The king then, once his son had been vouched for by the testimony of the heavenly messenger, joyful and exultant, embraced his son. Having smelled his head, he embraced him with affection; honored by brahmins and praised by bards, the king felt the supreme joy that comes from a son's touch. The king, knowing dharma, honored his wife according to dharma and spoke these words, beginning with a gentle address: "O goddess, this union with you was made unknown to the people; therefore this trial was arranged by me for your vindication. The people would have thought that you came to me out of a woman's inclination, and that this son was chosen by you as heir to the kingdom -- that is why the trial was arranged. My dear, for what you, in anger, said to me so harshly, O large-eyed and loving one -- that, O gracious one, I have forgiven." Having spoken thus to his beloved queen, the sage-king Dushyanta honored her with garments, food, and drink. Then King Dushyanta, naming Shakuntala's son Bharata, consecrated him as heir apparent. For that great-souled one there began to turn that renowned, radiant, divine, unconquered, world-resounding, great wheel of sovereignty. Having conquered kings, he made them his subjects, practiced the dharma of the virtuous, and attained unsurpassed fame. He was a sovereign emperor, a universal monarch, mighty and glorious; like Shakra, lord of the Maruts, he performed many sacrifices.