Marriage of Dushyanta and Shakuntala

There was a great king called Dushyanta. He was the ruler of a great empire that consisted of many islands and foreign lands. He was a good king and his subjects were happy and prosperous. He was very strong and was capable of uprooting the Mountain Mandrachal. He was an expert in the art of war. He was as powerful as Vishnu, radiant as the sun, vast as the sea and forgiving as the Earth. All his citizens respected him and he ruled over them according to the Dharma. Once, King Dushyant along with his army reached a thick forest. When he crossed it he reached a beautiful hermitage in an idyllic wood. The wood was very beautiful and the trees there were in full bloom, the glade was clean and there was bird song all around. Dushyant entered the hermitage and was spellbound by the serene atmosphere there. This was the hermitage of Rishi Kanva. As Dushyant could not see anyone he called out aloud. Hearing his call a beautiful young girl came out of the cottage and welcomed him. She offered him her hospitality and asked him whether she could be of any help. Dushyant was enamoured by the beauty and innocence of the young girl. He told her that he had come to see Rishi Kanva and asked her his whereabouts. The girl answered that her father had gone out to collect flowers and fruits and requested him to wait till he came back.

Dushyant was enamoured by the girl as she was extremely beautiful and sensuous. He asked her who she was and what she was doing in a hermitage. The girl replied that she was the daughter of Rishi Kanva. The king was surprised as Kanva had taken the vows of celibacy. Dushyanta knew that she could not be the rishis daughter as Kanva would not break his vows under any circumstances. The girl said, "Sire, once Rishi Kanva had told the story of my birth to another sage. Fom then I know that when The great sage Vishvamitra was meditating then Indra had sent the beautiful celestial nymph Menaka to disturb his meditation. Menaka was able to seduce Vishwamitra, thus disturbing his meditation and I was born as a result. Menaka, my mother left me in the forest and the birds took care of me and saved me from the predators. That is why I am called Shakuntala. Maharishi Kanva picked me up from there and nurtured me. The natural father, The one who saves your life and the one who feeds you --- are all called father, therefore I am the daughter of Maharishi Kanva."

Dushyant said, "This means that you are not a brahmin girl but the daughter of a Kshatriya as Vishwamitra was a great king before he turned to asceticism. I wish that you become my wife. Marriage according to the Gandharv ritual is suggested as pure and the best way for kings to marry." Shakuntala answered that her father was not there and it would be unwise for her to indulge in this way. She requested him to wait till her father returned so that he could formally marry them. Dushyant waived aside her doubts and said, "I love you and I wish to marry you. A person is responsible for ones own good and action. Therefore you give yourself to me accoeding to the dharma" Shakuntala said, "Sire, if you think that it would be right for me to wed you in my father's absence and if it is right for me to take decisions about myself then I am ready to marry you. But before that please promise that the son that will be born to us will become king after you and will be made the crown prince whle I am still alive." Dushyant was so enamoured with Shakuntala that he agreed readily. He married Shakuntala according to the Gandharva ritual and after spending a few days with her went away to his kingdom promising to send a huge army to bring her to his palace. He was also worried about what Rishi Kanva will say when he learns the truth about their marriage.

When Rishi Kanva returned to the hermitage, Shakuntala was unable to face her father. But Kanva who was clairvoyant knew what had transpired and put Shakuntala's mind at rest. He told her that whatever she had done was not against the Dharma and Gandharva Marriages are allowed for Kshatriyas. Dushyant is a good, just and kind man. His son, which will be born through her, will be a great emperor and will rule the world. He also said that Dushyant will be blessed with intelligence and a great empire.