अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तला - सत्य प्रमाण

आजन्मनः शाठ्यमशिक्षितो यः
    तस्याप्रमाणं वचनं जनस्य ।
परातिसंधानमधीयते यैः
    विद्येति ते सन्तु किलाप्तवाचः ॥

- अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तल

AjanmanaH shAThyam ashikShito yaH
    tasya apramANam vachanaM janasya ।
parAtisaMdhAnamdhIyate yaiH
    vidyeti te santu kila AptavAchaH ॥

- abhijnAna shAkuntalA

What has become of this world? People do not believe the words of sages who live in hermitage and have never been exposed (or taught) deceit. On the other hand, they believe words of those who have learnt the art of deception as part of their formal education (the kings).

- Abhjnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल - परीक्ष्य

अतः परीक्ष्य कर्तव्यं विशेषात्संगतं रहः ।
अज्ञातहृदयेष्वेवं वैरीभवति सौहृदम् ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल

ataH parIkShya kartavyaM vishESha atsaMgataM rahaH ।
ajnAta hRudayeShu evam vairI bhavati sauhRudam ॥

- abhijnAna shAkuntala

When a man and a woman decide to get married in secrecy, they must be really careful and examine each other thoroughly. If there keep secrets from each other, the love can soon turn to hatred.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञान शाकुंतला - तपस्विनः

प्राणानामनिलेन वृत्तिरुचिता सत्कल्पवृक्षे वने
    तोये काञ्चानपद्मरेणुकपिशे धर्माभिषेकक्रिया ।
ध्यानं रत्नशिलातलेषु विबुधस्त्रीसंनिधौ संयमः
    यत्कांक्षंति तपोभिरन्यमुनयः तस्मिंस्तपस्यंत्यमी ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुंतला

prANAm anilena vRutti ruchitA sat kalpavRukShe vane
    toye kAnchAna padmareNukapishe dharmAbhiSheka kriyA ।
dhyAnaM ratnashilAtakeShu vibudha strI sannidhau saMyamaH
     yat kAnkShati tapobhiH anya munayaH tasmimstapasyantyamI ॥

- abhijnAna shAkuntala

There is a magical tree that can give all they desire. But beneath that, they are just doing rythmic breathing. There is a thin layer of pollen from lotus flowers over the water of the pond which is giving it a gold like glitter. In such a water they are only doing holy ablutions. They sit among gems and other precious stones and meditate. They have their senses under control even in presence of beautiful ladies of heaven. There are other people who do penances to be in such a situation. But, these saints are doing penances even after being among such luxuries.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तल - परपरिग्रह

कुमुदान्येव शशांकः सविता बोधयति पंकजान्येव ।
वशिनां हि परपरिग्रहसंश्लेषपराज्ञ्मुखी वृत्तिः ॥

- अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तल

kumudAni eva shashAnkaH savitA bodhayati pankajAni eva ।
vashinAM hi paraparigraha saMshleSha parAnmukhI vRutttiH ॥

- abhijnAnashAkuntala

Moon blooms water lilies. Sun blooms the lotuses. Both of them are in the same pond, yet one does not bloom the other flowers. Those who have their sense under control are like the sun and the moon; they have least interest with things that belong to others.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल - राज धर्म

स्वसुखनिरभिलाषः खिद्यसे कस्य हेतोः
   प्रतिदिनमथवा ते वृत्तिरेवं विधैव ।
अनुभवति हि मूर्ध्ना पादपस्तीव्रमुष्णं
   शमयति परितापं छायया संश्रितानाम् ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

Why are you doing these things even if it hurts your own interest? Perhaps, this is what it is to be a king. Just like a tree bears all the heat during an afternoon to provide shade to those stand under it.

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल - सती

सतीमपि ज्ञातिकुलैकसंश्रयां
   जनोऽन्यथा भर्तृमतीं विशंकते ।
अतः समीपे परिणेतुरिष्यते
   प्रियाप्रिया वा प्रमदा स्वबंदुभिः ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल

Even a devoted wife is looked up by suspicion by other people (relatives) if she is not living with her husband (and living with her parents). So, a wife must live with her husband irrespective of whether he likes her or not.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल - गृहिणि

शुश्रूषस्य गुरून् कुरु प्रियसखीवृत्तिं सपत्नीजने
भर्तुर्विप्रकृतापि रोषणतया मा स्म प्रतीपंगमः ।
भूयिष्ठं भव दक्षिणा परिजने भाग्येष्वनुत्सेकिनी
यांत्येवं गृहिणीपदं युवतयो वामाः कुलस्याधयः ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल

Take good care of the elders. Be friendly with the other wives (of the king). Do not succumb to (an show) anger if husband does something wrong. Treat the servants with dignity. Do not become headstrong when you have lot of wealth. If a young girl behaves thus, she can be called a good wife. If not, she will become a head ache to the entire family.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला - सूर्य चन्द्र

यात्येकतोऽस्तशिखरं पतिरोषधीनां
    आविष्कृतोऽरुणपुरःसर एकतोऽर्कः ।
तेजोद्वयस्य युगपद्व्यसनोदयाभ्यां
    लोको नियम्यत इवात्मदशान्तरेषु ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला

On one side the moon is sinking. On the other side Sun is rising with his tender early morning rays. Both sun and moon give light (that they are meant to) at their own times and set when their time is up. This must teach us people something about dealing with our own inner turmoils.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला - राजधर्म

भानुः सकृद्युक्ततुरंग एव
    रात्रिं दिवं गन्धवहः प्रयाति ।
शेषः सदैवाहितभूमिभारः
    षष्ठांशवृत्तेरपि धर्म एषः ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला

There is no rest for the Sun who has taken it up on him to pour light on this world every day. The wind blows day and night. Adi Shesha supports the weight of the earth all the time. Like wise, there is no rest for a king who takes one-sixth of everyone's earnings. He has to work tirelessly towards protecting his subjects.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल - स्त्री पाण्डित्य

स्त्रीणामशिक्षितपटुत्वममानुशीषु
    संदृश्यते किमुत याः प्रतिभोधवत्यः |
प्रागंतरिक्षगमनात्स्वमपत्यजातं
    अन्यैर्द्विजैः परभृताः खलु पोषयन्ति ||

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तल

Women are smart even if they do not go to school. This trait can be seen even in birds (and animals). A wise man will understand this immediately. A nightingale will lays its eggs in the crow's nest and bring up its young ones very carefully. It is so smart and cunning.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तला - राजधर्म

नियमयसि विमार्गप्रस्थितानात्तदंडः
    प्रशमयसि विवादं कल्पसे रक्षणाय |
अतनषु विभवेषु ज्ञातयः सन्तु नाम
    त्वयि तु परिसमाप्तं बन्धुकृत्यं प्रजानाम् ||

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला

This verse describes how must a noble king behave. He must bring those who wander astray by punishing them. He must settle disputes among his subjects fairly. He must understand that many people will be willing to be his relatives/well-wishers when he has all the money. But he himself must behave as if all his subjects are his relatives. One must not favor any one subject more than the other.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala

अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला - कोपात् महिमानं

ज्वलति चलितेन्धनोग्निः विप्रकृतः पन्नगः फणां
                                          कुरुते ।
प्रायः स्वं महिमानं कोपात् प्रतिपद्यते जन्तुः ॥

- अभिज्ञान शाकुन्तला

If one moves the wood in the ritual fire, it burns with greater vigor. If you provoke a serpent it will get agitated and open its hood. A little bit of anger becomes a catalyst for people to exhibit their power to the fullest extent.

- Abhijnana Shakuntala