What was the unique love story of King Dushyant and Shakuntala? Know in detail
Many tales from the Mahabharata era shed light on justice and injustice, dharma and adharma. Similarly, there are unique love stories from the mythological age that showcase sacrifice and separation. Here, we will narrate the story of a king and queen who deeply loved each other but endured separation due to a sage's curse. Let's delve into the love story of King Dushyant and Shakuntala in this article.
Who were Dushyant and Shakuntala?
According to mythological accounts, Dushyant was a king of the Chandra dynasty, while Shakuntala was the daughter of the sage Vishwamitra and the celestial nymph Menaka. After giving birth to Shakuntala, Menaka returned to heaven, and the sage Kanva raised her.
The Meeting of Shakuntala and King Dushyant
Once, while hunting in the forest, King Dushyant arrived at the hermitage of Sage Kanva. There, he saw Shakuntala and was captivated by her beauty. At that time, Sage Kanva was away on a long journey. Shakuntala warmly welcomed the king, and Dushyant was deeply impressed by her hospitality. He proposed marriage, and Shakuntala, shy but happy, accepted his proposal.
Later, they performed a Gandharva marriage and were bound in matrimony. Since Sage Kanva was absent from the hermitage, Shakuntala insisted on obtaining his consent, which she considered equivalent to her father's permission, before accompanying Dushyant to his palace. Afterward, King Dushyant asked Shakuntala to come to the royal palace after Sage Kanva's return. Shakuntala became pregnant. As the days passed, she remained lost in thoughts of Dushyant.
Why did Sage Durvasa curse Shakuntala?
Once, Sage Durvasa visited Sage Kanva's hermitage when Shakuntala was alone. Though Durvasa called out to her, she was lost in thoughts of Dushyant and unknowingly ignored him. Angered by this, Durvasa cursed her that the person she was thinking about would one day forget her. The pregnant Shakuntala begged the sage for forgiveness; he relented, stating that only a token would remind him of her.
When Sage Kanva returned from his journey, Shakuntala informed him of her Gandharva marriage. The sage gave her permission to go to her husband's home. Pregnant Shakuntala went to Hastinapur to meet King Dushyant. While crossing a river, the ring Dushyant had given her slipped into the water.
On the other hand, due to the effect of Sage Durvasa's curse, King Dushyant completely forgot Shakuntala. When Shakuntala arrived at the palace, Dushyant refused to recognize her. She recounted their shared moments and mentioned the child growing in her womb. However, the king remained oblivious and rejected Shakuntala. Heartbroken, Shakuntala left everything behind and retreated to the solitude of the forest. She built a small hut and lived there. Shakuntala gave birth to a brilliant son, whom she named Bharata.
When the Fisherman Found the Ring
Years later, when a fish was caught with Shakuntala's ring in its belly, it was found by a fisherman. He took the ring directly to King Dushyant because it bore the royal insignia. Upon seeing the ring, the entire story flashed back into the king's memory. He remembered every moment spent with Shakuntala.
Dushyant's Search for Shakuntala
King Dushyant, leaving everything behind, went into the forest in search of Shakuntala. He searched for her for many days but couldn't find her. One day, while returning to Hastinapur after meeting Lord Indra, he came to the hermitage of Sage Kashyapa. The king stayed there to meet the sage.
At that moment, he saw a boy playing with a lion. Dushyant was surprised and his curiosity increased at seeing a child playing with a lion. As he reached out to lift the child, a woman's voice stopped him. She told the king that a black thread was tied to the boy's hand. If the king lifted him, the thread would break, and he would forget everything.
Unable to resist, Dushyant lifted the child, and the black thread broke. The child was none other than Shakuntala's son, Bharata. Bharata had been blessed that on the day his father lifted him, the black thread would break, and his father's memory would return. The woman realized that the king was Bharata's father. She ran and told Shakuntala everything.
Thus, Shakuntala and King Dushyant were Reunited
Upon learning about King Dushyant, Shakuntala rushed to meet him. As soon as Dushyant saw Shakuntala, he recognized her. Dushyant apologized to Shakuntala and asked her to come with him to Hastinapur. Shakuntala forgave him, and they went to Hastinapur with Bharata. Thus, Shakuntala and Dushyant were reunited, and they lived happily in their kingdom. Later, Bharata ascended the throne and became a great emperor. It is said that our country's name, Bharat, is derived from this Emperor Bharata, one of the sixteen greatest kings mentioned in the Mahabharata.
