Character of Shakuntala
in kalidasa’s Abhigyan Shakuntalam
In her essay on ‘Shakuntala’, Roshni
Rustomji observes that most of the heroines of Sanskrit literature appear to
posses two common characteristics. She says, “First, they are beautiful to look
at and second, they seem to play `a passive role in the events of the
narratives where they feature`. But when we look deeper, we find something more
than mere attributes of conventional beauty and traditional feminine passivity
which is her strength of mind.”
Kalidasa’s “Abhijnanasakuntalam”, has
its roots in the grand epic of ‘Mahabharata’ by Vyasa where we have an episode
down the lineage of the kings of Hastinapura. Kalidasa adopts the love story of
king Dushyanta and Shakuntala. Shakuntala is the daughter of sage Vishvamitra
and apsara Menaka, but she is abandoned at birth and raised by sage Kanva in
his ashrama. Shakuntala’s encounter, marriage, separation and reunion is what
we got to see in the play. Her caring and nurturing quality, her key strengths are
beautifully described in the opening scene of the play when she is watering the
plants in the hermitage. But while Vyasa depicted Shakuntala as a strong and
independent woman with a mind of her own, Kalidasa projected her as a
submissive little lady swayed by a string of misfortunes.
In straight words the story is of a king
who goes on hunting to a forest, gets enamoured by an enchanting hermit girl,
seduces her and leaves not to return. Later, returns to accept her as his queen
only for the want of an heir to the throne. In Kalidasa’s version however the
veritable debauchery and abandonment of the Aryan king Dushyanta is masked by
the curse of Durvasa which makes him forget all about Shakuntala.
At the first appearance Shakuntala is an
embodiment and personification of nature herself, brought up in the vincity of
the Malini river at the foothills of the Himalayas. Despite living in an
ashrama and clad in bark garments, her radiant beauty and elegance mesmerizes
Dushyanta. Shakuntala has a sweet voice, she is so gentle that even animals and
birds of the forest are charmed and petted by her. Commenting about Shakuntala,
Dushyanta says to Madhava: “ A flower whose fragrance none has dared to smell;/
Spring’s tenderest shoot no profaning fingers have plucked; / Fresh honey whose
taste no lips has relished;/ A gem glowing inviolate./ Who can tell what
sinless mortal Brahma has named,/ The
blessed enjoyer of such beauty”
However, Shakuntala is not a mere beauty
but a pillar of strength and patience. As Romila Thapar writes, “In Kalidasa’s
version we are in the realm of delicacy and romance, imminent tragedy and
happiness… but while intermeshing of the emotions, we can see the image of
Shakuntala undergoes a transformation.” Shakuntala, after the cruel rejection
of the king, is stunned, filled with shame and sorrow, followed by anger.
Shakuntala’s skills of argument and of drawing upon associations of memory can
be seen when she is in the court, is pregnant and the king refuses to recognize
or accept her. Her speech is long and impassioned but rational. She is not
whining or begging the king. She boldly tells Dushyanta of the future
implications and results of his false actions. Shakuntala’s strength echoes in
her words, and at the end of the story divine intervention restores her to
rightful happiness.
The love-sickness and day-dreaming
quality of Kalidasa’s Shakuntala which causes the curse of sage Durvasa to
befell her, however, is not considered to be a flaw in her nature but shows the
extent to which she loves and feels connected to Dushyanta. Her virtue,
forbearance and kindness are clearly seen when, after so much suffering, meted
out by the king, she does not hesitate to forgive and welcome him.
In the world of classical Sanskrit
literature, it is significant that a woman, however beautiful, cannot be deemed
virtuous if she lacks the virtues of womanhood, faithfulness, and devotion to
her husband- which enhances the beauty of the woman in the patriarchal world of
the play. Thus, Shakuntala’s strength of mind lies in her deep and powerful
emotions, her forgiving nature and
forbearance, loving and patient nature which are her weapons to deal with her
predicaments.
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