Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/252

218 of four classes. Indeed, it is even thus that I shall take thee to my capital, O thou of beautiful smiles.

Vaisampayana continued, "O Janamejaya, having promised so to her the king went away. And as he retraced his way homewards he began to think of Kasyapa. And he asked himself, 'What shall the illustrious ascetic say, after he hath known all?' Thinking of this, he entered his capital.

"The moment the king had left, Kanwa arrived at his abode. But Sakuntala, from a sense of shame, did not go out to receive her father. That great ascetic, however, possessed of spiritual knowledge, knew all. Indeed, beholding everything with his spiritual eye, the illustrious one was pleased and addressing her said, 'Amiable one, what hath been done by thee today in secret, without having waited for me, viz, intercourse with a man, hath not been destructive of thy virtue. Indeed, union according to the Gandharva form, of a wishful woman with a man full of desire, without mantras of any kind, it is said, is the best for Kshatrias. That best of men, Dushmanta, is also high-souled and virtuous. Thou hast, O Sakuntala, accepted him for thy husband. The son that shall be born of thee shall be mighty and illustrious in this world. And he shall have sway over the whole of this earth bounded by the sea. And the forces of that illustrious king of kings, while he goeth out against his foes, shall be irresistible.'

"And Sakuntala then approached her fatigued father and washed his feet. And taking down the weight he had on and placing the fruits in proper order, told him, 'It behoveth thee to give thy grace to that Dushmanta whom I have accepted for my husband, as well as to his ministers.'

"Kanwa replied, 'O thou of the fairest complexion, for thy sake, I am inclined to bless him. But receive from me, thou blessed one, the boon that thou desirest.

Vaisampayana continued, "Sakuntala thereupon moved by the desire of benefiting Dushmanta, asked the boon that the Paurava monarchs might ever be virtuous and never be deprived of their thrones."