Shakuntala

Kanva saw the boy’s strength and exploits and decided the time had come for Shakuntala to take him to his father. He sent disciples with her from the forest hermitage where she had first met Duhshanta. She entered the king’s presence, paid homage, and said the child was his son. She asked Duhshanta to make him heir. The request put their private union before a court of priests, teachers and ministers.

Duhshanta refused to recognise the boy. He called Shakuntala a liar, attacked her parents and mocked the child’s size and strength. Shakuntala prepared to leave. As she did, a voice from the sky addressed the king. It confirmed that Shakuntala had spoken truthfully and named Duhshanta as the boy’s father. The voice told him to protect his son and not reject Shakuntala. It also declared that the child would be known as Bharata because Duhshanta would maintain him.

Duhshanta heard the voice before the priests and ministers around him. He smelled the boy’s head and embraced him. The brahmins gave blessings and the bards praised the king. Duhshanta then accepted Shakuntala as his wife according to dharma. He explained that he had denied the union because the people did not know about it and might have considered the boy’s installation improper. He said he had wanted to clear her name. He honoured Shakuntala with garments, food and drink, then made her son heir. The argument ended with the boy publicly acknowledged as Bharata.