06 (Sakuntala) Path Set For The Lovers

Sakuntala stood up to go But Anusuya said “No, To leave our guest here It’s no good and fair.” To stop her from going, Dushyanta was thinking, But he felt that such an act Would be a breach of etiquette. On his part, it wasn’t fair To simply follow her, A girl from a hermitage And a daughter of a sage. Pryamvada told her “You’ve to pour water To these thirsty trees Twice, as our practice.” “As they had it one time, Give them second time And then you can go Winding up this show.” Dushyanta replied her, “It may not be fair To give her anymore Trouble at this hour.” “Tired her hands are Carrying pots of water. Breathless now she is. On her face sweat flows.” “With her freed hair knot, She’s trying to set it right. This debt of her I’ll clear, If you all deem it fair.” Like this, he was saying, And passed on his ring. They checked it to find A royal sign engraved. To clear their doubt, He said, “It’s a gift, His Majesty gave me. Now, her debt, it’ll free.” Pryamvada then replied, “Your every kind word, We all happily heard, Nothing else we need! A dual mind, Sakuntala had. In their talk she was interested, But was pretending to go, When they said, “Not to go.” Actually Dushyanta felt, “Why she doesn’t rebut Either by words or look, What else her eyes seek? ” A voice spoke aloud “All of you be informed. On a hunting mission, The King is in action.” “Take care of all the lives. Amuck, a mad elephant runs, At the sound of the chariot That came for this hunt.” “It’s destroying everything, On its way, it’s seeing. It’ll be a breach of peace In this ascetics-living-place.” “See how the deer pack run. To safe places one by one? We, guards, with weapons Have surrounded all places.” As a King, his importance, And the need for his presence, At the troubled site, he felt. So, he was ready to start. He told them, “Now we’ll Take all actions to stall Any destruction to the huts Or any damage to the hermits.” Regretting her friends said, “Oh guest, we’re afraid, We cannot stay here To entertain you anymore.” “Kindly do come here, As our guest, once more, To receive our hospitality, Without fail, positively.” He told them, “No, No, Not like that, now I’ll go But in your company I was feeling happy.” A blade grass had cut Sakuntala’s both feet. Some branches caught Her bark-dress tight. She called her friends To stay at one end Till she got relieved From these bonds. After this she followed Her two girl friends, With an eye on him, Counting the time. He, on the other hand, To leave had no mind, And went out unwillingly, But viewing her mentally. “I cannot forget her And should stay here Somewhere near, Again to see her.” “How hard it’s to forget And remove my thought Of this girl, whom I love, Though I must leave now.” “I’m trying to walk onward, But my legs drag me backward, Like the chariot flag that flies To and fro, in the wind that blows.” The day passed on like this. Cupid shot his flower arrows. Their journey, thus began In the path set by the divine.