Shloka 13

Śakuntalā’s Satya-Discourse and the Recognition of Bharata (शकुन्तला–सत्योपदेशः; भरतप्रतिग्रहः)

Devanagari script

निर्ययौ परमप्रीत्या वनं मृगजिघांसया । त॑ं देवराजप्रतिमं मत्तवारणधूर्गतम्‌,इस प्रकार महाराज वनमें हिंसक पशुओंका शिकार खेलनेके लिये बड़ी प्रसन्नताके साथ नगरसे बाहर निकले। वे देवराज इन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी थे। मतवाले हाथीकी पीठपर बैठकर यात्रा करनेवाले उन महाराज दुष्यन्तके पीछे-पीछे ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य और शूद्र सभी वर्णोके लोग गये और सब आशीर्वाद एवं विजयसूचक वचनोंद्वारा उनके अभ्युदयकी कामना करते हुए उनकी ओर देखते रहे

Transliteration

niryayau paramaprītyā vanaṁ mṛgajighāṁsayā | taṁ devarājapratimaṁ mattavāraṇadhūrgatam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: With great delight he set out for the forest, intent on hunting wild game. Resembling Indra, king of the gods, in majesty and prowess, he rode forth mounted on a rutting elephant. As King Duṣyanta proceeded, people of all the four social orders followed behind, gazing upon him and voicing blessings and words of victory, wishing for his prosperity and success.

Word by Word

निर्ययौwent out, set forth

परमप्रीत्याwith great delight

वनम्to the forest

मृगजिघांसयाwith the desire to kill deer/game (for hunting)

तम्him

देवराजप्रतिमम्like the king of gods (Indra)

मत्तवारणधूर्गतम्mounted on the back of an intoxicated elephant

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Duṣyanta

Indra (Devarāja)

forest (vana)

wild game/animals (mṛga)

elephant (vāraṇa)

the four varṇas (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ideals of kingship as publicly affirmed authority: the king’s vigor and splendor are paired with the community’s auspicious speech and collective goodwill. It also reflects the epic’s social imagination, where all varṇas participate as witnesses to royal action and express hopes for the ruler’s welfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Duṣyanta leaves the city joyfully to hunt in the forest, riding on a rutting elephant and described as Indra-like. People from all four social orders follow behind him, watching and offering blessings and victory-cries for his success.