Reading Notes: Sakuntala (Part 6, Final)
Sakuntala: Finding The Way Back
The now hermit Dushmanta has lived in the forest for four years. He tends his garden and lives a quiet life, still in hopes to find Sakuntala. One day, he over hears two women passing by say his love's name. He immediately sends his aide to ask them questions about Sakuntala. There was a young boy with jet black, curly hair, and once Dushmanta heard this he knew it was Sakuntala and her son, but the women and child had already left. A couple of days later, he finds the same young boy wrestling with a tiger cub. He calls the boy to him, and the little boy does. Dushmanta immediately knows that this is his son. The two women who were watching him go over and they talk about his mother, who happens to live in a nearby village with the women. Dushmanta does not tell these friends of hers who he is, but he asks for the boy to visit him more. One day when the little boy is visiting, he notices the paintings of his mother. The little boy takes Dushmanta to Sakuntala, who already knows who the stranger is. Dushmanta falls at her feet asking for forgiveness, but Sakuntala asks him to stand and she kisses his feet saying he is her love and husband forever. After a few heartfelt words are exchanged, Dushmanta asks Sakuntala to come back to the kingdom and rule with him. At first, she does not want to, but eventually she goes with him and becomes one of the greatest queens known. When their son, Bharat, became old enough, Dushmanta placed him on the throne, and Dushmanta and Sakuntala returned to the forest and lived the rest of their life in peace and happiness together.
I think this part of the story was the greatest way it could have ended. Dushmanta asked for forgiveness, which was given, and Sakuntala still loved him despite the hurt she felt because she understood that it wasn't Dushmanta's fault. True love will always return. I loved the ending and that Dushmanta took Sakuntala back to her true home, the forest. If I recreate this story I would like to add more descriptions to really capture the fairytale moment when they meet again, and this time with their son.
The now hermit Dushmanta has lived in the forest for four years. He tends his garden and lives a quiet life, still in hopes to find Sakuntala. One day, he over hears two women passing by say his love's name. He immediately sends his aide to ask them questions about Sakuntala. There was a young boy with jet black, curly hair, and once Dushmanta heard this he knew it was Sakuntala and her son, but the women and child had already left. A couple of days later, he finds the same young boy wrestling with a tiger cub. He calls the boy to him, and the little boy does. Dushmanta immediately knows that this is his son. The two women who were watching him go over and they talk about his mother, who happens to live in a nearby village with the women. Dushmanta does not tell these friends of hers who he is, but he asks for the boy to visit him more. One day when the little boy is visiting, he notices the paintings of his mother. The little boy takes Dushmanta to Sakuntala, who already knows who the stranger is. Dushmanta falls at her feet asking for forgiveness, but Sakuntala asks him to stand and she kisses his feet saying he is her love and husband forever. After a few heartfelt words are exchanged, Dushmanta asks Sakuntala to come back to the kingdom and rule with him. At first, she does not want to, but eventually she goes with him and becomes one of the greatest queens known. When their son, Bharat, became old enough, Dushmanta placed him on the throne, and Dushmanta and Sakuntala returned to the forest and lived the rest of their life in peace and happiness together.
I think this part of the story was the greatest way it could have ended. Dushmanta asked for forgiveness, which was given, and Sakuntala still loved him despite the hurt she felt because she understood that it wasn't Dushmanta's fault. True love will always return. I loved the ending and that Dushmanta took Sakuntala back to her true home, the forest. If I recreate this story I would like to add more descriptions to really capture the fairytale moment when they meet again, and this time with their son.
(Bharat playing with tiger cubs, Wikipedia Commons)
Bibliography: Sakuntala, by Sunity Devee from "Nine Ideal Indian Women" pages 77-81.
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