(If I want the flowers of spring, the fruits of the later year,
If I want what charms and delights, what satisfies and nourishes,
If I want to grasp heaven and earth with a single name; I name you Shakuntala and so all is said.) Translated in 1791 AD from Sanskrit.
If I want what charms and delights, what satisfies and nourishes,
If I want to grasp heaven and earth with a single name; I name you Shakuntala and so all is said.) Translated in 1791 AD from Sanskrit.
The story for this play is based on a tale in the Indian epic Mahabharata which was written in Sanskrit by Kalidasa. The tale describes how India was being called as Bharatvarsha or Bharat, a name that is still official in Indian languages. In core of the story is as follows:
King Dushyanta, of Puru Empire, meets the hermit- girl Shakuntala while on a hunting expedition. They fell in love with each other and in the absence of Sakuntala’s father; they marry by a ceremony of Ghandharva (It is a form of Hindu wedding ceremony where two can marry with mutual consent with the nature as witness). They consummate their vows and when the time comes for King Dushyanta to return to his palace, he promises to send an ambassador to escort her to his palace. As a symbolic sign he gives a ring to her before going back to the palace.
Sakuntala started waiting her lover King Dushyanta and most of the time she used to be lost on his memory. One day, it so happens that when the short-tempered solitary person, Durvasa Rishi, stops at her hut for hospitality. At that moment, Shakuntala does not hear his calls because she was lost on thoughts in her marital bliss. The ill- tempered sage turns backs without noticed to her situation; he gave her a curse that he who engrosses her in thoughts shall not remember her. Time passes by and no one comes to take her to the palace. So her father sends her to the royal court for their reunion, as she was pregnant with King Dushyanta's child.
Because of the curse and the circumstances in which she presents herself in the palace, King Dushyanta fails to acknowledge her as his wife. In heart-broken state of mind she pleads to Gods to take her away from the earth. Her wish is granted. The spell is broken when a fisherman finds the ring insides of a fish. The same ring that Shakuntala had lost on her way to the court. The king suffers from the feeling of guilt and injustice. Finally he reunites with her. Shakuntala forgives Dushyanta and they are united happily. Their son is called Bharata who rule all over India.
King Dushyanta, of Puru Empire, meets the hermit- girl Shakuntala while on a hunting expedition. They fell in love with each other and in the absence of Sakuntala’s father; they marry by a ceremony of Ghandharva (It is a form of Hindu wedding ceremony where two can marry with mutual consent with the nature as witness). They consummate their vows and when the time comes for King Dushyanta to return to his palace, he promises to send an ambassador to escort her to his palace. As a symbolic sign he gives a ring to her before going back to the palace.
Sakuntala started waiting her lover King Dushyanta and most of the time she used to be lost on his memory. One day, it so happens that when the short-tempered solitary person, Durvasa Rishi, stops at her hut for hospitality. At that moment, Shakuntala does not hear his calls because she was lost on thoughts in her marital bliss. The ill- tempered sage turns backs without noticed to her situation; he gave her a curse that he who engrosses her in thoughts shall not remember her. Time passes by and no one comes to take her to the palace. So her father sends her to the royal court for their reunion, as she was pregnant with King Dushyanta's child.
Because of the curse and the circumstances in which she presents herself in the palace, King Dushyanta fails to acknowledge her as his wife. In heart-broken state of mind she pleads to Gods to take her away from the earth. Her wish is granted. The spell is broken when a fisherman finds the ring insides of a fish. The same ring that Shakuntala had lost on her way to the court. The king suffers from the feeling of guilt and injustice. Finally he reunites with her. Shakuntala forgives Dushyanta and they are united happily. Their son is called Bharata who rule all over India.
No comments:
Post a Comment