अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम्

॥ अथ अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम् ॥

Summary AI : King Duṣyanta enters Sage Kaṇva's hermitage during a hunt. He observes Śakuntalā with her friends Anasūyā and Priyamvadā. To remain unnoticed, he hides his royal status. After saving Śakuntalā from a bee, he learns of her parentage as the daughter of Viśvāmitra and Menakā. Mutual attraction develops between the King and Śakuntalā. An elephant disturbs the grove, forcing the party to separate.

२

द्वितीयोऽङ्कः

Duṣyanta stays at the hermitage to protect sages.

Summary AI : Duṣyanta ignores his hunt, distracted by Śakuntalā. The Vidūṣaka, Mādhavya, laments the forest conditions. Local ascetics request the King to guard their sacrifices against demons while Kaṇva is away. When a messenger summons him to the capital, Duṣyanta sends Mādhavya in his place. He instructs the Vidūṣaka to treat his pursuit of Śakuntalā as a jest to avoid rumors in the palace.

३

तृतीयोऽङ्कः

Duṣyanta and Śakuntalā marry in secret.

Summary AI : Śakuntalā suffers from love-fever. Her friends Anasūyā and Priyamvadā encourage her to write a letter to the King. Duṣyanta reveals himself and the two exchange vows. They marry via the gāndharva rite. Gautamī arrives to escort Śakuntalā, interrupting the couple.

४

चतुर्थोऽङ्कः

A curse is cast as Śakuntalā leaves home.

Summary AI : Sage Durvāsas visits the hermitage. Neglected by a distracted Śakuntalā, he curses her so that her husband will forget her. He later stipulates that a token will break the curse. Kaṇva discovers the secret marriage and pregnancy. He sends Śakuntalā to the royal court accompanied by Gautamī and two disciples. The hermitage residents and nature bid her farewell. Kaṇva instructs her on the duties of a wife.

५

पञ्चमोऽङ्कः

Duṣyanta forgets Śakuntalā and rejects her.

Summary AI : Śakuntalā arrives at the royal palace. Under the influence of the curse, Duṣyanta fails to recognize her and rejects her claims. She searches for the signet ring to prove their marriage but finds it lost at Śacītīrtha. The King remains unmoved by her distress. A divine light, identified as her mother Menakā, descends and transports the weeping Śakuntalā to a celestial retreat.

६

षष्ठोऽङ्कः

The King recovers his memory and leaves for war.

Summary AI : A fisherman recovers the signet ring from a fish and brings it to the King. The sight of the ring restores Duṣyanta's memory. He falls into deep grief, neglecting his duties to mourn his treatment of Śakuntalā. Mātali, Indra's charioteer, arrives to request the King's aid in a war against the Kālakeya demons. Duṣyanta mounts the celestial chariot and ascends to the heavens.

७

सप्तमोऽङ्कः

Duṣyanta reunites with Śakuntalā and their son.

Summary AI : Returning from victory, Duṣyanta visits the hermitage of Mārīca on Hemakūṭa. He encounters a child, Sarvadamana, wrestling a lion. Observing the boy's royal features and a protective amulet, the King realizes the child is his son. Śakuntalā appears, and the family reunites. Sage Mārīca explains the nature of the curse to resolve their past misunderstandings. They receive a divine blessing and return to the capital with their son, Bharata.

॥ इति अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम् ॥

Other texts to read

किरातार्जुनीयम् भारविः

पञ्चतन्त्रम् विष्णुशर्मा

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