Shloka 8
Adhyāya 71: Kaca and the Saṃjīvanī-vidyā
Devayānī–Śukra Episode
(दृष्यन्त उवाच राजर्षेरस्मि पुत्रो5हमिलिलस्य महात्मन: । दुष्यन्त इति मे नाम सत्यं पुष्करलोचने ।।) आगतोऊहं महाभागमृषिं कण्वमुपासितुम् । क्व गतो भगवान् भद्रे तन््ममाचक्ष्व शोभने,दुष्यन्त बोले--कमललोचने! मैं राजर्षि महात्मा इलिल- का पुत्र हूँ और मेरा नाम दुष्यन्त है। मैं यह सत्य कहता हूँ। भद्रे! मैं परम भाग्यशाली महर्षि कण्वकी उपासना करने --उनके सत्संगका लाभ लेनेके लिये आया हूँ। शोभने! बताओ तो, भगवान् कण्व कहाँ गये हैं?
Duṣyanta uvāca—rājarṣer asmi putro ’ham ililasya mahātmanaḥ | duṣyanta iti me nāma satyaṃ puṣkaralocane || āgato ’haṃ mahābhāgam ṛṣiṃ kaṇvam upāsitum | kva gato bhagavān bhadre tan mamācakṣva śobhane ||
Duṣyanta said: “I am the son of the great royal sage Ilila. My name is Duṣyanta—this I declare truthfully, O lotus-eyed one. I have come to pay reverent attendance upon the illustrious sage Kaṇva and to benefit from his holy company. Tell me, noble lady—where has the venerable Kaṇva gone?”
(दृष्यन्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds satya (truthfulness) and maryādā (proper conduct): a king introduces himself by lineage and name with an explicit commitment to truth, and approaches a sage with reverence (upāsanā), reflecting dharmic kingship that honors spiritual authority.
King Duṣyanta, having arrived at Sage Kaṇva’s hermitage, speaks to a woman there (in context, Śakuntalā). He identifies himself as Ilila’s son, states his name, explains he has come to pay respects to Kaṇva, and asks where the sage has gone.