Shakuntala (play)

"King: Now, Charioteer, see me kill the deer."

"A Voice: Hold, O King! this deer belongs to our hermitage. Kill it not! kill it not!"

"Charioteer: Great King, some hermits have stationed themselves so as to screen the antelope at the very moment of its coming within range of your arrow."

"King: Then stop the horses."

"Hermit:This deer, O King, belongs to our hermitage. Kill it not! kill it not! Now heaven forbid this barbed shaft descend Upon the fragile body of a fawn, Like fire upon a heap of tender flowers! Can thy steel bolts no meeter quarry find Than the warm life-blood of a harmless deer? Restore, great Prince, thy weapon to its quiver. More it becomes thy arms to shield the weak, Than to bring anguish on the innocent."

"Hermits: May heaven indeed grant thee a son, a sovereign of the earth from sea to sea!"

"King: I accept with gratitude a Bráhman's benediction.... Is the Chief of your Society now at home?"

"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."

"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."

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

"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."

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

"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: 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: 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."

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

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

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

"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."

"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."

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

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

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

"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?"

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

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

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

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

"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."

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

"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: 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."

"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?"

"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."

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

"King: [Making a movement to arrest her departure, but checking himself. Aside.] Ah! a lover's feelings betray themselves by his gestures. When I would fain have stayed the maid, a sense Of due decorum checked my bold design; Though I have stirred not, yet my mien betrays My eagerness to follow on her steps."

"King: Spare her this trouble, gentle maiden. The exertion of watering the shrubs has already fatigued her. The water-jar has overtasked the strength Of her slim arms; her shoulders droop, her hands Are ruddy with the glow of quickened pulses; E'en now her agitated breath imparts Unwonted tremor to her heaving breast; The pearly drops that mar the recent bloom Of the [S']irísha pendent in her ear, Gather in clustering circles on her cheek; Loosed is the fillet of her hair; her hand Restrains the locks that struggle to be free. Suffer me, then, thus to discharge the debt for you. [Offers a ring to Priyamvadá. Both the maidens, reading the name Dushyanta on the seal, look at each other with surprise.]...Nay, think not that I am King Dushyanta. I am only the King's officer, and this is the ring which I have received from him as my credentials."

"Priyamvadá: The greater the reason you ought not to part with the ring from your finger. I am content to release her from her obligation at your simple request. Now, Shakoontalá, my love, you are at liberty to retire, thanks to the intercession of this noble stranger, or rather of this mighty prince."

"A Voice: O hermits, be ready to protect the animals belonging to our hermitage. King Dushyanta, amusing himself with hunting, is near at hand."

"Priyamvadáand Anasúyá: Noble Sir, we are terrified by the accidental disturbance caused by the wild elephant. Permit us to return to the cottage."

"King: Go, gentle maidens. It shall be our care that no injury happen to the hermitage....The mere sight of you, sweet maidens, has been to me the best entertainment."

"SHAKOONTALÁ: Anasúyá, a pointed blade of Kusha-grass has pricked my foot; and my bark-mantle is caught in the branch of a Kuruvaka-bush. Be so good as to wait for me until I have disentangled it."

"Máthavya(King's friend): Oh! here he comes, attended by the Yavana women, with bows in their hands, wearing garlands of wild flowers. What shall I do? I have it. I will pretend to stand in the easiest attitude for resting my bruised and crippled limbs."

"King: True, by no easy conquest may I win her, Yet are my hopes encouraged by her mien, Love is not yet triumphant; but, methinks, The hearts of both are ripe for his delights."

"Benediction. Í[S'] a preserve you ! he who is revealed In these eight forms by man perceptible— Water, of all creation's works the first; The Fire that bears on high the sacrifice Presented with solemnity to heaven; The Priest, the holy offerer of gifts; The Sun and Moon, those two majestic orbs, Eternal marshallers of day and night; The subtle Ether, vehicle of sound, Diffused throughout the boundless universe; The Earth, by sages called 'The place of birth Of all material essences and things'; And Air, which giveth life to all that breathe."