Dushyant – The King of Hastinapur and the heir of Kuru Dynasty meets Shakuntala, a destined relationship!

22-year-old Dushyant, the king of Hastinapur was famously known for his policy executions. The young King was a hero even before becoming King, he was a warrior managing the army of Hastinapur. His father Death would mean he automatically took the throne of Hastinapur. He had all the skills, enough literature knowledge to run the kingdom and an avid bodybuilder making him more of a Rajasic person, with ‘no’ or ‘very less’ inclination for Satvik life.

He was well built, most of the times seen in Gym and religiously following the rules set for running the Kingdom. Dushyant was more inclined and always seeks advises from young subordinates. He usually didn’t respect Rajguru’s words. King was regular on hunting expeditions; this exercise was disliked by Rajguru. Guruji didn’t like killing innocent animals for no reasons. But Dushyant felt it’s the dharma of King and warrior to hunt animals.

It was the monsoon season and Dushyant plans to go for hunting expedition and he informs Rajguru. Rajguru advises not to go for hunting as it’s monsoon and most of the animals are carrying babies during the monsoon times. Dushyant says ‘okay’ to satisfy him but decide to go on a hunting expedition. There he hunts deer, stag, tigress and many more wild animals.

Dushyant meets Shakuntala in deep jungles while shooting the Stag

Dushyant doesn’t stop there, he is hungry for more. He orders his soldiers to target more animals as it’s slippery and animals would be easily hunted. Soldiers oblige, as he moves forward, he feels something moving in bushes. Suddenly he sees a young stag coming out in fear. He wanted to kill this young stag, but by the time he sets his target, stag runs away. He runs behind but couldn’t catch it. Stag runs and goes to the other side of the flowing water.

Dushyant notices this and he again sets his target. But as he is releasing his bow, a voice stops him ‘don’t kill the poor stag, leave him alone’. Shakuntala speaks from behind. Dushyant turns around and says ‘why should I not kill? I am hunting and this is a forest. So, don’t stop me’

‘You are not in the forest; this is the area of Kanva Maharshi Ashram and hunting is prohibited in this area’ said Shakuntala. The moment he hears Kanva Maharshi, he comes out of hunting thoughts then observes Shakuntala, that’s when he falls for her beauty. ‘I am stuck in the Jungle now; I left my horse behind; I don’t know where to go’ he says to Shakuntala.

She says you can stay with us in Ashram and after some time you can request your people to pick you. They start walking towards Ashram while walking Dushyant admires the beauty of Shakuntala. He decides that he has to spend more time in Ashram and with Shakuntala. As they reach ashram, he says he wants to meet Kanva Maharshi but Kanva Maharshi goes out on some important work and is expected only after few days.  Dushyant not wanting to go away from Shakuntala requests the sages that he would like to stay there till Maharshi comes back.

Young King Dushyant stays in Ashram and keeps admiring Shakuntala and falls in love

Sages agree to host Dushyant till the time Kanva Maharshi comes. Dushyant being King, living a royal life accepts to live in Ashram where facilities are not royal, all this for his love Shakuntala. He also requested sages not to inform his soldiers as it would disturb the Ashram atmosphere. He is participating in the activities but most of the times watching and admiring Shakuntala.

Shakuntala the daughter of Kanva Maharshi is supposed to take care of King. The first day he talks a very little to Shakuntala. Next day, things get better and she starts conversing with Dushyant. In the evening, Shakuntala and her friends sit in the garden and converse. Also, the stag he wanted to kill is seen with them. But the moment he approaches them, stag goes into hiding and Shakuntala jokes about this.

How could Dushyant forget Shakuntala after having Loved Her So Much?

Dushyant says he is no more hunting now. But I need to do this because I have to keep myself fit and fine so that I can take care of my Kingdom. Listening to this Shakuntala gets angry, she thinks is there no way else to keep yourself fit. Dushyant gets a bit irritated.

‘Do you think you are the only concerned about animals? I am not doing this for fun, I have not started this, I am sure you know Manu’s story of fish. That story has taught us to never bring imbalance. We should keep away animals and hunt them to stop them from killing people’. Saying this he leaves to his room.

Shakuntala stunned by his speech feels guilty for hurting the King

Listening to the speech by Dushyant, Shakuntala is stunned. Suddenly discovers the other angle to the entire story. She feels bad for hurting the king and thinks a lot about Dushyant’s words. She remembers him telling ‘you are living in a jungle and have no idea about the outside world’. Shakuntala deeply thinks on this point. Finally, she decides to serve morning breakfast for Dushyant and apologise the next day.

She prepares food for him and goes towards his cottage. But she couldn’t see him anywhere, she asks the children of ashram but she doesn’t find him…

Did Dushyant leave the ashram because of her words? We will know it in a few days. Watch out for the next post on Tuesday!

Published by Sriram

A Teacher trying to Learn new things and explore the world each day! Believe in Happiness by the virtue of sacrifice and forgiveness.

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