Shakuntala & Dushyanta
A lost ring and a forgotten love
King Dushyanta secretly marries the hermit-maiden Shakuntala, but a curse erases his memory of her; only when the ring he gave her resurfaces does he regain his memory and recognize his wife and son.
01Why it matters
Kalidasa's play is the masterpiece of Sanskrit theater and dazzled Goethe in Europe.
02The conflict
The curse of the sage Durvasa that erases the love.
03The iconic moment
The ring found in a fish's belly, restoring the memory.
04What survived
"The Recognition of Shakuntala"; the son Bharata gives India its name.
05Frequently asked questions
Who were Shakuntala & Dushyanta?
King Dushyanta secretly marries the hermit-maiden Shakuntala, but a curse erases his memory of her; only when the ring he gave her resurfaces does he regain his memory and recognize his wife and son.
Why is the story of Shakuntala & Dushyanta famous?
Kalidasa's play is the masterpiece of Sanskrit theater and dazzled Goethe in Europe.
How does the story of Shakuntala & Dushyanta end?
The ring found in a fish's belly, restoring the memory. "The Recognition of Shakuntala"; the son Bharata gives India its name.
Is the story of Shakuntala & Dushyanta real?
Yes, Shakuntala & Dushyanta is based on real people and events.
Related loves
Rama & Sita
The devotion that crossed an ocean
Prince Rama and his wife Sita, abducted by the demon Ravana; Rama crosses the sea and wages a war to rescue her, in the great epic poem that defines the ideal of love and fidelity in India.
Read the story
Mirabai & Krishna
The princess who married a god
The Rajput princess Mirabai renounced her courtly life to devote herself entirely to the love of the god Krishna, whom she considered her only husband; her songs of devotion defied her family and the castes.
Read the story
Savitri & Satyavan
She argued with Death to win back her husband
Princess Savitri chose Satyavan as her husband even knowing he would die within a year; when Yama, god of death, came to take him, she followed and reasoned with him so wisely that he restored her beloved's life.
Read the story