Mahabharata

"Purūravas: Nay, do not die, Purūravas, nor vanish: let not the evil-omened wolves devour thee. With women there can be no lasting friendship: hearts of hyenas are the hearts of women."

"It was Pururavas who first brought from the region of the Gandharvas the three kinds of fire (for sacrificial purpose). And he brought thence, the Apsara Urvasi also. And the son of Ila begat upon Urvasi six sons who were called Ayus, Dhimat, Amavasu and Dhridhayus, and Vanayus, and Satayus. And it is said that Ayus begat four sons named Nahusha, Vriddhasarman, Rajingaya, and Anenas, on the daughter of Swarbhanu. And, O monarch, Nahusha, of all the sons of Ayus, being gifted with great intelligence and prowess ruled his extensive kingdom virtuously."

"Rigveda Hymn XCV. Urvasi. Purūravas."

"Of the dialogue in the Rig Veda it may be said, that 'the language is coarse and the meaning is obscure.' We only gather that Urvasi, though she admits her sensual content in the society of Pururavas, is leaving him 'like the first of the dawns'; that she 'goes home again, hard to be caught, like the winds.' She gives her lover some hope, however—that the gods promise immortality even to him, 'the kinsman of Death' as he is. 'Let thine offspring worship the gods with an oblation; in Heaven shalt thou too have joy of the festival.' In the Rig Veda, then, we dimly discern a parting between a mortal man and an immortal bride, and a promise of reconciliation."

"Urvashi: When amid men in altered shape I sojourned, and through four autumns spent the nights among them, I tasted once a day a drop of butter; and even now with that am I am contented."

"When Yama went away in a southerly direction, Savitri followed him as the duty of a wife to follow her husband. Yama pleased with her, offered here a succession of boons, excepting the life of her husband. She first asked that her beloved father-in-law might have his sight restored; next that he might regain his kingdom, that he might have a hundred sons, and lastly that her husband might be restored to life. Yama agreed at last, and gave up the prana to her, upon which Satyavan revived and they lived happily 400 years."

"She then saw a dreadful being approaching with a crown on his head, and a noose in his hand. On Savitri asking him who he was, he said that he was Yama, come to take away Satyavan. Yama pulled out of the body of Satyavan his prana, about he size of the thumb."

"Upon her arrival, King Dushyanata cannot recognize Shakuntala. He even thinks it improper to eye a damsel who is a stranger to him. He could not believe that this woman was his wife."

"Viswamitra, of old, having been engaged in the austerest penances alarmed Indra, the chief of the celestials, who thought that the mighty ascetic of blazing energy would, by his penances, hurl him down from his high seat in heaven. Indra, thus alarmed, summoned Menaka."

"Thou, O Menaka, art the first of celestial Apsaras...My heart is trembling with fear. Indeed, O slender-waisted Menaka, this is thy business...you must see that Viswamitra of soul rapt in contemplation and engaged in the austerest penances, who might hurl me down from my seat. Go and tempt him and frustrating his continued austerities accomplish my good."

"Savitri counted the days her husband had to live. When he would die on the fourth day, she fasted three days and three nights. On the fourth day when her husband was going to the forest to gather fuel, Savitri insisted upon accompanying him. Satyavan suddenly got ill and lay down with his head on Savitri's lap."

"And entering quite alone he saw not the Rishi (Kanwa) of rigid vows. And not seeing the Rishi and finding that the abode was empty,... there came out of the Rishi's abode a maiden beautiful as Sri herself but dressed as an ascetic's daughter. And the black-eyed fair one, as she saw king Dushyanta, bade him welcome and received him duly."

"And the king [Dushyanta] having entered that forest which was like unto Indra's garden, soon forgot his hunger and thirst. And he was pleased beyond measure. And the monarch, laying aside all signs of royalty, entered that excellent asylum with but his minister and his priest, desirous of beholding that Rishi [Kashyapa] who was an indestructible mass of ascetic merit."

"My illustrious father hath gone away from the asylum to fetch fruit. Wait but a moment and thou wilt see him when he arrives...'O Dushyanta, I am the daughter of the virtuous, wise, high-souled, and illustrious ascetic Kanwa."

"And the timid and beautiful Menaka then entered the retreat and saw there Viswamitra who had burnt, by his penances, all his sins.... And beholding her beauty and accomplishments that bull amongst Rishis was possessed with lust and made a sign that he desired her companionship...And they then passed a long time there in each other's company. And sporting with each other, just as they pleased, for a long time as if it were only a single day, the Rishi begat on Menaka a daughter named Sakuntala. And Menaka went to the banks of the river Malini...And there she gave birth to that daughter. And she left the new-born infant on the bank of that river and went away."

"Six years pass and still Dushyanta does not send for his spouse and son. Sage Kanva voluntarily decided to send Shakuntala to the palace. When she arrives at Dushyanta’s abode, he refuses to recognize her. Shakunatala is grief stricken Then amidst her lament a heavenly voice commands Dushyanta: “He is your son. Accept him”. The king then takes him in and the boy later comes to be reknowned as Bharata."

"Kanva sends Shakuntala, now pregnant, to the court of Dushyanta along with his disciples....Kalidasa portrays the farewell of sage Kanva to Shakuntala very touchingly. The whole ashram is plunged in sorrow. Kanva, Shakuntala’s maids, all shed tears at departure; even the trees, plants and birds bow down with grief."

"The ring is lost on the way and Shakuntala, overcome with grief after being rejected by Dushyanta, collapses and is then she is carried away by a divine light. After a few days the ring is found in the stomach of a fish and Dushyanta, upon seeing it, remembers everything. He feels sad he rejected Shakuntala. Later on his way back from heaven where he had gone to assist Indra on an errand, he visits the hermitage of Maricha. There he sees a boy daringly attempting to bare the jaws of a lion’s cub. On inquiry he learns he is none other than his own son Sarvadamana."

"And beholding the new-born infant lying in that forest destitute of human beings but abounding with lions and tigers, a number of vultures sat around to protect it from harm.... I went there to perform my ablution and beheld the infant lying in the solitude of the wilderness surrounded by vultures. Bringing her hither I have made her my daughter. And because she was surrounded in the solitude of the wilderness, by Sakuntas (birds), therefore, hath she been named by me Shakuntala (bird-protected)."

"Well-spoken, O princess, this that thou hast said! Be my wife, O beautiful one! What shall I do for thee? Golden garlands, robes, ear-rings of gold, white and handsome pearls, from various countries, golden coins, finest carpets, I shall present thee this very day. Let the whole of my kingdom be thine today, O beautiful one! Come to me, O timid one, wedding me, O beautiful one, according to the Gandharva form."

"Frustrated at this, Shakuntala leaves for the forest all alone and decides to give birth to the child...She lives in the penance grove of Maricha and learns the lessons of suffering. In due course she gives birth to a most beautiful and intelligent son. The boy is named Bharat. Bharat blossoms into a strong youth. His only human companion is his mother. He starts playing with wild animals and rides on them as one rides horses. The mother teaches him as a prince. He opens the mouths of tigers and lions to count their teeth."

"Rishi Kanva had brought up Shakuntala as his own daughter, and hence, he decides to send her to her husband, King Dushyanta, where she should be accepted as Dushyanta's queen. On the way, they cross a river by a canoe ferry. Shakuntala feels charmed by the deep blue waters of the river and runs her fingers through the water Her ring slips of her finger, and she does not realize it."

"A fisherman is surprised to find a royal ring in the belly of a fish he has caught. He recognizes the royal seal. Upon seeing this ring Dushyanta’s memories of Shakuntala flashes into the mind. An old curse of forgetfulness laid on the king is broken and the king is repentant and becomes subdued."

"He [Dushyanta] first chooses to eavesdrop on all the young women and then introduces himself as an officer of the king. Of the three girls Shakuntala captures his fancy. Shakuntala appears to him as beautiful as the goddess of fortune, but dressed as an ascetic....he then feels that Shakuntala is his perfect bride."

"Shakuntala in both the epic and Kalidasa's play is shown as the daughter of the royal sage Vishwamitra and Menaka, the celestial nymph. Long ago, the powerful sage Vishwamitra is engaged in concentrated meditation, great austerities and penance that would give him almost absolute power over kingdom of earth and heaven Indra decided to put obstacles in his austerities and thereby break his sadhana..."

"Dushyanta and Damayanti fall in love with each other...They are married according to the Gandharva rites, while still basking in the euphoria of love. As an evidence of his office, the king shows her the ring with his own name Dushyanta inscribed on it. Dushyanta gets ready to leave for his capital and promises to send a huge escort sent to her later to bring her to the capital. But before leaving he gives his precious ring to Shakuntala, cautioning her not to loose it."

"He immediately set out to find her. He reaches her father’s ashram, but she is no longer there. He goes deeper into the forest to find out Shakuntala. There he finds a young boy opening the mouth of a lion. The boy is counting its teeth. The king greets the boy. He is amazed by the boy's boldness and strength and asks his name. He feels surprised when the boy answers that he is Bharat, the son of king Dushyanta. The boy takes him to Shakuntala. Shakuntala and her son are accepted with dignity and reverence by Dushyanata."

"Goethe in German language: Willst du die Blüthe des frühen, die Früchte des späteren Jahres, Willst du, was reizt and entzückt, willst du was sättigt and nährt, Willst du den Himmel, die Erde, mit Einem Namen begreifen; Nenn’ ich, Sakuntala, Dich, and so ist Alles gesagt."

"Europe first learned of the old Indian drama from Sir William Jones's translation of Kalidasa's Shakuntala, published in 1789. Something in the nature of a commotion was created among European intellectuals by this discovery...Goethe was powerfully impressed and paid magnificent tribute."

"English translation by Eastwich: Wouldst thou the young year's blossoms and the fruits of its decline, And all by which the soul is charmed, enraptured, feasted, fed? Wouldst thou the earth and heaven itself in one sole name combine? I name thee, O Shakuntala, and all at once is said."

"In drama, his Abhijnanashakuntala is the most famous and is usually judged the best Indian literary effort of any period. Taken from an epic legend, the work tells of the seduction of the nymph Shakuntala by King Dushyanta, his rejection of the girl and his child, and their subsequent reunion in heaven. The epic myth is important because of the child, for he is Bharata, eponymous ancestor of the Indian nation(Bharatavarsha, “Subcontinent of Bharata”)."

"The royal spouse of Sacontale (Shakuntala) Weary of victories, rejoices When he finds her paler From waiting and eyes pale from love, Petting her male gazelle."

"In spite of several plus points to their credit – like the wisdom, courage, and sagacity of Draupadi, Tara and Damayanti, the keen and lively interest they evinced in their surroundings and also the part played by the former two in the management of their respective realms, the strong sense of duty, love and loyalty to their respective husbands as shown by Kunti, Mandodari and Shakuntala, the carving for knowledge as expressed by Maitreyi – none of them is a model for Hindu women."

"The epic Mahabharata tells the story of the noble descendants of King Bharat from whose name India, i.e., Bharat originated. Bharat was the son of Shakuntala and Dushyanta. This story is also the subject matter of Kalidasa's Abhijñānaśākuntala."

"Menaka had to return to heaven. Therefore they leave the child amidst a beautiful garden near a lake. A swan in the lake sees the crying child and gives it some water. Then a sage named Kanva, who is passing by, sees the swan giving water to the child. In this way the child protected by birds (Shakunton in Sanskrit), and, therefore, she is named Shakuntala. The sage Kanva decides to take the child home and names it ‘Shakuntala’. Vishvamitra, whose tapas are broken, leaves for forest to retreat. Rishi Kanva brings up the child. Shakuntala blossoms as a most beautiful lady under the loving care of Kanva."

"One day, King Dushyanta, while on a hunting expedition, pursues a male deer wounded by his arrow...He reaches Kanva’s ashram. Shakuntala and her two companions were watering the plants at that time with sisterly affection and Shakuntala was nursing the wounded deer."

"Shakuntala becomes pregnant. One day a powerful rishi, Durvasa comes to the ashram. Since Shakuntala is lost in thoughts about Dushyanata, she fails to greet him properly. Incensed by this slight, the rishi curses Shakuntala, saying that the person she is dreaming of would forget about her altogether. As Durvasa is about to depart in a rage, one of Shakuntala's friends quickly explains to him the reason for Shakuntala's distraction. The rishi, realising that his extreme wrath is not warranted, modifies his curse, saying that the person who has forgotten Shakuntala would remember everything again if she shows him a personal token that had been given to her."

"After some days, Shakuntala wonders why Dushyanta has not returned to her. Her worry almost turned into panic because of the fact that she is pregnant. Soon, her condition reveals the truth. Rishi Kanva and ladies of the ashram notice the change."

"Shakuntala reaches the court of Dushyanta. A message is sent to the king of the arrival of a woman who claims to be his wife. Dushyanta, under the influence of the ascetic's curse, disowns Shakuntala in open court, dashing her hopes, and crushing her reputation."

"Shakuntala tells him about the ring and tries to show it to him, but she is not able to find it on her finger... [She] failed to remind Dushyanta of his promise to marry him."

"It tells the story of the hermit girl Shakuntala, the daughter of the celestial nymph Menaka and the sage Vishvamitra. The poet Kalidasa intends Shakuntala to be the focus of attention. This is not the story of King Dushyanta, or their son Bharata, who according to Mahabharata is the emperor whose rule gives India its Sanskrit name Bharat."

"Among the first works of Sanskrit literature translated into European languages, its skilful plot of thwarted love and eventual redemption has long charmed audiences around the world. Shakúntala's story is a leitmotiv that recurs in many works of Indian literature and culminates in the master Kalidasa's drama."

"Shakuntala in course of time gives birth to a son who is named Sarvadamana."

"O thou of the fairest complexion, how hast thou been born as his daughter? This great doubt of mine it behoveth thee to dispel."

"Dushyanata in the course of hunting expedition arrives at Kanva’s hermitage and there in the garden he sees Shakuntala engaged in watering the plants along with her maids. Mesmerized by her beauty, he desires to marry her while she also is deeply impressed by the sight of the royal dignitary. They then marry in the 'Gandharva' style. The king returns to the capital while Shakuntala, left behind does not ask her the king's promise to make her son the prince consort to succeed him."

"Unfortunately Shakuntala loses the ring given by Dushyanta who just forgets her."

"May the person about whom you are thinking forget you.! Later he relents and says: When he says an object, which he has given you and recognizes it, he will remember you."

"After the king returns, sage w:DurvasaDurvasa comes to call on sage Kanva. The latter was away and Shakuntala was so lost in her thoughts of king Dushyanata that the sage’s words:” I, a guest has come”, fell on her deaf ears."

"Nala and Damayanti married and she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. But the demon of gambling and bad luck (Kali) entered Nala when he neglected to wash his feet; he gambled away his kingdom, and he and Damayanti were forced to go to the forest. When birds, incarnations of the dice, stole the clothes he had been wearing, Damayanti wrapped him in the other half of the single cloth that she was wearing. One night, in despair, he cut the piece of cloth in half as she slept, leaving her with one half, and he abandoned her there."

"Nal [had] met the daughter of the great Naga serpent Vasuki. She wished to marry him, but he regarded her as his daughter because of his close friendship with her father, and he told her that he could marry her only if she would be reborn again as a human. She was reborn as a human princess named Damayanti, and when she was of age her father sent an invitation to Indra to come to her self-choice, but the swan carrying the invitation fell into Nal's hands instead. The king sent a second message to Indra, and both Indra and Nal arrived to claim Damayanti. Because Nal was human, Damayanthi was able to identify him despite Indra’s tricks."