Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.1315

c5.1315

3) Marriage and birth of son. Once Duṣyanta set out to a forest to hunt. Seated in his chariot, which moved with the speed of Garuḍa he came to a beautiful forest. Weary with hunger and thirst the King, leaving the attendants behind walked into the hermitage of the sage Kaṇva. Proceeding along the sand on the banks of Mālinī river and drinking with his eyes the beauties of the hermitage he reached Kaṇva's āśrama. ‘Who is there in the āśrama?’ queried the King, whereupon Śakuntalā, the foster daughter of Kaṇva came out, and in the absence of her father welcomed the guest. Enchanted by the beauty of Śakuntalā, the King questioned her about her lineage and she told him the story about Viśvāmitra's love for Menakā, and Kaṇva bringing up their daughter. Duṣyanta felt deep love for her, and in accordance with rules prescribed in Dharma śāstras married her in the Gāndharva way. He also accepted her stipulation that the son born to her should become the next monarch. Śakuntalā got pregnant, and after promising that she would duly be conducted to the palace Duṣyanta returned. No sooner had Duṣyanta left the āśrama than Kaṇva, who had been out returned to the āśrama. With his divine eyes he understood what had happened in his absence. Kaṇva blessed Śakuntalā that she would have an excellent son, who would become an excellent ruler of the world surrounded by the sea. In due course of time Śakuntalā delivered a son. Kaṇva did the rites pertaining to the birth of the child, and named the child Sarvadamana. The child grew up to become six years old, and Kaṇva realising that the further stay of Śakuntalā and her son at the āśrama would stand in the way of the child's welfare and progress sent the mother and the child to Hastināpura, the capital of Duṣyanta, attended by his disciples. When they reached Duṣyanta's palace and sent word to him about their arrival he, pleading ignorance about his marriage with Śakuntalā, refused to receive her and the child. Duṣyanta and Śakuntalā hotly argued the question. At last, when Śakuntalā, with swelling emotions was about to leave the palace, a celestial voice announced that Duṣyanta had, in fact, married Śakuntalā, that Sarvadamana was his son and that he (Sarvadamana) would become a great ruler under the name Bharata. (Ādi Parva, Chapters 69-74).