Shakuntala’s story is yet another disappointing one of Chandravamsha. King Kausika was a Suryavamshi King. He wanted to be the the most powerful. He renounced all his wealth and wishes. He started his penance and meditation to attain his wish. Indra – the coward conspirer in Pururavas story – afraid that Kausika will be a threat to his throne. He did another conspiracy. He sent Menaka , an apsara – the celestial dancer – to lure Kausika and derail him from his ambitions.

Kausika succumbed to Menaka’s charm. He turned down his penance for her. They had a union and Menaka gave birth to a beautiful daughter. There comes the guilt. Kausika hate himself and Menaka. For him this child a proof of failure. For Menaka, this child is yet another symbol of her victory. Both abandoned the child.

Shakun birds kept her safe under their wings. Sage Kanva rescued her and named after Shakun birds – Shakuntala. The innocent child grown as beautiful, coy and young lady in Kanva’s ashram which was surrounded by beautiful trees and animals.

King Dushyanta – descendant of Pururavas – visited Kanva’s ashram one day. Unfortunately Kanva was out of station for few months (or years?), as there were no options for quick travel like what we have in this generation. Dushyanta liked Shakuntala as she was very beautiful. He asked Shakuntala if she can marry her. Shakuntala – as a well taught girl – asked him to get permission from Kanva. He still insisted gandhava vivaha – to marry by keeping the trees as a proof of their marriage. He persuaded and won finally. Shakuntala agreed.

“Oh beautiful one! Be my wife. Oh lovely one! Oh timid one! …! Marry me according to Gandharva rites, because it is said that a Gandharva marriage is the best.”
“ஓ அழகானவளே! என்னுடைய மனைவியாயிரு. ஓ அன்பே! அட பயந்தவளே! …! கந்தர்வ முறைப்படி என்னை மணந்து கொள், ஏனென்றால் கந்தர்வ திருமணமே சிறந்தது என்று கூறப்படுகிறது.

They married each other by keeping the trees as proof. They lived happily as a couple in Kanva’s ashram. Kanva did not return. Soon, Dushyanta need to return. He promised to come back to take her with him with Kanva’s approval. He asked her to show their wedding ring whenever she meet him (just because he had so many such encounters so that he can not realize each one??)

Shakuntala was in deep love with him. She was waiting and waiting for him. Dushyanta’s thoughts were pervasive in her mind. One day, she was in dream near a stream with her hand inside the water, when the angry-rishi Durvasa visited the ashram. She did not realize and did not pay attention to the rishi. With much anger, Durvasa cursed the poor lady in way his lover would forget her. At the same time, a fish inside the water took away the wedding ring of Shakuntala. Dushyanta forget everything.

When Kanva returned to Ashram, he understood Shakuntala was in love and she is carrying a baby. Days, weeks, years passed. Dushyanta did not return. Meanwhile Shakuntala gave birth to a son – Bharata. The boy grew up in the ashram as well. The ashram dwellers forget about Dushyanta’s promise, until Bharata asked about his father.

Shakuntala, with her simple dress made of the materials of the forest, reached Dushyanta’s court. Dushyanta reject her claims.

O evil ascetic! I remember nothing. Who do you belong to? I do not remember having had any relation with you for dharma, artha or kama. Go or stay, as you wish. Do what you want.
தீய துறவியே! எனக்கு எதுவும் நினைவில் இல்லை. நீ யாரைச் சேர்ந்தவர்? தர்மம், அர்த்தம் அல்லது காமத்திற்காக உன்னுடன் எந்த தொடர்பும் இருந்ததாக எனக்கு நினைவில்லை. நீ விரும்பியபடி செல் அல்லது இரு. நீ விரும்பியதைச் செய்.

Shakuntala said that she did not search of her husband Dushyanta, but father for their son Bharata. She left Bharata facing his father and walked away.

Meanwhile, a fisher man caught a fish from a river. He found Dushyanta’s ring – the wedding ring of Shakuntala – inside the fish. He returned it to the king. On getting the ring, Dushyanta realized about Shakuntala. He accepted her as his consort and as queen. Later Bharata took over the reign from Dushyanta and ruled wisely. The land ruled by Bharata was called as Bharata varsha or simply Bharata.

The paintings of Shakuntala by Raja Ravi Varma brings her suffering in these paintings.

References / Gratitude:

• The illustrated Mahabharata, Dorling Kindersley India, Penguin Random House, 1st Ed. 2017
• Bibek Debroy’s translation of the Mahabharata
• fineartamerica.com
• en.wikipedia.org
• commons.wikimedia.org

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