Shloka 121
अध्याय ७४: अक्रोध–क्षमा–निवासनीति
Chapter 74: Non-anger, Forbearance, and the Ethics of Residence
तां चैव भार्या दुष्यन्त: पूजयामास धर्मतः । अब्रवीच्चैव तां राजा सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वच:,दुष्यन्तने अपनी पत्नी शकुन्तलाका भी धर्मपूर्वक आदर-सत्कार किया और उसे समझाते हुए कहा--
tāṃ caiva bhāryā duṣyantaḥ pūjayāmāsa dharmataḥ | abravīc caiva tāṃ rājā sāntvapūrvam idaṃ vacaḥ ||
And Duṣyanta, honoring her as his wife, paid her due respect in accordance with dharma. Then the king addressed her with conciliatory words, speaking as follows.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic conduct within marriage and kingship: even in tension or dispute, one should uphold respect and propriety (dharmataḥ) and speak with calming, conciliatory intent (sāntvapūrvam), rather than harshness.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that King Duṣyanta treats Śakuntalā as his wife with due honor and then begins to speak to her gently, introducing the next portion of dialogue.