Shloka 115
अध्याय ७४: अक्रोध–क्षमा–निवासनीति
Chapter 74: Non-anger, Forbearance, and the Ethics of Residence
(एवमुक्त्वा ततो देवा ऋषयश्न तपोधना: । पतिव्रतेति संहृष्टा: पुष्पवृष्टिं ववर्षिरे ।।) तच्छुत्वा पौरवो राजा व्याह्वतं त्रेदिवौकसाम्,(वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं-राजन!) ऐसा कहकर देवता तथा तपस्वी ऋषि शकुन्तलाको पतिव्रता बतलाते हुए उसपर फूलोंकी वर्षा करने लगे। पूरुवंशी राजा दुष्यन्त देवताओंकी यह बात सुनकर बड़े प्रसन्न हुए और पुरोहित तथा मन्त्रियोंसे इस प्रकार बोले --“आपलोग इस देवदूतका कथन भलीभाँति सुन लें
vaiśampāyana uvāca | evam uktvā tato devā ṛṣayaś ca tapodhanāḥ | pativrateti saṁhṛṣṭāḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiṁ vavarṣire || tac chrutvā pauravo rājā vyāhṛtaṁ traidivaukāsām |
Vaiśampāyana said: Having spoken thus, the gods and the ascetic seers, rich in austerity, delightedly proclaimed her to be a faithful wife and showered her with a rain of flowers. Hearing these words spoken by the dwellers of the three heavens, the Paurava king (Duṣyanta) became greatly pleased and prepared to address his priest and ministers accordingly.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores dharma through the ideal of pativratā—steadfast marital fidelity and integrity—shown here as worthy of public and even divine affirmation. It also suggests that moral truth, when upheld, gains legitimacy beyond human dispute, receiving sanction from higher authorities (devas and sages).
After a decisive statement is made (in the Śakuntalā–Duṣyanta episode), the gods and ascetic seers rejoice, declare Śakuntalā a pativratā, and shower flowers as a sign of approval. Duṣyanta hears the celestial proclamation and becomes pleased, moving to speak to his royal advisers (priest and ministers).