. Please tell us what hurts you. We have to understand the disease before we can even try to cure it.

3.7a1

kathaya kiṃ nimittaṃ saṃtāpaḥ / vikāraṃ khalu paramārthato 'jñātvānārambhapratīkārasya /

3.7a2

rājā anasūyām apy anugato madīyas tarkaḥ / na hi svāmiprāyeṇa me darśanam /

King. Anusuya expresses my own thoughts.

3.7a3

śaku (ātmagatam) balavān khalu me 'bhiniveśaḥ / idānīm api sahasaitayor na śaknomi nivedayitum /

Shakuntala. It hurts me terribly. I can't tell you all at once.

3.7a4

priyaṃvadā sakhi śakuntale suṣṭhu eṣā bhaṇati / kim ātmana ātaṅkam upekṣase / anudivasaṃ khalu parihīyase 'ṅgaiḥ / kevalaṃ lāvaṇyamayī chāyā tvāṃ na muñcati /

Priyamvada. Anusuya is right, dear. Why do you hide your trouble? You are wasting away every day. You are nothing but a beautiful shadow.

3.8b1

rājā avitatham āha priyaṃvadā / tathā hi

King. Priyamvada is right. See!

3.8

kṣāmakṣāmakapolam ānanam uraḥ kāṭhinyam uktastanam
madhyaḥ klāntataraḥ prakāmavinatāv aṃsau chaviḥ pāṇḍurā /
śocyā ca priyadarśanā ca madanakliṣṭeyam ālakṣyate
patrāṇām iva śoṣaṇena marutā spṛṣṭā latā mādhavī //
śaku sakhi kasya vānyasya kathayiṣyāmi / kiṃtv āyāsayitrīdānīṃ vāṃ bhaviṣyāmi /
ubhe ata eva khalu nirbandha / snigdhajanasaṃvibhaktaṃ hi duḥkhaṃ sahyavedanaṃ bhavati /

Her cheeks grow thin; her breast and shoulders fail;
Her waist is weary and her face is pale:
She fades for love; oh, pitifully sweet!
As vine-leaves wither in the scorching heat.

Shakuntala (sighing). I could not tell any one else. But I shall be a burden to you. The two friends. That is why we insist on knowing, dear. Grief must be shared to be endured.

3.9b1

rājā

King.

3.9

pṛṣṭā janena samaduḥkhasukhena bālā
neyaṃ na vakṣyati manogatam ādhihetum /
dṛṣṭo vivṛtya bahuśo 'py anayā satṛṣṇam
atrāntare śravaṇakātaratāṃ gato 'smi //
śaku sakhi yataḥprabhṛti mama darśanapatham āgataḥ sa tapovanarakṣitā rājarṣiḥ (ity arthokte lajāṃ nāṭayati)
ubhe kathayatu priyasakhī /

To friends who share her joy and grief
She tells what sorrow laid her here;
She turned to look her love again
When first I saw her--yet I fear!

Shakuntala. Ever since I saw the good king who protects the pious grove (She stops and fidgets.)

The two friends. Go on, dear.

3.9a5

śaku tata ārabhya tadgatenābhilāṣeṇa etad avasthāsmi saṃvṛttā /

Shakuntala. I love him, and it makes me feel like this.

3.10b1

rājā (saharṣam) śrutaṃ śrotavyam /

King (joyfully). I have heard what I longed to hear.

3.10

smara eva tāpahetur nirvāpayitā sa eva me jātaḥ /
divasa ivābhraśyāmas tapātyaye jīvalokasya //
śaku tad yadi vām anumataṃ tathā vartethāṃ yathā tasya rājarṣer anukampanīyā bhavāmi / anyathāvaśyaṃ siñcata me tilodakam /
rājā saṃśayachedi vacanam /
priyaṃvadā (janāntikam) anasūye dūragatamanmathākṣameyaṃ kālaharaṇasya /
yasmin baddhabhāvaiṣā sa lalāmabhūtaḥ pauravāṇām / tad yuktam asyā abhilāṣo 'bhinanditum /

’Twas love that caused the burning pain;
’Tis love that eases it again;
As when, upon a sultry day,
Rain breaks, and washes grief away.

Shakuntala. Then, if you think best, make the good king take pity upon me. If not, remember that I was.

King. Her words end all doubt.

Priyamvada (aside to ANUSUYA). Anusuya, she is far gone in love and cannot endure any delay.

3.10a5

ana tathā yathā bhaṇasi /

3.10a6

pri (prakāśam) sakhi diṣṭyānurūpas te 'bhiniveśaḥ / sāgaram ujjhitvā kutra vā mahānady avatarati / ka idānīṃ sahakāram antareṇātimuktalatāṃ pallavitāṃ sahate /

3.10_2

rājā kim atra citraṃ yadi viśākhe śaśāṅkalekhām anuvartete /

3.10_3

ana kaḥ punar upāyo bhaved yenāvilambitaṃ nibhṛtaṃ ca sakhyā manorathaṃ saṃpādayāvaḥ /

Anusuya. Priyamvada, can you think of any scheme by which we could carry out her wishes quickly and secretly? Priyamvada. We must plan about the "secretly." The "quickly" is not hard.

3.10_4

pri nibhṛtam iti cintanīyaṃ bhavet / śīghram iti sukaram /

3.10a0

ana katham iva /

Anusuya. How so?

3.10a1

pri nanu sa rājarṣir asyāṃ snigdhadṛṣṭyā sūcitābhilāṣa etān divasān prajāgarakṛśo lakṣyate /

Priyamvada. Why, the good king shows his love for her in his tender glances, and he has been wasting away, as if he were losing sleep.

3.11b1

rājā satyam itthaṃ bhūta evāsmi / tathā hi

King. It is quite true.

3.11

idam aśiśirair antastāpād vivarṇam aṇīkṛtam
niśi niśi bhujanyastāpāṅgaprasāribhir aśrubhiḥ /
alabhilulitajyāghātāṅkaṃ muhur maṇibandhanāt
kanakavalayaṃ srastaṃ srastaṃ mayā pratisāryate //

The hot tears, flowing down my cheek
All night on my supporting arm
And on its golden bracelet, seek
To stain the gems and do them harm, The bracelet slipping o’er the scars
Upon the wasted arm, that show
My deeds in hunting and in wars,
All night is moving to and fro.

3.11a2

pri (vicintya) halā madanalekho 'sya kriyatāṃ taṃ sumanogopitaṃ kṛtvā devaprasādasyāpadeśena tasya hastaṃ prāpayiṣyāmi /

3.11a3

ana rocate me sukumāraḥ prayogaḥ kiṃ vā śakuntalā bhaṇati /

3.11a4

śaku kiṃ niyogo vāṃ vikalpyate /

3.11a5

pri tena hy ātmana upanyāsapūrvaṃ cintaya tāvat kim api lalitapadabandhanam /

3.11a6

śaku halā cintayāmy aham / avadhīraṇābhīrukaṃ punar vepate me hṛdayam /

3.12b1

rājā (saharṣam)

3.12

ayaṃ sa te tiṣṭhati saṃgamotsuko
viśaṅkase bhīru yato 'vadhīraṇām /
labheta vā prārthayitā na vā śriyam
śriyā durāpaḥ katham īpsito bhavet //
sakhyau ayi ātmaguṇāvamānini ka idānīṃ śarīranirvāpayitrī śāradīṃ jyotsnāṃ paṭāntena vārayati /
śaku (sasmitam) niyojitedānīm asmi / (ity upaviṣṭāṃ cintayati)

3.13b1

rājā sthāne khalu vismṛta+nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā priyām avalokayāmi / yataḥ

3.13

unnamitaikabhrūlatam ānanam asyāḥ padāni racayantyāḥ /
kaṇṭakitena prathayati may anurāgaṃ kapolena //
śaku halā cintitaṃ mayā gītavastu / asaṃnihitāni punar lekhanasādhanāni /
pri etasmiñ śukodarasukumāre nalinīpatre nakhair nikṣiptavarṇaṃ kuru /

3.13a5

śaku (yathoktaṃ rūpayitvā) halā śṛṇutam idānīṃ saṃgatārthaṃ na veti /

3.13a6

ubhe avahite svaḥ /

3.14b1

śaku (vācayati)

3.14

tava na jāne hṛdayaṃ mama punaḥ kāmo divā api rātrāv api /
nirghṛṇa tapati balīyas tvayi vṛttamanorathāyā aṅgāni //

3.15b1

rājā (sahasopasṛtya)

3.15

tapati tanugātri madanas tvām aniśaṃ māṃ punar dahaty eva /
glapayati yathā śaśāṅkaṃ na tathā hi kumudvatīṃ divasaḥ //
sakhyau (vilokya saharṣam utthāya) svāgatam avilambino manorathasya /
(śakuntalābhyutthātum icchati)

3.16b1

rājā alam alam āyāsena /

3.16

saṃdaṣṭasukumaśayanāny āśuktāntabisabhaṅgasurabhīṇi /
guruparitāpāni na te gātrāṇy upacāram arhanti //
ana itaḥ śilātalaikadeśam alaṃkarotu vayasyaḥ /
(rājopaviśati / śakuntalā salajjā tiṣṭhati)
pri dvayor api yuvayor anyonyānurāgaḥ pratyakṣaḥ / sakhīsnehaḥ punar māṃ punar uktavādinīṃ karoti /
rājā bhadre naitat parhāryam / vivakṣitaṃ hy anuktam anutāpaṃ janayati /

3.16a5

pri āpannasya viṣayanivāsino janasyārtihareṇa rājñā bhavitavyam ity eṣa vo dharmaḥ /

3.16a6

rājā nāsmāt param /

3.16_2

pri tena hīyam āvayoḥ priyasakhī tvām uddiśya idam avasthāntaraṃ bhagavatā madanenāropitā / tad arhasy abhyupapattyā jīvitam asyā avalambitum /

3.16_3

rājā bhadre sādhāraṇo 'yaṃ praṇayaḥ / sarvathānugṛhīto 'smi /

3.16_4

śakuntalā (priyaṃvadām avalokya) halā kim antaḥpuravirahaparyutsukasya rājarṣer uparodhena /

3.17b1

rājā sundari

King.

3.17

idam ananyaparāyaṇam anyathā hṛdayasaṃnihite hṛdayaṃ mama /
yadi samarthayase madirekṣaṇe madanabāṇahato 'smi hataḥ punaḥ //
ana vayasya bahuvallabhā rājānaḥ śrūyante / yathā nau priyasakhī bandhujanaśocanīyā na bhavati tathā nirvāhaya /

Bewitching eyes that found my heart,
You surely see
It could no longer live apart,
Nor faithless be.
I bear Love's arrows as I can;
Wound not with doubt a wounded man.

Anusuya. But, your Majesty, we hear that kings have many favourites. You must act in such a way that our friend may not become a cause of grief to her family.

3.18b1

rājā bhadre kiṃ bahunā

King. What more can I say?

3.18

parigrahabahutve 'pi dve pratiṣṭhe kulasya me /
samudrarasanā corvī sakhī ca yuvayor iyam //
ubhe nirvṛte svaḥ /
pri (sadṛṣṭikṣepam) anasūye eṣa itodattadṛṣṭir utsuko mṛgapotako mātaram anviṣyati / ehi / saṃyojayāva enam / (ity ubhe prasthite)
śaku halā aśaraṇāsmi / anyatarā yuvayor āgacchatu /
ubhe pṛthivyāḥ yaḥ śaraṇaṃ sa tava samīpe vartate / (iti niṣkrānte)

Though many queens divide my court,
But two support the throne;
Your friend will find a rival in
The sea-girt earth alone.

The two friends. We are content. (SHAKUNTALA betrays her joy.)

Anusuya (looking out of the arbour). Priyamvada, there is a little fawn, looking all about him. He has probably lost his mother and is trying to find her. I am going to help him.

Priyamvada. He is a frisky little fellow. You can't catch him alone. I'll go with you. (They start to go.)

Shakuntala. I will not let you go and leave me alone.

The two friends (smiling). You alone, when the king of the world is with you! (Exeunt.)

3.18a5

śaku kathaṃ gate eva /

Shakuntala. Are my friends gone?

3.19b1

rājā alam āvegena / nanv ayam ārādhayitā janas tava samīpe vartate /

King (looking about). Do not be anxious, beautiful Shakuntala. Have you not a humble servant here, to take the place of your friends? Then tell me:

3.19

kiṃ śītalaiḥ klamavinodibhir ārdravātān
sañcārayāmi nalinīdalatālavṛntaiḥ /
aṅke nidhāya karabhoru yathāsukhaṃ te
saṃvāhayāmi caraṇāv uta padmatāṃrau //
śaku na mānanīyeṣv ātmānam aparādhayiṣye / (ity utthāya gantum icchati)

Shall I employ the moistened lotus-leaf
To fan away your weariness and grief?
Or take your lily feet upon my knee
And rub them till you rest more easily?

Shakuntala. I will not offend against those to whom I owe honour. (She rises weakly and starts to walk away.)

3.20b1

rājā sundari anirvāṇo divasaḥ iyaṃ ca te śarīrāvasthā /

King (detaining her). The day is still hot, beautiful Shakuntala, and you are feverish.

3.20

utsṛjya kusumaśayanaṃ nalinīdalakalpitastanāvaraṇam /
katham ātape gamiṣyasi paribādhāpelavair aṅgaiḥ //
(iti balād enāṃ nivartayati)
śaku paurava rakṣa vinayam / madanasaṃtaptā api na khalv ātmanaḥ prabhavāmi /

Leave not the blossom-dotted couch
To wander in the midday heat,
With lotus-petals on your breast,
With fevered limbs and stumbling feet.

(He lays his hand upon her.)

Shakuntala. Oh, don't! Don't! For I am not mistress of myself. Yet what can I do now? I had no one to help me but my friends.

3.21b1

rājā bhīru alaṃ gurujanabhayena / dṛṣṭvā te viditadharmā tatrabhavān nātra doṣaṃ grahīṣyati kulapatiḥ / paśya /

King. Do not fear your family, beautiful Shakuntala. Father Kanva knows the holy law. He will not regret it.

3.21

gāndharveṇa vivāhena bahvyo rājarṣikanyakāḥ /
śrūyante pariṇītās tāḥ pitṛbhiś cābhinanditāḥ //
śaku muñca tāvan mām / bhūyo 'pi sakhījanam anumānayiṣye /
rājā bhavatu / mokṣyāmi /
śaku kadā /

For many a hermit maiden who
By simple, voluntary rite
Dispensed with priest and witness, yet
Found favour in her father's sight.

3.22b1

rājā

3.22

aparikṣatakomalasya yāvat kusumasyeva navasya ṣaṭpadena /
adharasya pipāsatā mayā te sadayaṃ sundari gṛhyate raso 'sya //
(iti mukham asyāḥ samunnamayitum icchati / śakuntalā pariharati nāṭyena)
(nepathye)
cakravākavadhuke āmantrayasva sahacaram / upasthitā rajanī /
śaku (sasaṃbhramam) paurava asaṃśayaṃ mama śarīravṛttāntopalambhāyāryā gautamī ita evāgacchati / tad viṭapāntarito bhava /

A voice behind the scenes. O sheldrake bride, bid your mate farewell. The night is come.

Shakuntala (listening excitedly). Oh, my dear, this is Mother Gautami, come to inquire about me. Please hide among the branches. (The king conceals himself. Enter GAUTAMI, with a bowl in her hand.)

3.22a5

rājā tathā / (ity ātmānam āvṛtya tiṣṭhati)

3.22a6

(tataḥ praviśati pātrahastā gautamī sakhyau ca)

Gautami. Here is the holy water, my child. (She sees SHAKUNTALA and helps her to rise.) So ill, and all alone here with the gods?

3.22_2

sakhyau ita ita āryā gautamī /

3.22_3

gautamī (śakuntalām upetya) jāte api laghusaṃtāpāni te 'ṅgāni /

3.22_4

śaku ārye asti me viśeṣaḥ /

Shakuntala. There is a difference, mother.

3.22a0

gautamī anena darbhodakena nirābādham eva te śarīraṃ bhaviṣyati / (śirasi śakutalām abhyukṣya) vatse pariṇato divasaḥ / ehi uṭajam eva gacchāmaḥ / (iti prasthitāḥ)

Gautami. The sun is setting. Come, let us go to the cottage.

3.22a1

śaku (ātmagatam) hṛdaya prthamam eva sukhopanate manorathe kātarabhāvaṃ na muñcasi / sānuśayavighaṭitasya kathaṃ te sāṃprataṃ saṃtāpaḥ / (padāntare sthitvā / prakāśam) latāvalaya saṃtāpahāraka āmantraye tvāṃ bhūyo 'pi paribhogāya / (iti duḥkhena niṣkrāntā śakuntalā sahetarābhiḥ)

Shakuntala (weakly rising. To herself). Oh, my heart, you delayed when your desire came of itself. Now see what you have done. (She takes a step, then turns around. Aloud.) O bower that took away my pain, I bid you farewell until another blissful hour. (Exeunt SHAKUNTALA and GAUTAMI.)

3.23b1

rājā (pūrvasthānam upetya / saniḥśvāsam) aho vighnavatyaḥ prāthitārthasiddhayaḥ / mahā hi

King (advancing with a sigh.) The path to happiness is strewn with obstacles.

3.23

muhur aṅgulisaṃvṛtādharauṣṭhaṃ pratiṣedhākṣaraviklavābhirāmam /
mukham aṃsavivarti pakṣmalākṣyāḥ katham apy unnamitaṃ na cumbitaṃ tu //
kva nu khalu saṃprati gacchāmi / athavā ihaiva priyāparibhuktamukte latāvalaye muhūrtaṃ sthāsyāmi /
(sarvato 'valokya)

Her face, adorned with soft eye-lashes,
Adorable with trembling flashes
Of half-denial, in memory lingers;
The sweet lips guarded by her fingers,
The head that drooped upon her shoulder--
Why was I not a little bolder?

[paragraph continues] Where shall I go now? Let me stay a moment in this bower where my beloved lay. (He looks about.)

3.24

tasyāḥ puṣpamayī śarīralulitā śayyā śilāyām iyam
klānto manmathalekha eṣa nalinīpatre nakhair arpitaḥ /
hastād bhraṣṭam idaṃ bisābharaṇam ity āsajyamānekṣaṇo
nirgantuṃ sahasā na vetasagṛhāc chaknomi śūnyād api //

The flower-strewn bed whereon her body tossed;
The bracelet, fallen from her arm and lost;
The dear love-missive, in the lotus-leaf
Cut by her nails: assuage my absent grief
And occupy my eyes--I have no power,
Though she is gone, to leave the reedy bower.

3.25b1

(ākāśe) rājan

A voice behind the scenes. O King!

3.25

sāyaṃtane sadanakarmaṇi saṃpravṛtte
vediṃ hutāśanavatīṃ paritaḥ prayastāḥ /
chāyāś caranti bahudhā bhayam ādadhānāḥ
saṃdhyāpayodakapiśāḥ piśitāśanānām //
rājā ayam aham āgacchāmi / (iti niṣkrāntaḥ)

The flames rise heavenward from the evening altar;
And round the sacrifices, blazing high,
Flesh-eating demons stalk, like red cloud-masses,
And cast colossal shadows on the sky.

King (listens. Resolutely), Have no fear, hermits. I am here.

(Exit.)

3.25.p1

tṛtīyo 'ṅkaḥ /