Dushyant married Shakuntala and went back to his kingdom promising to send an army to bring her to his palace. But many days passed and there was no news from Dushyant. Shakuntala gave birth to Dushyant's son in the hermitage of Rishi Kanva. The baby was beautiful and extremely strong. Rishi Kanva performed all the rituals of naming him and other prayers. The child's teeth were white and strong and he had broad shoulders like that of a lion. On both his palms was the sign of a chakra and he had a high and broad forehead. He looked as if he was the son of some celestial being. When he was only six years old, his playmates were the ferocious lions, tigers, Wild boars and elephants. As he could control all these animals he was called Sarvadaman by the ashram dwellers. He was strong and intelligent and when he was big enough, Rishi Kanva thought that he was ready to be declared the crown prince. He ordered his pupils to take Shakuntala and her son to Dushyant's palace. He said, "A daughter must not stay for too long at her father's place as it is against dharma and can be detrimental to fame and character." The pupils took Shakuntala and her son Sarvadaman to Dushyant's court.

When they reached there Shakuntala appeared before the king with her son. She addressed the king and requested him to accept his son as the rightful heir to his throne and fulfil his promise. Meanwhile Dushyant had forgotten all about Shakuntala due to the curse of Mahariahi Durvasa (he is known for his volatile temper) Hearing Shakuntala, Dushyant was very angry as he could not understand why this women, whom he had never seen before, claimed to be his wife. He said, "I do not remember ever having seen you. I have had nothing to do with you all my life. You may go, or decide to stay, but I do not recognise you." Shakuntala was shocked by such a blatant denial from Dushyant. She felt sick with humiliation and stood still due to the shock. She looked at him with anger and humiliation and said, "Why do you deliberately deny ever having known me. Such speech is fit for someone who has no morals. Your heart knows the truth. Place a hand on your heart and tell me what the truth is. You are thinking that you can easily deny our association, as there was no one present to bear witness. But remember that god watches over all of us as he is present in our hearts. He is omniscient and you are lying in his presence? To do a wrong and to think that it is okay because no one is watching is sheer ignorance. Gods can see whatever we are doing, even the sun, the moon, winds, fire, space, Earth, water, heart, death, day night, evening and dharma know what the human beings are doing. Whose actions please the gods, they are spared even by death and their sins destroyed. Those who do not listen to their soul and compromise it even the gods do not spare them. I have come on my own to you, this does not mean that I have no self-respect and that you can insult and humiliate me in such a way. Can you not hear? Can you not hear the pain and the truth in my voice? If you do not listen to me your head will split into hundreds of pieces." Saying all this Shakuntala continues to extol on the virtues and conduct of a wife and the duties of a husband. She says, "A wife is one who is a home maker, has sons, loves the husband more than her life and is faithful. She is the complementary half of her husband and his best friend. It is through her that a husband fulfils his economic, social, moral and sexual duties. It is with her that he embarks on the path to moksha. All good deeds are done with the help of a wife and it is due to her that his house prospers, he gets wealth and happiness. When lonely, a wife is a man's best friend; she is like the father when a man needs guidance to follow his dharma and like a mother when he is unhappy. She is like an oasis in a desert for her husband. A wife follows her husband even if there is hardship and penury. Society accepts the advice of a person who is married and his words hold more weight. For the happiness of their husbands wives have been known to perform the ritual of sati (burning themselves on the pyre of their husbands) and welcome them when they reach the heavens. This is the purpose of marriage. There is no helper like a wife in this world and in the next. The son which is born through her is like looking at ones own face in the mirror. A man loves to see the face of his wife when he is ill and suffering. This is why one does not harm the wife even if one is angry because love, happiness and dharma are under her subjugation. The man is born through his wife, as his son is a replica of him. Even the great sages do not possess the power to produce children without a woman. To embrace a son which is born through her is one of the greatest pleasures a man can have."

Getting all this off her chest, Shakuntala turned towards Dushyant and said, "Your son is standing right in front of you and is eager to sit in your lap. Why do you humiliate him by not accepting him? Even the ants nurture their eggs and do not destroy them. Why don't you nurture your son? The pleasure that one derives from touching his own son has no equal. O King! I have borne the child for three years in my womb. He will make you happy and proud. When he was born a divine voice had proclaimed that this child will perform a hundred Ashwamaedh Yajna (the yajna performed to conquer the world). This son has been born from your heart, why can't you see your image in him? I am the daughter of Menaka. I must have committed some grave sin in my previous life therefore my mother abandoned me when I was still a child and now you are deserting me. If this is your desire then you are free to leave me, I shall go back to the ashram, but this is your son. Please do not desert him."