SHAKUNTALA WAS REJECTED BY KING DUSHYANTA

Shakuntala gets abandoned by her parents Vishvamitra, Menaka and love story Of Dushyanta & Shakuntala

Sage Vishvamitra became one of the seven incredible sages known as Saptarishis. He practised rigorous penance and austerities. One day while he was in deep meditation. worried Indra thought that sage Vishvamitra with such excessive penance would be in a position to take away his Indrasan. considering that Vishvamitra used to be a forceful ascetic it was not possible to spoil his meditation. Indra requested Menaka to distract the sage.

Menaka was a splendid appealing apsara. Indra knew via her tempting appearance, pleasant personality, sweet voice, and courteous behaviour, that Menaka could divert the sage’s thinking toward her. As a result, he assigned her to do the same. Menaka was truly terrified of Vishvamitra Rishi’s wrath. She asked Indra to send the wind god and Kamadeva alongside her for help. she suggested wind god blow away her clothes in front of the sage and Kamadeva to make the sage be absorbed with love. Indra ordered each of them to accompany Menaka. whilst she entered the hermitage of Vishvamitra, she found out he had already burnt out all his sins by doing such strict meditation. She began attracting the sage by doing a variety of activities there. wind god as discussed in advance, blew away her garments in front of the sage. shy Menaka ran for her clothes intending to put them on. She became bare and was looking mesmerizing. her splendour was impossible to resist. then deity Kama or Kamadeva woke up the sage’s desire for Menaka.

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Vishvamitra stunned by Menaka's beauty diverted his thinking in her direction. in such a way she was capable of breaking his meditation. both of them fell in love with each other and stayed together for a long time. She gave birth to a baby girl named Shakuntala or Sakuntala. since Menaka was an apsara, she needed to return to heaven. so she left Shakuntala close to the Malini River of the Himalayas and went back to Indra Loka. Rishi Kanva discovered Shakuntala inside the densely wooded vicinity and out of mercy he took her to his hermitage and handled her as his daughter.

At that time king, Dushyanta, or Dusyanta was the ruler of Hastinapura. He became a brave king who fairly treated all his humans. One day he went on hunting and reached sage Kanva's hermitage. He became amazed by the surroundings of the ashram. to meet sage Kanva, the king entered the hermitage and noticed Shakuntala there. She had a captivating personality that looked absolutely like the goddess Laxmi. with courtesy, she welcomed King Dushyanta into the hermitage and treated him respectfully. out of hospitality, she asked him about his well-being and wanted to know the reason behind his visit to the hermitage. King Dushyanta gave her his introduction and told her that he wanted to meet the awesome sage Kanva to analyze non-secular discourse from him. Shakuntala did let the king be aware that she was the daughter of sage Kanva. She additionally requested the king to wait there as her father had gone out of the hermitage to bring a few fruits. king agreed. King became mesmerized by her beauty and dazzled by her temperament.

King informed Shakuntala, “I wish to make you my spouse. you have to understand I always restrain my mind or movements when it comes to deciding on any female. I in no way wish for any female other than the Kshatriya clan. but, I am tempted by way of your splendour. I perceive you now not to be a Brahmin or sage’s daughter. kindly provide me with your proper introduction. I am your admirer who desires your favour. please do accept me.”

Glad Shakuntala clarified with him regarding her birth and how she was deserted by way of her father sage Vishvamitra and mother Menaka, which she had known from sage Kanva later. she also cited to him that sage Kanva had taken her duties as her father. listening to such from Shakuntala, King Dushyanta became extremely joyful. Sage Vishvamitra was a Kshatriya since birth, therefore, Shakuntala belonged to that clan only. therefore Dushyanta requested her for Gandharva marriage. being dutiful and devoted toward her father, Shakuntala wished the approval of his. because Gandharva marriage was based on mutual agreement between the two humans and it did not need any presence of a witness or own family individuals. king requested Shakuntala to pick him with all her heart and convinced her to the wedding. Shakuntala agreed on one state of affairs and demanded the king’s commitment to it.

“Your infant who will be born from my womb in the future must be the prince of Hastinapura.”

King agreed to her circumstance and they both did Gandharva marriage. then king promised her that he would send soldiers for bringing her to his palace. He hugged his spouse passionately assuring her not to agonize and left Kanva's hermitage. whilst Kanva returned, seeing his daughter afraid and ashamed, he requested the reason. after hearing the entirety from her, he reassured her that she had no longer performed something wrong by doing such kind of marriage. Gandharva marriages were regarded as outstanding for the Kshatriya people at that time. Kanva knew that Dushyanta was a respectable king, who loved his daughter. Hence he blessed his daughter.

Shakuntala gave birth to a sturdy infant. From childhood, he was surrounded only by wild animals. He turned into a daring, used to hunt wild animals. he became so fearless that he killed many demons at such a small age. seeing that he killed many wild animals and giants, he was named  ‘Sarbadaman’. days exceeded but according to the promise, the king did now not send any squaddies to take his spouse and son to his kingdom. Kanva became genuinely concerned about his daughter. Sage observed it was the proper time for Sarbadaman to be the prince of Hastinapura, and he advised his daughter to visit King Dushyanta’s palace alongside her son. Shakuntala became overjoyed.

Some of his disciples escorted her to the palace. she brought her son to King Dushyanta and reminded him of his promise in front of all his ministers and others. king refused his son and Shakuntala at that time. He denied his marriage to Shakuntala and did not accept her son. Shakuntala was embarrassed and surprised. being an honorable king, Shakuntala demands for justice their son. Because it was his duty to take care of his son, she requested the king to accept her son alternatively.

She even reminded the king of her birth, how she was born to Vishvamitra and Menaka. Saddened Shakuntala also started out complaining about her destiny for being deserted by her mother and father first and then by her husband. Dushyanta was not convinced. He did not recognize his partner and his son. moreover, he humiliated Shakuntala for being the daughter of ruthless Apsara Menaka and Kshatriya Vishvamitra who couldn't emerge as a splendid Brahmin. Shakuntala couldn't convince the king, therefore, was determined to leave. Suddenly everybody heard a voice from the sky, that announced Sarbadaman as the son of King Dushyanta and his partner Shakuntala. It also reminded the king of his obligations related to his son and wife. After hearing this from the sky, the king became amused. He accepted his son and his wife eagerly. He cited, "I was awaiting this statement only from heaven. Because I am being recognized to be the king of justice, I could never accept my son simply after being attentive to You. In addition to that, the people of my kingdom moreover were not aware of our Gandharva marriage. Thus I feared them blaming me for going against a Kshatriya king’s standards who has a son from the Brahmin sage’s daughter. So I thought of this sort of plan, and intentionally refused both of you." After the announcement was made, everything was substantiated. king additionally apologized to Shakuntala for insulting her in front of every person.

As Sarbadaman became blessed by lord Indra turning into a conqueror of the complete globe, King Dushyanta named his son Bharata, inaugurated him as Hastinapura’s prince, and stayed thankfully along with his spouse Shakuntala in his palace.

Ref: Mahabharata book Adi Parva

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