Shloka 22
(एवमुक्त्वा स राजर्षिस्तामनिन्दितगामिनीम् । सम्परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां स्मितपूर्वमुदैक्षत ।। प्रदक्षिणीकृतां देवीं राजा सम्परिषस्वजे । शकुन्तला हाश्रुमुखी पपात नृपपादयो: ।। तां देवीं पुनरुत्थाप्य मा शुचेति पुन: पुनः । शपेयं सुकृतेनैव प्रापयिष्ये नृपात्मजे ।।) अनिन्द्यगामिनी शकुन्तलासे ऐसा कहकर राजर्षि दुष्यन्तने उसे अपनी भुजाओंमें भर लिया और उसकी ओर मुसकराते हुए देखा। देवी शकुन्तला राजाकी परिक्रमा करके खड़ी थी। उस समय उन्होंने उसे हृदयसे लगा लिया। शकुन्तलाके मुखपर आँसुओंकी धारा बह चली और वह नरेशके चरणोंमें गिर पड़ी। राजाने देवी शकुन्तलाको फिर उठाकर बार-बार कहा--'राजकुमारी! चिन्ता न करो। मैं अपने पुण्यकी शपथ खाकर कहता हूँ, तुम्हें अवश्य बुला लूँगा।' वैशम्पायन उवाच इति तस्या: प्रतिश्रुत्य स नृूपो जनमेजय । मनसा चिन्तयन् प्रायात् काश्यपं प्रति पार्थिव:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! इस प्रकार शकुन्तलासे प्रतिज्ञा करके नरेश्वर राजा दुष्यन्त आश्रमसे चल दिये। उनके मनमें महर्षि कण्वकी ओरसे बड़ी चिन्ता थी कि तपस्वी भगवान् कण्व यह सब सुनकर न जाने क्या कर बैठेंगे? इस तरह चिन्ता करते हुए ही राजाने अपने नगरमें प्रवेश किया
evaṃ uktvā sa rājarṣis tām aninditagāminīm | sampariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ smitapūrvam udaikṣata || pradakṣiṇīkṛtāṃ devīṃ rājā sampariṣasvaje | śakuntalā hāśrumukhī papāta nṛpapādayoḥ || tāṃ devīṃ punar utthāpya mā śuca iti punaḥ punaḥ | śapeyaṃ sukṛtenaiva prāpayiṣye nṛpātmaje || iti tasyāḥ pratiśrutya sa nṛpo janamejaya | manasā cintayan prāyāt kāśyapaṃ prati pārthivaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Having spoken thus, the royal sage embraced that blameless-moving maiden with his arms and looked upon her with a gentle smile. Śakuntalā, like a goddess, stood after circumambulating the king; and the king clasped her to his heart. Tears streamed over Śakuntalā’s face, and she fell at the king’s feet. Lifting her up again, he said repeatedly, “Do not grieve, princess. I swear by my own merit: I will surely send for you, O daughter of a king.” Having thus promised her, O Janamejaya, the king departed, his mind troubled—thinking of Kāśyapa (Kaṇva) and what the ascetic might do upon hearing of these events. With such anxiety he entered his city.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s words carry moral weight: compassion must be matched by responsibility. The king’s oath “by merit” underscores that personal virtue is not merely inward but must be proven through keeping promises, especially toward those placed in vulnerability.
Duṣyanta consoles Śakuntalā, embraces her, and reassures her repeatedly, swearing that he will send for her. After giving this promise, he departs from the hermitage, inwardly worried about how the ascetic Kaṇva might react when he learns of the situation.