A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.1559

c5.1559

SAKUNTALĀ. A nymph who was the daughter of Viswāmitra by the nymph Menakā. She was born and left in a forest, where she was nourished by birds until found by the sage Kanwa. She was brought up by this sage in his hermitage as his daughter, and is often called his daughter. The loves, marriage, separation, and re-union of Sakuntalā and King Dushyanta are the subject of the celebrated drama *Sakuntalā*. She was mother of Bharata, the head of a long race of kings, who has given his name to India (Bhārata-varsha), and the wars of whose descendants are sung in the Mahā-bhārata. The story of the loves of Dushyanta and Sakuntalā is, that while she was living in the hermitage of Kanwa she was seen in the forest by King Dushyanta, who fell in love with her. He induced her to contract with him a Gandharva marriage, that is, a simple declaration of mutual acceptance. On leaving her to return to his city, he gave her a ring as a pledge of his love. When the nymph when back to the hermitage, she was so engrossed with thoughts of her husband that she heeded not the approach of the sage Dur-vāsas, who had come to visit Kanwa, so that choleric saint cursed her to be forgotten by her beloved. He afterwards relented, and promised that the curse should be removed as soon as Dushyanta should see the ring. Sakuntalā, finding herself with child, set off to her husband; but on her way she bathed in a sacred pool, and there lost the ring. On reaching the palace, the king did not recognise her and would not own her, so she was taken by her mother to the forest, where she gave birth to Bharata. Then it happened that a fisherman caught a large fish and in it found a ring which he carried to Dushyanta. The king recognised his own ring, and he soon afterwards accepted Sakuntalā and her son Bharata. Kāli-dāsa’s drama of Sakuntalā was the first translation made from Sanskrit into English. It excited great curiosity and gained much admiration when it appeared. There are several recensions of the text extant. The text has been often printed, and there are many translations into the languages of Europe. Professor Williams has published a beautifully illustrated translation.