अध्याय ७४: अक्रोध–क्षमा–निवासनीति
Chapter 74: Non-anger, Forbearance, and the Ethics of Residence
काम त्वया परित्यक्ता गमिष्यामि स्वमाश्रमम् । इमं तु बाल संत्यक्तुं नार्हस्थात्मजमात्मन:,“महाराज! आपके द्वारा स्वेच्छासे त्याग दी जानेपर मैं पुनः: अपने आश्रमको लौट जाऊँगी, किंतु अपने इस नन््हे-से पुत्रका त्याग आपको नहीं करना चाहिये”
kāma tvayā parityaktā gamiṣyāmi svam āśramam | imaṃ tu bālaṃ saṃtyaktuṃ nārhasi ātmajam ātmanaḥ ||
“Mahal na Hari! Kung nanaisin mong talikuran ako, babalik ako sa sarili kong ashram. Ngunit huwag mong itakwil ang munting batang ito—sarili mong anak na lalaki, na isinilang mula sa iyo.”
दुष्यन्त उवाच
Even amid marital rejection, the ethical duty toward one’s child remains binding; abandoning one’s own offspring is presented as improper and contrary to dharma.
In the Duṣyanta–Śakuntalā episode, the speaker declares she can return to the hermitage if rejected, but insists the king must not renounce the small child, who is his own son.