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Author’s Name: Kalidasa
Book’s Name: Abhijnanashakuntalam
Genre: Epic
Language: Sanskrit, English
About the Author
Kalidasa was a Classical Sanskrit author who is widely regarded as the finest playwright and dramatist of ancient India. The Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranas are the primary sources for his plays and poems. Among his surviving works are three dramas, two epic poems, and two short poems. Except for what may be deduced from his poems and plays, nothing is known about his life.
Kalidasa was a Classical Sanskrit author who is widely regarded as the finest playwright and dramatist of ancient India. The Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranas are the primary sources for his plays and poems. Among his surviving works are three dramas, two epic poems, and two short poems. Except for what may be deduced from his poems and plays, nothing is known about his life.
About the Book
Abhijnanashakuntalam also referred to as Shakuntala, The Recognition of Shakuntala, The Sign of Shakuntala, and many other names, is a Sanskrit drama by the Hindu Mythology poet Kalidasa that dramatizes the narrative of Shakuntala as described in the epic Mahabharata and is considered the finest of Kalidasa's works. Although the exact date is unknown, Kalidasa is commonly dated to the fourth century CE.
Abhijnanashakuntalam also referred to as Shakuntala, The Recognition of Shakuntala, The Sign of Shakuntala, and many other names, is a Sanskrit drama by the Hindu Mythology poet Kalidasa that dramatizes the narrative of Shakuntala as described in the epic Mahabharata and is considered the finest of Kalidasa's works. Although the exact date is unknown, Kalidasa is commonly dated to the fourth century CE.
Book Summary
A monarch in northern India, Dushyanta, is riding along in his chariot, ready to fire a deer. Suddenly, a forest-dwelling ascetic tells him not to fire since the deer belongs to Kanva, a renowned sage who lives in the neighboring ashram. King Dushyanta is invited to visit the ascetic's ashram, which has been under his royal protection. He says that Kanva is not at home, but that the sage's daughter, Shakuntala, is.
Shakuntala and her two companions, Anasuya and Priyamvada, are watering the holy trees when the King visits the ashram. He kneels in the darkness to witness them, captivated by Shakuntala's beauty right away. When Dushyanta makes his presence known, a flustered Shakuntala is drawn to him as well. Despite Shakuntala's modesty and shyness, the King interrogates her companions about her and presents her with his signet ring.
Before the King needs to come up with a cause to stay near the ashram, he is requested to secure the ascetics against bad spirits while Kanva is away. He easily exorcises the demons, then overhears Shakuntala, who is passionately in love with him, confiding in her companions about her affections for him.
When Shakuntala reads him a love poem she wrote for him, he comes out of hiding and confesses his eternal love for her. Their vows together essentially form a hidden marriage. Shakuntala will be pregnant soon.
Shakuntala is so disturbed when Dushyanta is forced to return to his city that she accidentally offends Durvasas, a short-tempered saint when he visits the ashram. Durvasas places a curse on her, causing Dushyanta to forget about Shakuntala, but when Priyamvada intervenes, the spell is broken by the sight of a remembrance signet ring. When Kanva arrives, he congratulates Shakuntala on her good fortune and sends her, escorted by seers, to rejoin her husband.
When Dushyanta learns that a party from Kanva's ashram is on its way to the city, he is amazed and concerned. To Shakuntala's disappointment, the confused and protective King denies any involvement with her. When she attempts to show him the signet ring as a remembrance, she realizes it's gone. Dushyanta hesitates and offers to house Shakuntala until she gives birth, but spirits whisk her away to the heavenly world before he can do so.
A poor fisherman discovers the King's signet ring in the belly of a fish and is threatened with punishment, but once the King sees the ring and remembers everything, he is allowed free with a reward. Sanumati, a spirit and Shakuntala's mother's companion, sneaks at the palace quickly after to find out why the spring celebration has been canceled.
She hears that the King has disallowed the celebration because of his sadness and grief over Shakuntala. Dushyanta continues to be concerned with the dilemma until Matali, the deity Indra's charioteer, arrives at the palace and whisks him away on an urgent quest to battle demons.
Six years have passed. Indra has dutifully praised King Dushyanta for effectively defeating the demons. Matali and the King descend to Marica's ashram, a heavenly kingdom of the deities, on their tour of the world in a flying chariot. The King is taken aback when he sees a little child who has a striking resemblance to him.
He establishes that the youngster, Sarvadamana, is truly his offspring, the predicted world ruler when he takes up the boy's protection amulet, which can only be touched by the boy and his parents. Shakuntala then appears, and though it takes her a moment to identify the King, they are soon reunited in tears.
A monarch in northern India, Dushyanta, is riding along in his chariot, ready to fire a deer. Suddenly, a forest-dwelling ascetic tells him not to fire since the deer belongs to Kanva, a renowned sage who lives in the neighboring ashram. King Dushyanta is invited to visit the ascetic's ashram, which has been under his royal protection. He says that Kanva is not at home, but that the sage's daughter, Shakuntala, is.
Shakuntala and her two companions, Anasuya and Priyamvada, are watering the holy trees when the King visits the ashram. He kneels in the darkness to witness them, captivated by Shakuntala's beauty right away. When Dushyanta makes his presence known, a flustered Shakuntala is drawn to him as well. Despite Shakuntala's modesty and shyness, the King interrogates her companions about her and presents her with his signet ring.
Before the King needs to come up with a cause to stay near the ashram, he is requested to secure the ascetics against bad spirits while Kanva is away. He easily exorcises the demons, then overhears Shakuntala, who is passionately in love with him, confiding in her companions about her affections for him.
When Shakuntala reads him a love poem she wrote for him, he comes out of hiding and confesses his eternal love for her. Their vows together essentially form a hidden marriage. Shakuntala will be pregnant soon.
Shakuntala is so disturbed when Dushyanta is forced to return to his city that she accidentally offends Durvasas, a short-tempered saint when he visits the ashram. Durvasas places a curse on her, causing Dushyanta to forget about Shakuntala, but when Priyamvada intervenes, the spell is broken by the sight of a remembrance signet ring. When Kanva arrives, he congratulates Shakuntala on her good fortune and sends her, escorted by seers, to rejoin her husband.
When Dushyanta learns that a party from Kanva's ashram is on its way to the city, he is amazed and concerned. To Shakuntala's disappointment, the confused and protective King denies any involvement with her. When she attempts to show him the signet ring as a remembrance, she realizes it's gone. Dushyanta hesitates and offers to house Shakuntala until she gives birth, but spirits whisk her away to the heavenly world before he can do so.
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| Image Source: Mint |
A poor fisherman discovers the King's signet ring in the belly of a fish and is threatened with punishment, but once the King sees the ring and remembers everything, he is allowed free with a reward. Sanumati, a spirit and Shakuntala's mother's companion, sneaks at the palace quickly after to find out why the spring celebration has been canceled.
She hears that the King has disallowed the celebration because of his sadness and grief over Shakuntala. Dushyanta continues to be concerned with the dilemma until Matali, the deity Indra's charioteer, arrives at the palace and whisks him away on an urgent quest to battle demons.
Six years have passed. Indra has dutifully praised King Dushyanta for effectively defeating the demons. Matali and the King descend to Marica's ashram, a heavenly kingdom of the deities, on their tour of the world in a flying chariot. The King is taken aback when he sees a little child who has a striking resemblance to him.
He establishes that the youngster, Sarvadamana, is truly his offspring, the predicted world ruler when he takes up the boy's protection amulet, which can only be touched by the boy and his parents. Shakuntala then appears, and though it takes her a moment to identify the King, they are soon reunited in tears.
Marica the sage meets with the three of them and explains Durvasas' curse, advising the pair not to blame themselves or each other. Sarvadamana's fate is confirmed by Marica, who blesses the family and sends them home to dwell in Dushyanta's court.
THE END!
You can easily get this book from Amazon: Shakuntala
THE END!
You can easily get this book from Amazon: Shakuntala
Written By - Grasha Mittal
Edited By - Anamika Malik
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