Сути (Уграшравас)
तं वने विजने गर्भं सिंहव्याघ्रसमाकुले ॥
दृष्ट्वा शयानं शकुनाः समन्तात् पर्यवारयन् ॥
नेमां हिंस्युर् वने बालां क्रव्यादा मांसगृद्धिनः ॥
पर्यरक्षन्त तां तत्र शकुन्ता मेनकात्मजाम् ॥
उपस्प्रष्टुं गतश् चाहम् अपश्यं शयिताम् इमाम् ॥
निर्जने विपिने ऽरण्ये शकुन्तैः परिवारिताम् ॥
आनयित्वा ततश् चैनां दुहितृत्वे न्ययोजयम् ॥
शरीरकृत् प्राणदाता यस्य चान्नानि भुञ्जते ॥
क्रमेण ते त्रयो ऽप्य् उक्ताः पितरो धर्मनिश्चये ॥
निर्जने च वने यस्माच् छकुन्तैः परिरक्षिता ॥
शकुन्तलेति नामास्याः कृतं चापि ततो मया ॥
एवं दुहितरं विद्धि मम सौम्य शकुन्तलाम् ॥
शकुन्तला च पितरं मन्यते माम् अनिन्दिता ॥
एतद् आचष्ट पृष्टः सन् मम जन्म महर्षये ॥
सुतां कण्वस्य माम् एवं विद्धि त्वं मनुजाधिप ॥
कण्वं हि पितरं मन्ये पितरं स्वम् अजानती ॥
इति ते कथितं राजन् यथावृत्तं श्रुतं मया ॥
taṃ vane vijane garbhaṃ siṃhavyāghrasamākule ||
dṛṣṭvā śayānaṃ śakunāḥ samantāt paryavārayan ||
nemāṃ hiṃsyur vane bālāṃ kravyādā māṃsagṛddhinaḥ ||
paryarakṣanta tāṃ tatra śakuntā menakātmajām ||
upaspraṣṭuṃ gataś cāham apaśyaṃ śayitām imām ||
nirjane vipine 'raṇye śakuntaiḥ parivāritām ||
ānayitvā tataś caināṃ duhitṛtve nyayojayam ||
śarīrakṛt prāṇadātā yasya cānnāni bhuñjate ||
krameṇa te trayo 'py uktāḥ pitaro dharmaniścaye ||
nirjane ca vane yasmāc chakuntaiḥ parirakṣitā ||
śakuntaleti nāmāsyāḥ kṛtaṃ cāpi tato mayā ||
evaṃ duhitaraṃ viddhi mama saumya śakuntalām ||
śakuntalā ca pitaraṃ manyate mām aninditā ||
etad ācaṣṭa pṛṣṭaḥ san mama janma maharṣaye ||
sutāṃ kaṇvasya mām evaṃ viddhi tvaṃ manujādhipa ||
kaṇvaṃ hi pitaraṃ manye pitaraṃ svam ajānatī ||
iti te kathitaṃ rājan yathāvṛttaṃ śrutaṃ mayā ||
'In the deserted forest, teeming with lions and tigers, seeing that child lying there, the birds surrounded her on every side. "Let not the flesh-craving carnivores harm this little one in the forest" -- so the birds there guarded that daughter of Menaka. "I, having come to the river to bathe, saw her lying in the desolate forest wilderness, surrounded by birds; then, bringing her to the hermitage, I took her as my daughter. The begetter of the body, the giver of life, and he whose food one eats -- these three, in order, are called fathers in the determination of dharma. And since in the desolate forest she was protected by birds (shakunta), for that reason I gave her the name 'Shakuntala.' Gentle one, know Shakuntala thus to be my daughter; and the blameless Shakuntala considers me her father." Being asked, he told this to the great sage who was inquiring about my birth. So know me as Kanva's daughter; not knowing my own true father, I consider Kanva my father -- as it happened, it has been told to you, O king.'
2142996ca3b5 · published Jul 12, 2026, 3:37:30 PM UTC
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Here the account of Shakuntala comes to its close -- and a deep dharma of adoption and care reveals itself. It is telling that the abandoned child is sheltered by birds (shakunta): even mute creatures fulfill the law of compassion toward the defenseless, while her mother, the apsara, left her behind. Thus providence is shown to guard the innocent even through the smallest creatures; no child is ever wholly forsaken, for a higher care watches over it. Telling too is the naming of three fathers: the begetter of the flesh, the savior of life, and the provider of food -- all three are fathers by dharma. In this way scripture honors not blood alone but the bonds of care and gratitude: Kanva, who saved and raised the girl, is her true father, though not by flesh. And Shakuntala's humility is beautiful: "not knowing my true father, I consider Kanva my father" -- gratitude toward the one who raised her outweighs the claims of blood. Thus the story of her birth, beginning in a fall and a cold abandonment, closes with the image of selfless care (Kanva's) and grateful love (Shakuntala's) -- worthy of the foremother of the Bharatas.