Shloka 1
Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 73: Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā Dispute, Confinement in the Well, and Yayāti’s Rescue
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ५६ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल २४३ “लोक हैं) त्रिसप्ततितमो< ध्याय: शकुन्तला हा की ष्यन्तका गान्धर्व विवाह और महर्षि द्वारा उसका अनुमोदन दुष्यन्त उवाच सुव्यक्तं राजपुत्री त्वं यथा कल्याणि भाषसे । भार्या मे भव सुश्रोणि ब्रूहि कि करवाणि ते,दुष्यन्त बोले--कल्याणि! तुम जैसी बातें कह चुकी हो, उनसे भलीभाँति स्पष्ट हो गया कि तुम क्षत्रिय-कन्या हो (क्योंकि विश्वामित्र मुनि जन्मसे तो क्षत्रिय ही हैं)। सुश्रोणि! मेरी पत्नी बन जाओ। बोलो, मैं तुम्हारी प्रसन्नताके लिये क्या करूँ
Duṣyanta uvāca: suvyaktaṁ rājaputrī tvaṁ yathā kalyāṇi bhāṣase | bhāryā me bhava suśroṇi brūhi kiṁ karavāṇi te ||
Duṣyanta said: “It is now perfectly clear, noble lady, from the way you speak, that you are a princess of royal lineage. O fair-hipped one, become my wife. Tell me—what shall I do to please you?”
दुष्यन्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical courtship: Duṣyanta bases his approach on discernment (her refined speech indicating noble upbringing) and explicitly seeks her consent, asking what would please her—an emphasis on mutual agreement within the framework of accepted marriage forms.
Duṣyanta, having heard Śakuntalā speak, concludes she is of royal/warrior lineage and formally proposes that she become his wife, inviting her to state her wishes—setting the stage for a Gāndharva-style union later affirmed by sages.