The Recognition of Śakuntalā 7.31
Abhijñānaśākuntala 7.31
- Language
- Sanskrit
7.31
yathā gajo neti samakṣarūpe tasminn apakrāmati saṃśayaḥ syāt /
padāni dṛṣṭvā tu bhavet pratītis tathāvidho me manaso vikāraḥ //
mārīca vatsa alam ātmāparādhaśaṅkā / saṃmoho 'pi tvayy anupapannaḥ / śrūyatām /
rājā avahito 'smi /
mārīca yadā evāpsarastīrthāvataraṇāt pratyakṣavaiklavyāṃ śakuntalām ādāya menakā dākṣāyaṇīm upagatā tadā eva dhyānād avagato 'smi durvāsasaḥ śāpād iyaṃ tapasvinī sahadharmacāriṇītvayā pratyādiṣṭā nānyatheti / sa cāyam aṅgulīyakadarśanāvasānaḥ /
rājā (socchvāsam) eṣa vacanīyān mukto 'smi /
Like one who doubts an elephant,
Though seeing him stride by,
And vet believes when he has seen
The footprints left; so I.
Kashyapa. My son, do not accuse yourself of sin. Your infatuation was inevitable. Listen.
King. I am all attention.
Kashyapa. When the nymph Menaka descended to earth and received Shakuntala, afflicted at her rejection, she came to Aditi. Then I perceived the matter by my divine insight. I saw that the unfortunate girl had been rejected by her rightful husband because of Durvasas' curse. And that the curse would end when the ring came to light.
King (with a sigh of relief. To himself). Then I am free from blame.
Translations (2)
- Shakuntala (in Kalidasa, Translations of Shakuntala and Other Works) — Arthur W. Ryder 1912, English
- Sacontalá; or, the Fatal Ring — Sir William Jones 1789, English