Shloka 9
कच-देवयानी संवादः
Kaca–Devayānī Dialogue and the Curse on Vidyā
रममाणौ यथाकामं यथैकदिवसं तथा । (कामक्रोधावजितवान मुनिर्नित्यं क्षमान्वित: । चिरार्जितस्य तपस: क्षयं स कृतवानृषि: ।। तपस: संक्षयादेव मुनिर्मोहं समाविशत् | कामरागाभिभूतस्य मुने: पार्श्व जगाम सा ।।) जनयामास स मुनिर्मेनकायां शकुन्तलाम्
ramamāṇau yathākāmaṃ yathaikadivasaṃ tathā | (kāmakrodhāvajitavān munir nityaṃ kṣamānvitaḥ | cirārjitasya tapasaḥ kṣayaṃ sa kṛtavān ṛṣiḥ || tapasaḥ saṃkṣayād eva munir mohaṃ samāviśat | kāmarāgābhibhūtasya muneḥ pārśvaṃ jagāma sā ||) janayāmāsa sa munir menakāyāṃ śakuntalām ||
వారు యథాకామంగా క్రీడించుచుండిరి; దినములు దినములుగా గడచినను ఒకే దినమువలె అనిపించెను. చివరకు ఆ ముని మేనకయందు శకుంతలాను జనింపజేసెను.
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical warning: even long-cultivated ascetic merit (tapas) can diminish when vigilance and self-restraint lapse. As tapas wanes, moha (delusion) can arise, making one vulnerable to kāma-rāga (passion and attachment). The narrative frames self-control and sustained discipline as essential to preserving spiritual power and clarity.
Kaṇva narrates that the sage and Menakā spent time together in mutual enjoyment; this indulgence caused the sage’s accumulated austerity to decline. With the decline of tapas, delusion and passion overtook him, and Menakā approached him. From their union, Śakuntalā was born.