Hinduism

"SHAKOONTALÁ: Anasúyá, I shall leave you...That I may go and report this impertinent Priyamvadá to the venerable matron, Gautamí."

"Vetravatí: So please your Majesty, your prime minister begs respectfully to inform you that he has devoted much time to the settlement of financial calculations, and only one case of importance has been submitted by the citizens for his consideration. He has made a written report of the facts, and requests your Majesty to cast your eyes over it."

"SHAKOONTALÁ: [Seeing the signet-ring on his finger] Ah! my dear husband, is that the Lost Ring?"

"Priyamvadá: Hitherto, Sir, she has been engaged in the practice of religious duties, and has lived in subjection to her foster-father; but it is now his fixed intention to give her away in marriage to a husband worthy of her."

"King: I wish to ascertain one point respecting your friend. Will she be bound by solitary vows Opposed to love, till her espousals only? Or ever dwell with these her cherished fawns, Whose eyes, in lustre vying with her own, Return her gaze of sisterly affection?"

"King: The rest may be easily divined. Shakoontalá, then, is the offspring of the nymph....It is quite intelligible. How would a mortal to such charms give birth? The lightning's radiance flashes not from earth. And so my desire has really scope for its indulgence. Yet I am still distracted by doubts, remembering the pleasantry of her female companions respecting her wish for a husband....I am so eager to hear the particulars of your friend's history, that I have still another question to ask."

"Anasúyá: You shall hear it, Sir. Some time since, this sage of regal caste, while performing a most severe penance on the banks of the river Godávarí, excited the jealousy and alarm of the gods; insomuch that they despatched a lovely nymph named Menaká to interrupt his devotions.... You shall hear it, Sir. Some time since, this sage of regal caste, while performing a most severe penance on the banks of the river Godávarí, excited the jealousy and alarm of the gods; insomuch that they despatched a lovely nymph named Menaká to interrupt his devotions...."

"King: O fair one, though the utterance of thy prayer Be lost amid the torrent of thy tears, Yet does the sight of thy fair countenance And of thy pallid lips, all unadorned And colourless in sorrow for my absence, Make me already more than conqueror."

"King: 'Deserted by her mother!' My curiosity is excited; pray let me hear the story from the beginning."

"Anasúyá: I will explain to you. Sir. You have heard of an illustrious sage of regal caste, [[w:Vishwamitra|Vishwámitra, whose family name is Kaushika....Know that he is the real father of our friend. The venerable Kanwa is only her reputed father. He it was who brought her up, when she was deserted by her mother."

"Child: Mother, who is this man?"

"King: The sage Kanwa lives in the constant practice of austerities. How, then, can this friend of yours be called his daughter?"

"King: How now shall I reply? shall I make myself known, or shall I still disguise my real rank? I have it; I will answer her thus. [Aloud.] I am the person charged by his Majesty, the descendant of Puru, with the administration of justice and religion; and am come to this sacred grove to satisfy myself that the rites of the hermits are free from obstruction... May I be allowed, in my turn, to ask you maidens a few particulars respecting your friend?"

"King: This is no place for petulance. Who can it be whose behaviour calls for such a rebuke?"

"Anasúyá: Your kind words, noble Sir, fill me with confidence, and prompt me to inquire of what regal family our noble guest is the ornament? what country is now mourning his absence? and what induced a person so delicately nurtured to expose himself to the fatigue of visiting this grove of penance?"

"King: How charmingly your friendship is in keeping with the equality of your ages and appearance!"

"SHAKOONTALÁ [Aside]: How is it that the sight of this made me sensible of emotions inconsistent with religious vows?"

"King: The rites of hospitality are already performed; your truly kind words are the best offering I can receive."

"King: A child, is it? closely attended by two holy women. His disposition seems anything but child-like. See! He braves the fury of yon lioness Suckling its savage offspring, and compels The angry whelp to leave the half-sucked dug, Tearing its tender mane in boisterous sport."

"Anasúyá: All is well indeed, now that we are honoured by the reception of a distinguished guest. Dear Shakoontalá, go, bring from the hermitage an offering of flowers, rice, and fruit. This water that we have brought with us will serve to bathe our guest's feet."

"King: An excellent opportunity for me to show myself. Fear not— When mighty Puru's offspring sways the earth, And o'er the wayward holds his threatening rod, Who dares molest the gentle maids that keep Their holy vigils here in Kanwa's grove?"

"SHAKOONTALÁ: May my husband be victorious—"

"Priyamvadáand Anasúyá: How can we deliver you? Call Dushyanta to your aid. The sacred groves are under the King's special protection."

"SHAKOONTALÁ: How now! he is following me here. Help! my dear friends, help! deliver me from the attacks of this troublesome insect[Bee]."

"Máthavya: Tell me:—I see three female figures drawn on the canvas, and all of them beautiful; which of the three is her Majesty [S']akoontalá?"

"SHAKOONTALÁ: My child, ask the deity that presides over thy destiny."

"King: Would that my union with her were permissible! and yet I hardly dare hope that the maiden is sprung from a caste different from that of the Head of the hermitage. But away with doubt: That she is free to wed a warrior-king My heart attests. For, in conflicting doubts, The secret promptings of the good man's soul Are an unerring index of the truth. However, come what may, I will ascertain the fact."

"SHAKOONTALÁ: Speak for yourself, girl; this is the thought in your own mind."

"Priyamvadá: She is wishing that as the jasmine is united to a suitable tree, so, in like manner, she may obtain a husband worthy of her."

"King: What Priyamvadá says, though complimentary, is nevertheless true. Verily,Her ruddy lip vies with the opening bud; Her graceful arms are as the twining stalks; And her whole form is radiant with the glow Of youthful beauty, as the tree with bloom."

"King: The germ of mighty courage lies concealed Within this noble infant, like a spark Beneath the fuel, waiting but a breath To fan the flame and raise a conflagration."

"SHAKOONTALÁ: Ah! saucy girl, you are most appropriately named Priyamvadá('Speaker of flattering things')."

"Priyamvadá: The Keshara-tree, whilst your graceful form bends about its stem, appears as if it were wedded to some lovely twining creeper."

"SHAKOONTALÁ [Aside]: Be of good cheer, my heart. The anger of Destiny is at last appeased. Heaven regards thee with compassion. But is he in very truth my husband?"

"King: A most just observation! This youthful form, whose bosom's swelling charms By the bark's knotted tissue are concealed, Like some fair bud close folded in its sheath, Gives not to view the blooming of its beauty. But what am I saying? In real truth this bark-dress, though ill-suited to her figure, sets it off like an ornament."

"Priyamvadá: Why do you lay the blame on me? Blame rather your own blooming youthfulness which imparts fulness to your bosom."

"King: My finger, burning with the glow of love, Has left its impress on the painted tablet; While here and there, alas! a scalding tear Has fallen on the cheek and dimmed its brightness. Chaturiká, the garden in the background of the picture is only half-painted. Go, fetch the brush that I may finish it...."

"King: Can this be the daughter of Kanwa? The saintly man, though descended from the great Kasyapa, must be very deficient in judgment to habituate such a maiden to the life of a recluse. The sage who would this form of artless grace Inure to penance, thoughtlessly attemptsbr>To cleave in twain the hard acacia's stem With the soft edge of a blue lotus-leaf. Well! concealed behind this tree, I will watch her without raising her suspicions."

"SHAKOONTALÁ: Dear Anasúyá, although I am charged by my good father with this duty, yet I cannot regard it as a task. I really feel a sisterly love for these plants>....Good Anasúyá, Priyamvadá has drawn this bark-dress too tightly about my chest. I pray thee, loosen it a little."

"King:[Falling at her feet] Fairest of women, banish from thy mind The memory of my cruelty; reproach The fell delusion that o'erpowered my soul, And blame not me, thy husband; 'tis the curse Of him in whom the power of darkness reigns, That he mistakes the gifts of those he loves For deadly evils. Even though a friend Should wreathe a garland on a blind man's brow, Will he not cast it from him as a serpent?"

"Anasúyá: Dear SHAKOONTALÁ, one would think that father Kanwa had more affection for the shrubs of the hermitage even than for you, seeing he assigns to you, who are yourself as delicate as the fresh-blown jasmine, the task of filling with water the trenches which encircle their roots."

"SHAKOONTALÁ:This way, my dear companions; this way."

"King: The unborn child has a title to its father's property. Such is my decree. Go, bid my minister proclaim it so...."

"King: Yes, indeed. My heart's dearest wish has borne sweet fruit. But tell me, Mátali, is this joyful event known to the great Indra?"

"King: Hark! I hear voices to the right of yonder grove of trees. I will walk in that direction. Ah! here are the maidens of the hermitage coming this way to water the shrubs, carrying water-pots proportioned to their strength."

"A Voice: This way, my dear companions; this way."

"Child: Open your mouth, my young lion, I want to count your teeth."

"King: The inhabitants of this sacred retreat must not be disturbed. Stay the chariot, that I may alight.... Charioteer, groves devoted to penance must be entered in humble attire. Take these ornaments.... Here is the entrance to the hermitage. I will now go in. Serenest peace is in this calm retreat, By passion's breath unruffled; what portends My throbbing arm? Why should it whisper here Of happy love? Yet everywhere around us Stand the closed portals of events unknown."

"Hermit: No; he has gone to Soma-tírtha to propitiate Destiny, which threatens his daughter Shakoontalá with some calamity; but he has commissioned her in his absence to entertain all guests with hospitality."

"Sánumatí: [Aside] A very just remark from a modest man, whose affection is exaggerated by the keenness of his remorse."