Elixir Magazine India Edition Shakuntala (Siraj Sk)

Once, ancient sage Vishwamitra started to meditate to earn the status of a Brahmarshi. The intensity of his penance frightened Lord Indra. He feared that Vishwamitra might want his throne. To end his tapasya, Indra sent Menaka, an apsara, to lure him and bring him out of his tapasya. Menaka reached Vishwamitra's meditating spot and started to seduce him. Vishwamitra could not control his lust and desire and his tapasya was broken. Vishwamitra and Menaka lived together for a few years and Shakuntala was born to them. Later, Vishwamitra realized that all those things were Indra's tricks. He realized that he needed to control his emotions. Vishwamitra left Menaka, and Menaka left the baby near Rishi Kanva's hermitage before returning to heaven.

King Dushyanta pursuing a male deer wounded by his weapon encountered Shakuntala while traveling through the forest with his army. Shakuntala and Dushyanta fell in love with each other and got married as per the Gandharva marriage ritual. Before returning to his kingdom, Dushyanta gave his personal royal ring to Shakuntala as a symbol of his promise to return and bring her to his palace.

Shakuntala spent much of her time dreaming of her new husband and was often distracted by her daydreams. One day, a powerful rishi, Durvasa, came to the ashrama; but lost in her thoughts about Dushyanta, Shakuntala failed to greet him properly. Incensed by this slight, the rishi cursed Shakuntala, saying that the person she was dreaming of would forget about her altogether. As he departed in a rage, one of Shakuntala's friends quickly explained to the sage the reason for her friend's distraction. The rishi, realizing that his extreme wrath was not justified, modified his curse saying that the person who had forgotten Shakuntala would remember everything again if she showed him a personal token that had been given to her. The curse could be broken by showing the king the signet ring that the king had given her.

Shakuntala later travels to meet king Dushyanta, and has to cross a river. The ring is lost when it slips off her hand as she dips it in the water playfully. On arrival, the king is unable to recognize her and therefore refuses to acknowledge her. Fortunately, the ring is discovered by a fisherman in the belly of a fish and presents it in the king's court. Duṣhyanta realizes his mistake, but it's too late. The king is asked to defeat an army of Asuras and is rewarded by Indra with a journey through heaven. After returning to the Earth years later, Duṣyanta finds Śakuntala and their son serendipitously and recognizes them.