Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततो गच्छन्महाबाहुरेकोऽमात्यान्विसृज्य तान् नापश्यदाश्रमे तस्मिंस्तमृषिं संशितव्रतम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having proceeded further, leaving behind him all his attendants that mighty, armed king entered the hermitage alone but he did not find there the Rishi of rigid vows, (Kanva).
सोऽपश्यमानस्तमृषिं शून्यं दृष्ट्वा तमाश्रमम् उवाच क इहेत्युच्चैर्वनं संनादयन्निव
M. N. Dutt: Having seen that the Rishi's hermitage was empty, he hailed aloud, "Ho, who is here?" And his voice was echoed in the forest.
श्रुत्वाथ तस्य तं शब्दं कन्या श्रीरिव रूपिणी निश्चक्रामाश्रमात्तस्मात्तापसीवेषधारिणी
M. N. Dutt: Hearing his voice, a maiden, in the garb of ascetics, as beautiful as Shree (Lakshmi), came out of the hermitage.
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.3 After 3, D4 (marg.) S (which om. 4ab) ins.: *587 सुव्रताभ्यागतं तं तु पूज्यं प्राप्तमथेश्वरम् रूपयौवनसंपन्ना शीलाचारवती शुभा सा तमायतपद्माक्षं व्यूढोरस्कं सुसंहितम् सिंहस्कन्धं दीर्घभुजं सर्वलक्षणपूजितम् स्पष्टं मधुरया वाचा साब्रवीज्जनमेजय
सा तं दृष्ट्वैव राजानं दुःषन्तमसितेक्षणा स्वागतं त इति क्षिप्रमुवाच प्रतिपूज्य च
M. N. Dutt: No sooner that black-eyed damsel saw the king Dushyanta, that she instantly bade him welcome and worshipped him in due form,
आसनेनार्चयित्वा च पाद्येनार्घ्येण चैव हि पप्रच्छानामयं राजन्कुशलं च नराधिपम्
M. N. Dutt: She respected him with offering a seat, she gave him water to wash his feet and she then offered him the argha. Having done all this, O king, she then enquired after his health and peace.
यथावदर्चयित्वा सा पृष्ट्वा चानामयं तदा उवाच स्मयमानेव किं कार्यं क्रियतामिति
M. N. Dutt: Having thus honoured him in due form and enquired about his health and peace, the maiden most respectfully asked the king, "What should be done?”
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.6 After 6, S ins.: *588 आश्रमस्याभिगमने किं त्वं कार्यं चिकीर्षसि कस्त्वमद्येह संप्राप्तो महर्षेराश्रमं शुभम्
तामब्रवीत्ततो राजा कन्यां मधुरभाषिणीम् दृष्ट्वा सर्वानवद्याङ्गीं यथावत्प्रतिपूजितः
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus honoured in due form, the king replied to that sweet-speeched and
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.7 After 7, K0.4 Da1 S ins.: *589 दुःषन्तः राजर्षेरस्मि पुत्रोऽहमिलिलस्य महीपतेः दुःषन्त इति मे नाम सत्यं पुष्करलोचने G2.5 M3.5 cont. (with prefixed śakuṃtalā): T1 G1 ins. after śakuṃtalā in st. 9: *590 स्वागतं ते महाराज फलमूलोदकं च नः परिगृह्योपभुङ्क्ष्व त्वं किं च ते करवाण्यहम्
आगतोऽहं महाभागमृषिं कण्वमुपासितुम् क्व गतो भगवान्भद्रे तन्ममाचक्ष्व शोभने
M. N. Dutt: "I have come to worship the greatly blessed Rishi Kanva. O amiable and beautiful lady, tell me where has the illustrious man gone?"
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.8 After 8, K1 reads (for the first time) 14 (as evam uktā tu sā ka. - tadāśayā); while K2 ins.: *591 द्विजश्रेष्ठ नमो भद्रे मुनिः कण्वः प्रतापवान्
शकुन्तलोवाच गतः पिता मे भगवान्फलान्याहर्तुमाश्रमात् मुहूर्तं संप्रतीक्षस्व द्रक्ष्यस्येनमिहागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Shakuntala said : My noble father has gone away from the hermitage to collect fruits. Kindly wait for a moment and you will see him when he will come.
वैशंपायन उवाच अपश्यमानस्तमृषिं तया चोक्तस्तथा नृपः तां च दृष्ट्वा वरारोहां श्रीमतीं चारुहासिनीम्
AI Translation: Vaishmapayana said Not seeing the sage and told by her, the king And seeing that beautiful, splendid, and charming lady,
विभ्राजमानां वपुषा तपसा च दमेन च रूपयौवनसंपन्नामित्युवाच महीपतिः
AI Translation: Shining with her body, with austerities and with self-control, Endowed with beauty and youth, the king said to her,
कासि कस्यासि सुश्रोणि किमर्थं चागता वनम् एवंरूपगुणोपेता कुतस्त्वमसि शोभने
M. N. Dutt: "Who are you? O beautiful lady, whose daughter are you? Why have you come into this forest? ( beautiful lady, accomplished and beautiful as you are, whence have you come here?"
दर्शनादेव हि शुभे त्वया मेऽपहृतं मनः इच्छामि त्वामहं ज्ञातुं तन्ममाचक्ष्व शोभने
M. N. Dutt: O charming lady, you have stolen my heart at the very first glance. I desire to know all about you. O beautiful lady, tell me all.”
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.13 For 13cd, S subst.: *592 स्थितोऽस्म्यमितसौभाग्ये विवक्षुश्चास्मि किंचन शृणु मे नागनासोरु वचनं मत्तकाशिनि राजर्षेरन्वये जातः पूरोरस्मि विशेषतः वृणे त्वामद्य सुश्रोणि दुःषन्तो वरवर्णिनि न मेऽन्यत्र क्षत्रियाया मनो जातु प्रवर्तते ऋषिपुत्रीषु चान्यासु नावर्णास्वपरासु च एवं प्रणिहितात्मानं विद्धि मां कलभाषिणि तस्य मे त्वयि भावोऽस्ति क्षत्रिया ह्यसि का वद न हि मे भीरु विप्रायां मनः प्रसहते गतिम् भजे त्वामायतापाङ्गे भक्तं भजितुमर्हसि भुङ्क्ष राज्यं विशालाक्षि बुद्धिं मा त्वन्यथा कृथाः
एवमुक्ता तदा कन्या तेन राज्ञा तदाश्रमे उवाच हसती वाक्यमिदं सुमधुराक्षरम्
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed by the king in that lermitage, the maiden smilingly replied to him in sweet words.
कण्वष्याहं भगवतो दुःषन्त दुहिता मता तपस्विनो धृतिमतो धर्मज्ञस्य यशस्विनः
M. N. Dutt: "O (king) Dushyanta, I am the daughter of the illustrious, virtuous, wise and high-souled ascetic Kanva.
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.15 After 15ab, K2 (om. 15cd) ins.: *593 तामुवाच ततो राजा कन्यां राजीवलोचनाम् After 15, D4 S ins.: *594 अस्वतन्त्रास्मि राजेन्द्र काश्यपो मे गुरुः पिता तमेव प्रार्थय स्वार्थं नायुक्तं कर्तुमर्हसि
दुःषन्त उवाच ऊर्ध्वरेता महाभागो भगवाँल्लोकपूजितः चलेद्धि वृत्ताद्धर्मोऽपि न चलेत्संशितव्रतः
M. N. Dutt: Dushyanta said : The illustrious and highly blessed Rishi is worshipped by all the world. He has completely controlled his sexual passions. Even Dharma may fall from the right path, but an ascetic of rigid vows can never fall from it.
कथं त्वं तस्य दुहिता संभूता वरवर्णिनी संशयो मे महानत्र तं मे छेत्तुमिहार्हसि
M. N. Dutt: O beautiful and charming lady, how can you be his daughter? You should dispel from my mind this great doubt of mine.
शकुन्तलोवाच यथायमागमो मह्यं यथा चेदमभूत्पुरा शृणु राजन्यथातत्त्वं यथास्मि दुहिता मुनेः
M. N. Dutt: Shakuntala said : O king! hear, what I have learnt (from the Rishi), regarding all that happened to me and how I became the daughter of the Rishi (Kanva).
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.18 S (except M3.5) ins. after 18ab (G3, after śakuntalā): *595 अन्यथा सन्तमात्मानमन्यथा सत्सु भाषते स पापेनावृतो मूर्खस्तेन आत्मापहारकः
ऋषिः कश्चिदिहागम्य मम जन्माभ्यचोदयत् तस्मै प्रोवाच भगवान्यथा तच्छृणु पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: Once on a time, a Rishi came here and asked about my birth. () king, hear what the illustrious Rishi (Kanva) told him about me.
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.19 After 19ab, K4 D4 S ins.: *596 ऊर्ध्वरेता यथासि त्वं कुतस्तेयं शकुन्तला पुत्री त्वत्तः कथं जाता तत्त्वं मे ब्रूहि काश्यप
तप्यमानः किल पुरा विश्वामित्रो महत्तपः सुभृशं तापयामास शक्रं सुरगणेश्वरम्
M. N. Dutt: Kanva said: In days of yore, Vishvamitra were engaged in austere asceticism and he thus alarmed Indra, the king of the celestials.
तपसा दीप्तवीर्योऽयं स्थानान्मां च्यावयेदिति भीतः पुरंदरस्तस्मान्मेनकामिदमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: He (Indra) thought that the Rishi by his great ascetic penances would hurl him from his high seat in heaven. Being thus alarmed, he called Menaka and told her,
गुणैर्दिव्यैरप्सरसां मेनके त्वं विशिष्यसे श्रेयो मे कुरु कल्याणि यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु
AI Translation: You are superior to the celestial nymphs in your divine qualities, O Menakā. Do what is best for me, O fortunate one. Listen to what I shall tell you.
असावादित्यसंकाशो विश्वामित्रो महातपाः तप्यमानस्तपो घोरं मम कम्पयते मनः
AI Translation: This is the sun-like Vishvamitra, the great ascetic, who, while practicing terrible austerities, makes my mind tremble.
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.23 After 23, T2 G (except G3.6) M (except M5) ins.: *597 तपस्तस्य महाघोरं ब्रह्मचर्यं च संश्रितम्
मेनके तव भारोऽयं विश्वामित्रः सुमध्यमे संशितात्मा सुदुर्धर्ष उग्रे तपसि वर्तते
M. N. Dutt: O Menaka, O slender-waisted girl, it is your business. You must see Vishvamitra, whose soul is rapt in contemplation and who is deeply engaged in the austere penances.
स मां न च्यावयेत्स्थानात्तं वै गत्वा प्रलोभय चर तस्य तपोविघ्नं कुरु मे प्रियमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: He may displace me from my (high) seat (in heaven). Go and tempt him. Frustrating his asceticism, do my good.
रूपयौवनमाधुर्यचेष्टितस्मितभाषितैः लोभयित्वा वरारोहे तपसः संनिवर्तय
M. N. Dutt: O beautiful girl, win him from his asceticism, by tempting him with your beauty, youth, agreeableness, arts, smiles and speech.
मेनकोवाच महातेजाः स भगवान्सदैव च महातपाः कोपनश्च तथा ह्येनं जानाति भगवानपि
M. N. Dutt: Menaka said: That illustrious Rishi, is a great ascetic and is greatly effulgent; your illustrious self known also that he is very wrathful.
तेजसस्तपसश्चैव कोपस्य च महात्मनः त्वमप्युद्विजसे यस्य नोद्विजेयमहं कथम्
M. N. Dutt: The energy, the asceticism and the wrath of that illustrious man have made even you anxious. Why should I not be afraid of him?
महाभागं वसिष्ठं यः पुत्रैरिष्टैर्व्ययोजयत् क्षत्रे जातश्च यः पूर्वमभवद्ब्राह्मणो बलात्
AI Translation: He who separated the highly fortunate Vasishtha from his beloved sons. He who, though born in the Kshatriya caste, became a Brahmin by force.
शौचार्थं यो नदीं चक्रे दुर्गमां बहुभिर्जलैः यां तां पुण्यतमां लोके कौशिकीति विदुर्जनाः
AI Translation: For the sake of cleanliness, he created a river that was difficult to cross due to its many waters, Which is known in the world as the most sacred, called Kauśikī.
बभार यत्रास्य पुरा काले दुर्गे महात्मनः दारान्मतङ्गो धर्मात्मा राजर्षिर्व्याधतां गतः
M. N. Dutt: Here (on the banks of this river) the wife (of this illustrious man) was maintained during a famine by the royal sage Matanga, who was living there as a hunter (under a curse)
अतीतकाले दुर्भिक्षे यत्रैत्य पुनराश्रमम् मुनिः पारेति नद्या वै नाम चक्रे तदा प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: O Lord, this illustrious man, after the famine was over, came back to his hermitage and gave the river the name of Para,
मतङ्गं याजयां चक्रे यत्र प्रीतमनाः स्वयम् त्वं च सोमं भयाद्यस्य गतः पातुं शुरेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: Being very much pleased with Matanga, this illustrious man became his priest for the purpose of sacrifice. O king of the celestials, out of fear you yourself went to that sacrifice to drink this Soma.
अति नक्षत्रवंशांश्च क्रुद्धो नक्षत्रसंपदा प्रति श्रवणपूर्वाणि नक्षत्राणि ससर्ज यः
AI Translation: He who, angry, created the constellations, the Nakshatra families, with the wealth of the constellations, and the constellations beginning with Shravana.
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.34 After 34, Dn D4 S ins.: *598 गुरुशापहतस्यापि त्रिशङ्कोः शरणं ददौ D4 (marg.) S cont.: *599 ब्रह्मर्षिशापं राजर्षिः कथं मोक्ष्यति कौशिकः अवमत्य तदा देवैर्यज्ञाङ्गं तद्विनाशितम् अन्यानि च महातेजा यज्ञाङ्गान्यसृजत्प्रभुः निनाय च तदा स्वर्गं त्रिशङ्कुं स महातपाः
एतानि यस्य कर्माणि तस्याहं भृशमुद्विजे यथा मां न दहेत्क्रुद्धस्तथाज्ञापय मां विभो
M. N. Dutt: I am afraid to go to a man whose deeds are such. O Lord, ordain that which may prevent him from burning me in anger.
तेजसा निर्दहेल्लोकान्कम्पयेद्धरणीं पदा संक्षिपेच्च महामेरुं तूर्णमावर्तयेत्तथा
M. N. Dutt: He burn the worlds with his effulgence; he can make the earth quake by a kick; he can uproot the great Meru (mountain) and hurl it to a great distance and go round the ten points of the earth in a moment. can
Supplementary Passages:
1.65.36 After 36c, K3 ins.: *600 संशोषेच्च महोदधिम् । संक्षिपेच्च महानद्रिं
तादृशं तपसा युक्तं प्रदीप्तमिव पावकम् कथमस्मद्विधा बाला जितेन्द्रियमभिस्पृशेत्
M. N. Dutt: How can a woman (like my humble self) touch such a man who is full of ascetic virtues, who is as blazing as the blazing fire and who has completely controlled his passions.
हुताशनमुखं दीप्तं सूर्यचन्द्राक्षितारकम् कालजिह्वं सुरश्रेष्ठ कथमस्मद्विधा स्पृशेत्
M. N. Dutt: His mouth is as blazing as the fire, the pupils of his eyes are like the sun and the moon and his tongue is like Yama himself. O best of the celestials, how can women like ourselves touch him?
यमश्च सोमश्च महर्षयश्च; साध्या विश्वे वालखिल्याश्च सर्वे एतेऽपि यस्योद्विजन्ते प्रभावा;त्कस्मात्तस्मान्मादृशी नोद्विजेत
M. N. Dutt: Yama, Soma, great Rishis, the Sadhyas, the Vishvedevas, the Valakhilyas, all are alarmed at the thought of his prowess. Why should not a woman (like myself) be afraid of him?
त्वयैवमुक्ता च कथं समीप;मृषेर्न गच्छेयमहं सुरेन्द्र रक्षां तु मे चिन्तय देवराज; यथा त्वदर्थं रक्षिताहं चरेयम्
M. N. Dutt: O king of the celestials, commanded by you somehow or other I must go to that Rishi. But, O king of the celestials, devise some means by which, under your protection, I can safely inove about him.
कामं तु मे मारुतस्तत्र वासः; प्रक्रीडिताया विवृणोतु देव भवेच्च मे मन्मथस्तत्र कार्ये; सहायभूतस्तव देवप्रसादात्
M. N. Dutt: Ocelestial ! when I shall be near the Rishi, Maruta (wind) should be there and rob me of my cloth. Manmatha (the god of love) should at your command help me in my this work.
वनाच्च वायुः सुरभिः प्रवाये;त्तस्मिन्काले तमृषिं लोभयन्त्याः तथेत्युक्त्वा विहिते चैव तस्मिं;स्ततो ययौ साश्रमं कौशिकस्य
M. N. Dutt: Let the wind carry sweet fragrance from the wood to tempt the Rishi. Having said this and having seen that all that she wanted had been duly provided, she went to the hermitage of the great Kaushika, (Vishvamitra).