Shakuntala. - A Hindu mythological person and the protagonist of the poet Kalidasa's play Abhijnana shakuntala.
Shakuntala is the daughter of the apsara Menaka and the sage
Vishvamitra, who was created when Menaka was sent to seduce Vishvamitra in
order to weaken his spiritual abilities.
Shakuntala is reared at the ashram of the sage Kanva, where
she develops into a lovely young lady.
King Dushyanta, who was hunting in the forest at the time,
notices her and they marry in the gandhar va type of marriage (consensual
sexual intercourse), conceiving their son Bharata.
Shakuntala's joy, on the other hand, is fleeting.
She misses the coming of the sage Durvasas one day while
thinking about Dushyanta, who has returned to his capital without her.
Durvasas curses her loves to forget her as a result of his
rage at being neglected.
Shakuntala persuades Durvasas to change the curse so that
Dushyanta would recall everything as soon as Shakuntala presents him evidence
of their marriage.
Dushyanta's signet ring serves as evidence, but Shakuntala
misplaces it on her way to meet him.
Dushyanta, predictably, denies ever meeting Shakuntala, and
she finally finds herself working as a court chef.
Her redemption comes as a complete surprise when she
discovers the lost ring in the guts of a fish she is cooking for the king's
meal.
Dushyanta recognizes Shakuntala and accepts her as his wife
as soon as she shows him the ring, and the pair lives happily ever after.
