Sakuntala

And Sakra thus addressed by her, then commanded him who could approach every place, the god of the wind to be present with Menaka at the time she would be before the Rishi.

And the timid and beautiful Menaka then entered the retreat and saw there Viswamitra who had burnt by his penances all his sins and was engaged still in ascetic penances. And saluting the Rishi she then began to sport before him. And just at that time Marut robbed her of her garments that were as white as the Moon.

And she thereupon ran as if in great bashfulness to catch hold of her attire and acted as if she was exceedingly annoyed with Marut. And she did all this before the very eyes of Viswamitra who was endued with energy like that of fire. And Viswamitra saw her in that attitude. beholding her divested of her robes, he saw that she was of faultless feature.

And that best of Munis saw that she was exceedingly beautiful with no marks of age on her person. And beholding her beauty and accomplishments that bull amongst Rishis was possessed with lust and made a sign that he desired her companionship. And he invited her accordingly and she also of faultless features expressed her acceptance of the invitation.

And they then passed a long time there in each other's company. And sporting with each other just as they pleased for a long time as if it were only a single day the Rishi begat on Menaka a daughter named Sakuntala. And Menaka as her conception advanced went to the banks of the river Malini coursing along the valley of the charming mountains of Himavat.

And there she gave birth to that daughter. And she left the newborn infant on the bank of that river and went away. And beholding the new-born infant lying in that forest destitute of human beings but abounding with lions and tigers a number of vultures sat around to protect the baby from harm.

No Rakshasas (demons) or carnivorous animals took its life. Those vultures protected the daughter of Menaka. I went there to perform my ablution and beheld the infant lying in the solitude of the wilderness surrounded by vultures. Bringing her here I have made her my daughter.

Indeed the maker of the body, the protector of life, the giver of food are all three fathers in their order according to the scriptures. And because she was surrounded in the solitude of the wilderness by Sakuntas (vultures) therefore has been named by me Sakuntala (bird-protected).

O Brahman learn that it is thus that Sakuntala has become my daughter. And the faultless Sakuntala also regards me as her father.'

"This is what my father had said unto the Rishi having been asked by him. O king of men, it is thus that you must know I am the daughter of Kanwa. And not knowing my real father, I regard Kanwa as my father. Thus have I told you, O king, all that haa been heard by me regarding my birth!'

King Dushmanta hearing all this said, 'Well spoken, O princess, this that you have said! Be my wife, O beautiful one! What shall I do for you? Golden garlands, robes, ear-rings of gold, white and handsome pearls from various countries, golden coins, finest carpets I shall present you this very day. Let the whole of my kingdom be yours today, O beautiful one! Come to me, O timid one, wedding me according to the Gandharva form. O you of tapering thighs of all forms of marriage the Gandharva one is regarded as the first.'

Sakuntala hearing this said, 'O king, my father has gone away from this asylum to bring fruit. Wait but a moment he will bestow me on you.'

Dushmanta replied, 'O beautiful and faultless one, I desire that you should be my life's companion. Know that I exist for you and my heart is in you. One is certainly one's own friend and one certainly may depend upon one's own self. Therefore according to the ordinance you can certainly bestow yourself. There are in this world eight kinds of marriages.

These are Brahma, Daiva, Arsha, Prajapatya, Asura, Gandharva, Rakshasa and Paisacha. Manu the son of the self-create has spoken of the appropriateness of all these forms according to their order.

The Brahma marriage refers to the marriage of one's daughter to a man of good conduct, learned in the Vedas and invited by oneself . Brahma marriage is where the father of the bride with consent of his daughter sees an good man who is well learned.here the groom asks for the father's permission in marriage.

The Daiva where a man gifts his richly bedecked daughter's hand in marriage to a brahman who officiates at the former's sacrifice ceremony, in lieu of paying the latter a nominal sacrificial fee, the bride is also given cattle and jewels.It is called such because it is believed to be worthy of the devas themselves.

The Arsha It is a form of marriage where a man gifts his daughter as a bride after receiving one pair of cattle, a cow and a bull or two pairs from a groom the exchange being perceived as a matter of the law rather than the sale of the former's daughter.

The Prajapatya It is a form of marriage where a girl's father gives her hand in marriage to a bridegroom, treating him with respect, and addressing them with the following words: 'May both of you perform together your dharmic duties'.In a Prajapatya marriage, the bride's father goes in search of a groom rather than the other way around which makes it inferior to a Brahma marriage.

Gandharva it is love marriage this occurs without any rituals or sacred fire this marriage focuses mainly on love and sexual intercourse and this doesn't need any parents.you can bestow yourself.

The Asura It is a form of marriage where a bridegroom receives a maiden after having given of his own free will as much wealth as he can afford to the bride and her kinsmen. This type of marriage generally occurs without consent of the bride.

Rakshasa It is the marriage performed after a consenting maiden is seized by force or abducted by a man. When such a maiden is abducted the abducter fights with her relatives to gain her as his wife slaying them in the process. The marriage is then celebrated in the absence of the father of the bride by the family of her abductor.

The Paishacha is When a man stealthily rapes a woman who is asleep, intoxicated or mentally challenged it is regarded to be a marriage though only to preserve the honour of the woman, it is a marriage where the bride or groom doesn't consent but is forcefully married to someone.

Know one that the first four of these are fit for Brahmanas and the first six for Kshatriyas. As regards to the kings even the Rakshasa form is permissible. The Asura form is permitted to Vaisyas and Sudras of the first five the three are proper, the other two being improper. The Paisacha and the Asura forms should never be practised.

These are the institutes of dharma and one should act according to them. The Gandharva and the Rakshasa form are consistent with the practices of Kshatriyas. You need not entertain the least fear. There is not the least doubt that either according to any one of these last-mentioned forms or according to a union of both of them our wedding may take place.

O thou of the fairest complexion, full of desire I am, You are also in a similar mood to me, may you become my wife according to the Gandharva form.'

Sakuntala having listened to all this answered,'If this be the course sanctioned by dharma, if indeed, I am my own disposer, hear O you foremost one of Puru's race, what my terms are. Promise truly to give me what I ask you. The son that shall be begotten on me shall become your crown prince. This O king, is my fixed resolve. O Dushmanta, if you grant this then let our union take place.'

The monarch without taking time to consider at once told her, 'Let it be so. I will even take you, O you of agreeable smiles, with me to my capital. I tell you truly. O beautiful one, you deserve all this.'

And so saying, that first of kings wedded the beautiful Sakuntala of graceful gait, and knew her as a husband. And assuring her duly he went away telling her repeatedly, 'I shall send you my escort, my troops of four classes. Indeed it is, even thus that I shall take you to my capital, O you of sweet smiles!"

having promised so unto her, the king went away. And as he retraced his way homewards he began to think of Kanwa. And he asked himself, 'What will the illustrious ascetic say after he has known all?' Thinking of this, he entered his capital.

The moment the king had left Kanwa arrived at his abode. But Sakuntala from a sense of shame did not go out to receive her father. That great ascetic however, possessed of spiritual knowledge knew all. Indeed beholding everything with his spiritual eye, the illustrious one was pleased and addressing her said.

'Amiable one,what has been done by you today in secret without having waited for me--viz., intercourse with a man--has not been destructive of your virtue. Indeed union according to the Gandharva form of a wishful woman with a man of sensual desire without mantras of any kind it is said is the best for Kshatriyas.

That best of men Dushmanta is also high-souled and virtuous. you have, O Sakuntala, accepted him for your husband. The son that shall be born of you shall be mighty and illustrious in this world. And he shall have sway over the oceans. And the forces of that illustrious king of kings while he goes out against his foes shall be irresistible.'

Sakuntala then approached her fatigued father and washed his feet. And taking down the load he had with him and placing the fruits in proper order, she told him, 'I ask you to give your grace to that Dushmanta whom I have accepted for my husband as well as his ministers!'

Kanwa replied, 'O you of the fairest complexion for your sake I am inclined to bless him. But receive from me, O blessed one, the boon that you desire.'

Sakuntala thereupon moved by desire of benefiting Dushmanta asked the boon that the Paurava monarchs might ever be virtuous and never deprived of their thrones.

After Dushmanta had left the hermitage having made those promises unto Sakuntala, the latter of tapering thighs brought forth a boy of immeasurable energy. And when the child was three years old he became in splendour like the blazing fire.he was possessed of beauty, magnanimity and every accomplishment.

And that first of virtuous men Kanwa caused all the rites of dharma to be performed in respect of that intelligent child thriving day by day. And the boy gifted with pearly teeth and shining locks, capable of slaying lions even then, with all auspicious signs on his palm and broad expansive forehead grew up in beauty and strength.

And like unto a celestial child in splendour he began to grow up rapidly. And when he was only six years of age endued with great strength he used to seize and bind to the trees that stood around that hermitage lions, tigers, bears, buffaloes and elephants. And he rode on some animals and pursued others in sportive mood.

The dwellers at Kanwa's hermitage thereupon bestowed on him a name. And they said because he seizes and restrains an animals however strong let him be called Sarvadama(the subduer of all).