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174 kings wedded the handsome Sakuntala of graceful gait, and knew her as a husband. And assuring her duly, he went away, telling her repeatedly,-'I shall send thee, for thy escort, my troops of four classes, Indeed, it is even thus that I shall take thee to my capital, O thou of sweet smiles I""

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

"The moment the king bad 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, -'Amaiable one, what hath been done by thee to-day in secret, without, baving 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 of sensual desire, without mantras of any kind, it is said, is the best for Kshattriyas. 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 sea. And the forces of that illustrious king of kings, while he goeth out against his foes, shall be irresistible '"

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

"Kanwa replied,-'0 thou of the fairest complexion, for thy sake I am inclined to bless him ! But receive from me, O blessed one, the boon that thou desirest!'"

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

Thus ends the seventy-tbird section in the Sambhava Parva of the Adi Parva.