The Recognition of Śakuntalā 7.13-15

7.13

manorathāya nāśaṃse kiṃ bāho spandase vṛthā /
pūrvāvadhīritaṃ śreyo duḥkhaṃ hi parivartate //
(nepathye)
mā khalu cāpalaṃ kuru / kathaṃ gata evātmanaḥ prakṛtim /

I dare not hope for what I pray;
Why thrill--in vain?
For heavenly bliss once thrown away
Turns into pain.

A voice behind the scenes. Don't! You mustn't be so foolhardy. Oh, you are always the same.

7.14

ardhapītastanaṃ mātur āmardakliṣṭakesaram /
prakrīḍituṃ siṃhaśiśuṃ balātkāreṇa karṣati //
(tataḥ praviśati yathānirdiṣṭakarmā tapasvinībhyāṃ bālaḥ)
bāla jṛmbhasva siṃha dantāṃs te gaṇayiṣye /

He drags a struggling lion cub,
The lioness' milk half-sucked, half-missed,
Towzles his mane, and tries to drub
Him tame with small, imperious fist.

(Enter a small boy, as described, and two hermit-women.)

Boy. Open your mouth, cub. I want to count your teeth.

7.15

rājā hamatas tejaso bījaṃ bālo 'yaṃ pratibhāti me /
sphuliṅgāvasthayā vahnir edhāpakṣa iva sthitaḥ //
prathamā vatsa enaṃ bālamṛgendraṃ muñca / aparaṃ te krīḍanakaṃ dāsyāmi /
bāla kutra / dehy etat / (iti hastaṃ prasārayati)

King (in surprise).

The boy is seed of fire
Which, when it grows, will burn;
A tiny spark that soon
To awful flame may turn.

First woman. Let the little lion go, dear. I will give you another plaything.

Boy. Where is it? Give it to me. (He stretches out his hand.)