Mahabharata – 148

by

Sankar Mukherjee

and

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                          Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Satyavati’s marriage with Santanu & birth of Kauravas & Pandavas

And Bhishma moved by the desire of doing good to his father, got him married to Satyavati the mother of Vyasa.Satyavati was also called Gandhakali. During her maidenhood she had a son by Parasara, named Vedavyasa. And Santanu begot two other sons named Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. And before attaining majority, Chitrangada was killed by the Gandharvas.So Vichitravirya became king, and married the two daughters of the king of Kasi,named Amvika and Amvalika. But Vichitravirya died childless. Then Satyavati thought how the race of Dushmanta to be continued.Then she recalled Vedavyasa. Vedavyasa showed up immediately.And asked --  What is your commands?'

Satyavati said, -- your brother Vichitravirya died childless.Beget virtuous children for him.

Vedavyasa said -- Let it be so. Consenting to this, he begot three children -- Dhritarashtra, Pandu, & Vidura.Among them Dhritarashtra became the king.Dhritarashtra begot hundred sons by Gandhari by the grace of Vedavyasa. And amongst those hundred sons of Dhritarashtra,four became celebrated. They were Duryodhana, Duhsasana, Vikarna, & Chitrasena.

And Pandu had two jewels of wives, -- Kunti, or Pritha, and Madri.One day Pandu, while out for hunting, saw a deer mating.He killed it with his arrows,while it was having sex.Pierced with the king's arrow, the deer died.And before dying the deer quickly changed its form and became a sage, and said to Pandu -- Oh Pandu,you are virtuous and acquainted with the art of sex.My desire is unsatisfied,you have slain me!Therefore, you shall die, during the sexual act & before you are satisfied .Pandu, hearing this curse, became pale. And from that time he would not go to his wives.

One day he told  Kunti --  Due to my own fault, I have been cursed! But I have heard that for the childless there are no regions hereafter. Therefore,he requested Kunti to have offspring  by gods for him.

 Kunti said-- Let it be so. So she brought about offsprings.By Dharma --- Yudhishthira, by Vayu or god of wind -- Bhima, & by Indra -- Arjuna.

 Pandu, well-pleased with her, said --Your co-wife is also childless. Therefore, teach her to bear children.

 Kunti said --- Let it be so.

 She imparted to Madri a particular mantra.

 Madri generated by the twin gods Aswins, the twins ---- Nakula and Sahadeva.

  One day Pandu, seeing Madri decked in ornaments, had his desire for sex.And, as soon as he touched her, he died.Madri ascended the funeral pyre with Pandu. And she said to Kunti -- Let these twins of mine be brought up by you with affection. After some time those five Pandavas were taken by the ascetics of the woods to Hastinapura.They informed Bhishma and Vidura.And after introducing the children, the ascetics disappeared  from there.The citizens of  Hastinapura saw flowers showered upon the children from the heaven,and the celestial drums  were heard from the skies.The Pandavas were then taken by Bhishma & others with great care.They then narrated the death of their father and performed his last rites duly.And as they were brought up there, at Hastinapur, Duryodhana became exceedingly jealous of them.And the sinful Duryodhana acting like an ogre tried various ways to drive them away.But all the  efforts of Duryodhana proved futile as the Pandavas were destined to be the rulers in future. Then Dhritarashtra sent them, by an act of deception to Varanavata, and they went there willingly. Duryodhana tried to burn them there. But it proved to be futile owing to the warning counsels of Vidura.

They fled from Varanavata, Pandavas killed Hidimva, on their way in a forest.And then they went to a town called Ekachakra. There also they killed an ogre called Vaka and then they went to the capital of Panchala. And there they obtained  Draupadi as their wife.Being happy they returned to their country.

They begot children in the womb of Draupadi -----  Yudhishthira begot Prativindhya,Bhima, Sutasoma,Arjuna, Srutakriti,Nakula, Satanika, & Sahadeva, Srutakarma.Besides these,Yudhishthira, obtained another girl for his wife Devika, the daughter of Govasana of the Sivi race, at a Swayamvara.He begot a son named Yaudheya by Devika. And Bhima also obtained for a wife Valandhara, the daughter of the king of Kasi, after conquering the king & begot a son by her named Sarvaga. And Arjuna also,going to Dwaraka, married Subhadra the sweet-speeched sister of Sreekrishna,tactfully.  He begot a son named Abhimanyu by Subhadra.Abhimanyu was endowed with all accomplishments and he was dear to Sreekrishna himself. And Nakula married Karenumati, the princess of Chedi, begot a son by her named Niramitra. Sahadeva also married Vijaya, the daughter of Dyutiman, the king of Madra, at a Swayamvara.       He begot a son by her named Suhotra. And Bhimasena had some time before begot the she Hidimba as his wife.By her Bhima got a demon son named Ghatotkacha.These were the eleven sons of the Pandavas.Amongst them all, it was through Abhimanyu that the race of Pandu continued.He married Uttara the daughter of king Virata. She brought forth a dead child on six month. Kunti took up the dead child on her lap at the command of Sreekrishna. Sreekrishna said,I shall revive the dead child of six months.

 And though born before time, having been burnt by the fire of the weapon of Aswatthama.The premature child was deprived of strength and energy.And after reviving him  Sreekrishna said ---- As this child has been born in a decadent race, he shall be called Parikshit.

And Parikshit married Madravati, your mother & you were born. You are married to Vapushtama. And you have begotten two sons named Satanika & Sanku.And Satanika also has begotten a son named Aswamedhadatta by the princess of Videha.

Vaisampayana said  -- Thus I have  recited the history of the race of Puru & of the Pandavas.This excellent & sacred history should ever be listened  by Brahmanas,Kshatriyas ,Vaisyas with attention, and by Sudras with due respect.

Mahabharata – 147

by

Sankar Mukherjee

and

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                      Aadivamsavataran Parva

Bharata race retold & Santanu became the king

Janamejaya said-- Oh great sage Vaisampyana!I heard from you about  history my ancestors of great soul who made history.But I am not happy.Because  this attractive account so short. Therefore, would you kindly recite the alluring narrative in detail commencing from Brahma & Manu. Vaisampayana  continued -- Listen  then, Oh king! As I narrate in detail the auspicious account of your own race just as I heard in the past from the great sage Vyasa.

Brahma was born from the navel of Lord Vishnu during the twilight of creation.He will exist till the last moment of pralaya when the creation will go out of joints.He seens to be eternal.His body does not wane with age.It was from this Brahma  that Daksha & Marichi were born.

Daksha took birth from the thumb of Brahma & Marichi from the eyes.Kasyapa is the son of Marichi & Aditi is the daughter of Daksha. Kasyapa begot the Sun god in the womb of Aditi.Sun begot Manu,Manu begot Ila,from Ila Pururava & Pururava begot Ayu.From Ayu Nahusha took birth.Yayati was born from Nahusha.Yayati had two queens.One Devayani the daughter of Sukracharya & the other Sarmishta the daughter of the demon king Vrishaparva. Devayani gave birth to Yadu and Turvasu & Sarmishtha gave birth to Druhyu,Anu, & Puru.The descendants of Yadu are the Yadavas & of Puru are the Pauravas.And Puru had a wife named  Kausalya,in whom he begot a son named Janamejaya who performed three horse-sacrifices & a sacrifice called Viswajit.And then he went to the woods for penance. And Janamejaya married Ananta,the daughter of Magadha, and begot a son called Prachinwan.He was so called because he had conquered all the eastern countries of the region before the next  Sun rises.And Prachinwan married Asmaki, a daughter of the Yadavas and begot a son named Samyati. And Samyati married Varangi,the daughter of Drishadwan & begot a son named Ahamyati. And Ahamyati married Bhanumati, the daughter of the king Kritavirya and begot a son named  Sarvabhauma. And Sarvabhauma married Sunanda, the daughter of the king Kekaya  after conquering the kingdom of Kekaya. And he begot a son named Jayatsena, who married Susrava, the daughter of the Vidarbha king and begot Avachina. And Avachina also married another princess of Vidarbha,Maryada by name.And he begot a son named Ariha.And Ariha married a princes of the Anga kingdom & begot a son named Mahabhauma. Mahabhauma married Suyajna,the daughter of Prasenajit & begot a son named Ayutanayi. He was so called because he had performed a sacrifice called Purushmedha Ayuta or ten thousand in number.And Ayutanayi married Kama,the daughter of Prithusravas.And begot a son named Akrodhana.Akrodhana married Karambha daughter of the king Kalinga.And Devatithi was born in her womb. Devatithi  married Maryada, the princess of Videha.And to her a son was born  named Ariha the second.And Ariha married  Sudeva, the daughter of king Anga  & he begot a son named Riksha. Riksha married the daughter of the king Taksaka.Their son was Matinar.He performed on the bank of Saraswati the twelve years long sacrifice said to be so beautiful in every respect that the goddess Saraswati appeared in person before the king and chose him as her  husband.And he begot  a son named Tansu. Tansu was the son of  Saraswati by Matinar. And Tansu himself begot a son named Ilina by his wife, Kalingi.

Ilina had five sons. Dushmanta was the eldest. Dushmanta  married Sakuntala,the daughter of Viswamitra. And he begot a son named Bharata.There was a voice from heaven that commanded Dushmanta to look after the child of Shakuntala.Hence he was so namedAnd Bharata married Sunanda,the daughter of Sarvasena, the king of Kasi, and begot a son named Bhumanyu.And Bhumanyu in due course married Vijaya, of Yadu race.And he begot a son Suhotra who married Suvarna, the daughter of Ikkhaku race. To her a son was born by Suhotra named Hasti Hasti founded the city,known as Hastinapura. Hasti married Yasodhara,the daughter of king Trigarta.A son was born to her named Vikunthana. Vikunthana married Sudeva of Yadu race.And   he begot a son named Ajamidha.(May be the city of Ajmir still remembers his name)And Ajamidha had four wives named Kaikeyi,Gandhari, Visala &Riksha.And he begot on them one hundred twenty four sons.And they became the rulers of different kingdoms & founded different races.There was  the Samvarana among them.We have already referred to Samvarana.It was he who founded your race.  Samvarana married Tapati,the daughter of Vivaswan,the Sun god Kuru was born to her. Kuru married Subhangi,of Yadu race. And he begot a son named Viduratha. Viduratha married  Sampriya, the daughter of the Madhu race.And he begot a son named Anaswa.Anaswa married Amrita, the daughter of the Magadhas. And of her was born a son named Parikshit.Parikshit was married to Suvasa  the daughter of the king Vahud & begot a son named Bhimasena. Bhimasena married Kumari the daughter of the king of Kekaya and begot a son Pratisrava. Pratisrava’s son was Pratipa.And Pratipa married Sunanda,the daughter of Sivi, and begot three sons-- Devapi, Santanu and Valhika. Devapi,during his childhood entered the woods as a hermit. And Santanu became the king.

Here occurs a sloka in respect of Santanu. Those old men that were touched by Santanu not only felt a sensation of pleasure but also became restored to youth. Therefore, this King was known as Santanu.

And Santanu married Ganga & begot a son named Devavrata. Devavrata was afterwards called Bhishma.

Mahabharata – 146

by

Sankar Mukherjee

and

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
              Aadivamsavatarana Parva

PBharata race Samvarana,Kuru & Hasti

Vaisampyana the narrator of the Mahabharata was in fact addressing king Janamejaya & telling him & the wise concourse as to the past of different dynasties of ancient India Oh king Janamejaya!we heard that  during the rule of Samvarana,the son of Riksha, there was a great loss of people from famine,drought, & out break of virulent diseases.And during this time  the princes of the Bharata race were attacked  by the enemies.The king of Panchala with his four limbed army consisting of the chariot  force the elephant force the horse force & foot soldiers swooped upon the empire of Samvarana.Samvarana then with his wife and ministers,sons and relatives,fled in fear, and took shelter in the forest on the banks of the Sindhu extending to the foot of the mountains.There the Bharatas lived for  a thousand years within their fort.There, one day the great sage Vasishtha visited the Bharatas, who,honured the sage by coming out of the fort & worshipped him by offerring arghya.

They addressed the sage saying,be you our priest,Oh illustrious one!We will endeavour to regain our lost kingdom.Vasishtha agreed to the proposal of  the Bharatas & became their priest.Vasishtha then installed the Bharata prince as the over lord of all the Kshatriyas on earth.We heard that  the king Samvarana regained the capital of the Bharata race.It was the best among the capitals on the earth. Once more he made all the kings pay tribute to him.The powerful king Samvarana performed many sacrifices. 

Samvarana begot on his wife,Tapati, the daughter of Surya or Sun god,a son named Kuru. Kuru was exceedingly virtuous, and therefore,he was installed on the throne by his subjects.It is after his name that the clan called Kuru-jangala was famous in the world. The great ascetic Kuru  with his powers of meditation  made the land famous by the name Kurukshetra.And it has been heard by us that Kuru's wife Vahini, brought forth five sons.They were  Aswavan( also known as Avikshita), Abhishyanta, Chaitraratha, Muni & Janamejaya. And the eldest Avikshita begot eight sons.They were known as Parikshita, Savalaswa, Adiraja, Viraja, Salmali,Ucchaisrava,Bhangakara & Jitari of great kshatriya prowess.Parikshita had seven sons.They were Janamejaya, Kakshasena and Ugrasena,Chitrasena, Indrasena,Sushena & Bhimasena.Janamejaya had eight sons.They were all of great strength and became famous all over the world.And they were all accomplished in religion & economics & were kind to all creatures.They were Dhritarashtra, Pandu,Valhika, Nishadha,Jamvunada, Kundodara,Padati & Vasati.Among them Dhritarashtra was the king.Dhritarashtra had eleven sons.They were   Kundika, Hasti, Vitarka, Kratha,Kundina, Harihsrava,Indrabha, Sumanyu, Pratipa, Dharmanetra & Sunetra.Among them the last three were famous globaly. Pratipa became specially famous & unrivalled on earth.Pratipa begot three sons,------- Devapi,Santanu, &Valhika.Devapi adopted the ascetic course of life,for achieving peace & harmony.And the kingdom was obtained by the mighty chariot warriors Santanu and Valhika. The narrator of the Mahabharata at the place of snake sacrifice  at Kuruskhetra said to the king Janamejaya -- O monarch!, Besides, there were born in the race of Bharata numberless other great mighty  monarchs like the divine rishis in virtue and ascetic power.There by the clan of Pururava grew into the race of Manu.From Bharata the founder of  the Bharata dynasty,the rulers were famous.In the race of Bharata were born numerous divine countless mighty chariot-warriors,of great prowess who by their number swelled the dynasty into gigantic proportions.I am  only telling you the story of the divine righteous kings among them.

Mahabharata – 145

by

Sankar Mukherjee and

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                          Aadivamsavataran Parva

The race of Bharata

Bharata the son of Dushmanta of the Puru race ascended the throne in due time.He then set out to conquer the world.His divine chariot was irresistible.He conquered all the kings.The mighty generous king Bharata had great foresight & a tender heart.Hence  he became famous a monarch.Like Indra the king of heaven he performed numerous sacrifices.The great sage Kanva presided over those sacrifices. Bharata perforfed a horse sacrifice called ‘Gobitat’.Then he performed hundred horse sacrifices at the bank of the Yamuna,three hundred horse sacrifices at the bank of the Saraswati & four hundred horse sacrifices at the bank of the Ganga.Thus the mother & the son,the son of Dushmanta & Shakuntala together performed many sacrifices.They gave away untold wealth to the masses as well as to the brahmins during the sacrifices.And from Bharata the clan Bharata became famous in the world.

And Bharata begot on his three wives nine sons. But none of them were like their father.Therefore Bharata was not at all happy with them. Their mothers became angry & killed them all.The procreation of children by Bharata, therefore, became in vain.

The monarch then performed numerous great sacrifices & by the grace of great sage Bharadwaja obtained a son named Bhumanyu.

And then king Bharata, regarding himself blessed having a son, installed Bhumanyu as the crown prince.And Bhumanyu begot upon his wife, Pushkarini six sons.They were Suhotra,Diviratha Suhota, Suhavih,Suyajuh & Richika. The eldest of them was Suhotra.He    became the king.The great king Suhotra performed many Rajasuyas and horse-sacrifices.Suhotra used to enjoy the whole earth surrounded by the seas & full of gems.Suhotra virtuously ruled & sustained his subjects properly.The earth was filled with elephants,horses,kine,& human population increased.Enormous growth of the paddy& the whole earth was filled  with hundreds and thousands, of sacrificial stakes. Harmony prevailed on earth. But since she was loaded with lot of wealth & happiness that she became heavy & seemed to sink into the nether world.Suhotra begot on his wife, daughter of the Ikkhaku race, three sons -- Ajamidra,Sumidra,& Purumidra.The eldest of them,Ajamidra,became the king after Suhotra. And he begot six sons,--Riksha was born in the womb of Dhumini, Dushmanta & Parameshthi in the womb of Nili & Jahnu, Jala and Rupina were born in the womb of Kesini. All the clans of Panchalas descended from Dushmanta and Parameshthi.And the Kushikas were the sons of Jahnu of immeasurable prowess.

And Riksha who was elder than  Jala and Rupina became the king.The narrator of the Mahabharata Vaisampyana said to the king Janamejaya at the snake sacrifice that  from Riksha Samvarana was born.He was the forefather of the race of Janamejaya.

Mahabharata – 144
by
Sankar Mukherjee
and
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
 Aadivamsavataran   Parva

Comments on the Shakuntala & Dushmanta episode

The Mahabharata is the source of countless post Mahabharata
literature.Earlier we have noted Tagore’s Kacha & Devyani, a drama that harks back to Devyani’s emotions for Kacha during their parting as delineated in the Mahabharata.While the Mahabharata always speaks of love controlled by an awareness of dharma, modern poets impelled by the anxiety of influence underlines unbridled love. When  Devyani
proposed to Yayati,Yayati said no to her proposal because Devyani was
a brahmin by birth & Yayati was a kshatriya by birth. Marriage between a brahmin woman & kshatriya man was not sanctioned as per the
Mahabharata religion.But the majority of the moderns are against caste system. So they might not take Yayatis argument for not marrying Devyani as viable. When Dushmanta proposed Shakuntala there sprang a
serious discussion between Shakuntala & Dushmanta  as to whether marriage in secret between Dushmanta & Shakuntala could be legitimate or not.In the poetic drama Kacha & Devyani seem to have underlined the emotions of Devyani.Poets are swayed by the passions of love that
is blind.The stout character of Kacha in Tagore seems to pale beside the passionate Devyani. While Devyani is more human in the light of
Tagore Kacha seems to be a postcard sans any emotion.This does not
see eye to eye with Indian values.Indian values revel in portrayals
of characters who look upon joy & sorrow with equanimity.They are
seldom swayed by passion.They are postcards indeed in the light of
modern literary values. In a society where passion is more valuable than righteousness  burning of Troy or Nagasaki & Hiroshima are quite
normal.However,we seek to compare the Shakuntala episode of the
Mahabharata with Kaldasa’s drama on Shakuntala. On the surface, the
Mahabharata episode has been rather crude & gross compared to
Kalidasa’s plot  manship.Back from the ashrama it seems that Dushmanta
forgot his affairs with Shakuntala but Kalidasa did not find this
convincing.That is why he introduced the curse of Durvasa & the ring
episode. In Kalidasa  Shahkuntala lost the ring & thereby she could
not prove that she was the wife of Dushmanta at the court. Dushmanta as per Kalidasa had forgotten his affairs with Shakuntala because of the curse of rishi Durvasa.The ring could alone remind Dushmanta about
Shakuntala. But alas! the ring was lost. So humiliated Shakuntala had to leave the court of Dushmanta.That helped Kalidasa to absolve Dushmanta of any blemish & create pathos about the character of Shakuntala. The spectators might shed tears for the misfortune of forlorn Shakuntala.Since Indian esthetics does not approve of a tragedy the ring was found later.Dushmanta was repentant for turning
out Shakuntala. Dushmanta & Shakuntala were united again.No doubt
Abhijnanashakuntalam  is a sentimental comedy & we agree with Richard Rorty that the sentimental literature has greater efficiency in changing the society. But it seems that the richly wrought plot of Kalidasa pales beside the simplistic plot of the Mahabharata. The
Mahabharata states that the king Dushmanta after marrying Shakuntala
left her in the ashrama  only.He did not visit the ashrama ever after the marriage. Mahabharata does not give any excuse for the negligence of Shakuntala by Dushmanta. We are told about the virtues of Dushmanta.But beside Shakuntala he proves himself to be a fool.
A child was born to Shakuntala.Shakuntala & her foster father the
sage Kanva looked after the child.When the child came of age it was
at the instance of the sage Kanva that Shakuntala went to the court of king Dushmanta.And ironically enough Dushmanta did not recognize her
at the court even though he remembered his past affairs with
Shakuntala.It was dire lie & cowardice on the part of Dushmanta.No
body hates a Falstaff or a Bobadil.But when one who is famed to be
valiant & heroic in character is prove to be a liar &  coward it is a
case of bathos.The humiliated Shakuntala at the court however flashes forth like the veritable flames of penance & sacrificial fire.She is the true self of Indian womanhood.In Kalidasa’s  Abhijnanashakuntalam Kalidasa has been engrossed with the physical beauty of Shakuntala.
Later  on she became a forlorn mother looking after her child. But  in
the long absence of Dushmanta  Shakuntala excelsior  spiritually. She had the guts to tell the lying Dushmanta that his head would go into pieces if he did not acknowledge the truth. This she said at the royal court in front of the sages & ministers & the army generals & she was accompanied by none but her child. In our earlier sections. We have narrated in details the arguments put forward by Shkuntala at the
court.We are not going to repeat them here. While making love with
Shakuntala Dushmanta cited scriptures & it seemed as  it were he was learned.But all his learnings came to naught in front of Shakuntala at the court. Shakuntala discussed the rights of a married woman.She pointed out the significance of marriage & begetting a child.She could see into the thoughts of Dushmanta with her extra sensory perception.She gave a wonderful explanation of the consequences of
lying.There is a self below our conscious mind.It is the witness
to whatever we think or do.And it is directly linked with God the
Father who caters justice.And it will not bear false witness before God.Thus the very self of a person goes against the person who lies.
Shakuntala points out that the sensuous pleasure that one derives from
taking a child in arms is far greater than the pleasures of enjoying
the opposite sex. Thus  Shakuntala seems to be the first feminist in the whole range of literature.She is a feminist who is proud of womanhood & motherhood.Shall not a woman protest when she is wronged?
But Shakuntala’s protests were not looked upon with favor by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya the first great novelist of Bengali literature
& one of the seers or rishis of India’s patriotism.With him Miranda &
Desdemona are more loving than Shakuntala & they are the ideals of
womanhood.Thus it is a pity that the fathers of modern India are more
in sympathy with the West  & Shakespeare. Dushmanta bragged earlier that marriage in secret is ideal for kshatriyas. But later Dushmanta
posited that since no one at the court witnessed the marriage between Dushmanta & Shakuntala Dushmanta was feeling shaky to acknowledge
Shakuntala as his legitimate wife.This proves the necessity of
witness in marriage ceremony.To get registered with the government as
married is a must now a days.That Dushmanta married in secret only
shows his lack of far sight

Mahabharata – 143

by

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                   Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Shakuntala’s Argument continues at the court & Dushmanta accepts Shakuntala as his wife

Shakuntala continued  -- Oh king! You are finding fault of mine.That is as small as a mustard seed.But you can not espy your fault which is as big as an apple. 

Menaka being a prostitute is counted a goddess.Even the goddesses are inferior to Menaka.Therefore by birth I am better off than you.Oh king! you can only travel on earth.I can travel on earth & in the sky.Just see the difference between Sumeru & mustard. And I can travel to the palace of Indra the king of the heaven,Kuvera the god of  wealth,Yama the god of death & Varuna the god of water.So just see my powers & prowess .Oh king! Whatever I say are naked truth.These are not out of malice.This is just for your information. Pardon me.The ugly person believes himself as beautiful till he looks at his shadow in the mirror. And after looking at the mirror he finds out the difference between him & others.The beautiful person never ignores any one. And superflous & harsh - tongued persons  say ill of others & oppresses them.When the other persons say both pleasant & unpleasant words the illiterate person only takes account of the unpleasent & the trifle.The bear takes the faeces leaving the flowers. On the other hand when others say both pleasant & unpleasant words the wise take into account the pleasant only,as a swan accepts only milk from the mixed liquid.By speaking cruel words the honest person feels sorry. But the wicked feel happy by speaking evil about others.The wise feel happy by showing respect to the old aged people.Likewise the wicked feel happy by ill treating others. The wise live happily knowing the faults of others full well.And they never discuss the issues with others.The illiterate are always distracted finding faults of others.And where the wise criticize others the wicked speak evil about others. Nothing in this world is more laughable when a wicked person identifies an honest person as  wicked.When an atheist is scared of the ferocious snake what should I say about a god fearing person.Gods destroy the wealth of a person who ignores his able son.   He never achieves heaven.The forefathers say that the son is the only support during one’s old age.It is through the son that the future generation & righteousness are maintained.  Therefore one never forsakes his son.Manu classified sons in the following classes:

1. In the womb of one’s own wife,

2. In the womb of a woman other than the legal wife,

3. Acquired,

4. A boy who is looked after by some one else other than the father & so on.

Son is the cause of one’s reputation & righteousness.Son is the boat of liberation from hell.Oh king!Your duty is to protect truth,soul & different religions.Therefore you can not give up your son.You can not act like a hypocrite.It is better to dig a pond rather than hundred wells. It is better to perform one sacrifice than to dig hundred ponds.And it is better to beget a son than to perform hundred sacrifices & to keep the truth is better than hundred sons.Truth is heavier than hundred horse sacrifices.Reading the entire Vedas, bathing at holy places & truth may be of equal merit.Nothing is better than truth.No righteousness exists without truth.And nothing is more alarming than than falsehood.Oh king! Truth is at per with the supreme reality.Pursuit of truth is the only part of righteousness. And let truth stay in your soul for all the time.But if you act deceptively & don’t believe in my words.Alas! I am going back on my own.It is not possible to stay together.Dushmanta without your patronage even,my son will rule the whole globe surrounded by the Himalayas & four oceans.By saying this Shakuntala left the king.Then a celestial voice said to Dushmanta surrounded by ministers,priests & acharyas --  Mother is like the container.The son belongs to the  father.The father is reborn as the son.Dushmanta keep this son & maintain him.And do not ignore Shakuntala.It is through the son a family continues.Thus the son rescues the father from the abode of the god of death.Shakuntala said the truth.You are the father of this son.The god by way of dividing  the body of the father creates the son.Mother brings forth the son.Oh Dushmanta!Look after the son of Shakuntala.It is a misfortune to the father who abandons his son &  carries on his life.Oh king of Puru race! The boy is your legitimate son in the womb of Shkuntala.Take care of the noble minded boy.On our request you have to maintain the boy.Let the boy be known as  Bharata.King Dushmanta on hearing the celestial voice was very pleased & said to his ministers & priests -- You have already heard the voice of the heavens.I also know that the boy is my legitimate son.But if I accepted the boy on the request of Shakuntala people might doubt that the boy might not be my legitimate son.The king then by the command of the celestial voice proved the boy as his legitimate son & with smiling face became extremely happy & accepted the boy as his son.And the king with joyful mind performed the religious rites like the holy secred thread ceremony & so on.Thus he observed  the responsibilities of the father.The brahmanas & those who sang in praise of the king welcomed the stance of the king.And the king taking the boy in his arms fondled the son by kissing his head.And the king was overwhelmed with the feeling  of pleasure in touching the son.The king showed due respect to  Shakuntala by admitting her as his legal wife.Then he appealed to Shakuntala  -- I married you in the absence of any wittness of the people.Therefore deliberately I behaved that way to prove that you are innocent.Otherwise the people might think otherwise.May be,they assume that women are fickle  by nature.And they might think that the inherent fickleness of women impelled me to unite with you.But I wanted that the truth should be disclosed.As soon as I saw you I secretly decided in my mind that your son should be the crown prince.But I had to wait for the voice from the heaven.And Oh my beloved one!with magnificent look I have already pardoned you for telling harsh words to me.The great king Dushmanta honoured Shakuntala by giving her clothes fit for queens.She was offered food & drink.  And the king named the son of Shakuntala -- Bharata. Dushmanta made him the crown prince. And after that the king Dushmanta rulled for hundred years.Then leaving the kingdom he went to the forest & ascended the heaven.  

Mahabharata – 142

by

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                     Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Dushmanta’s charges against Shakuntala

Dushmanta said -- I am unable to remember that I begot a son in your womb.Usually female folks are liars.Who will believe you? Your mother Menaka is very cruel & a prostitute. She left you on the Himalayas as the remains of a floral offering made to a deity.Moreover being a kshatriya hungry to become a brahmin lustful Viswamitra is also cruel.Menaka is the best among the celestial dancers.Viswamitra is the best among sages.How is it that you are their child?.You are speaking like a prostitute.You are not ashamed of telling of a story that no one will believe.It is unbelievable  specially to me.Therfore Oh wicked ascetic!Go away.Where are those cruel nature Viswamitra & the celestial dancer Menaka?Oh you wretched ascetic where are you?.How come your son has become so stout, strong & tall like a sala tree?You being a prostitute are very mean & you are also speaking like a prostitute.and profligate Menaka out of lust gave your birth.Therefore by birth you are greedy.Furthermore Oh ascetic I cannot remember whatever you said.You are not reliable.And you are not known to me.Therefore you go wherever you choose as per your discretion.