IECT 52: World Literature in Translation

Homer: The Iliad

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The Iliad begins with the Trojan War already in progress. Greek audiences would have been
familiar with the background of the story, and here a brief summary of events is necessary to
help the reader to put these events in context. It is important to remember that these stories
had a life outside of Homer: he did not invent his characters or the main events of the epic.
He did make key choices regarding which events and characters were to be emphasized and
reinterpreted. The Iliad focuses on events that take place in the tenth year of the Trojan War.
Myth, in constant retelling, changes its form constantly. The myths have some elements that
are very familiar to modern readers but were unknown or ignored by Homer. For example, a
widely known story holds that Achilles was immortal, except for his heel. But although
Homer's Achilles is an unmatched warrior, not once in the Iliad does Homer present Achilles
as more or less vulnerable as anyone else; either the story was a later addition or Homer
chose to ignore it. The myths Homer drew on for his tale had many variants, so in giving the
background outside of Homer's text this study guide will try to present only the most
fundamental elements of the story of Troy. Paris, also known as Alexander, was a prince of
Troy, a kingdom in Asia Minor. During his travels, he was a guest of Menelaus, a king in
Sparta. Menelaus' wife was Helen, a woman of legendary beauty; she and Paris fell in love
and he took her with him back to Troy. The rulers of the Greek kingdoms raised a powerful
army and a fleet of over a thousand ships to win back Helen with strength of arms. Led
by Agamemnon, Menelaus' older brother, the Greeks (called "Achaeans" or "Argives" or
"Danaans" throughout the poem) sailed for Troy and began a war that was destined to last for
ten long years.
In the tenth and final year of the Trojan War, the fighting is temporarily stalemated. While on
a previous raid, Agamemnon, commander-in-chief of the Achaean forces, has taken as
plunder the beautiful girl Chryseis. Chryseis' father, Chryses, is a priest of the god Apollo.
Chryses pays a visit to Agamemnon, treating him with great respect and courtesy and offering
an opulent ransom in exchange for the freedom of his daughter. Although the Achaeans cry
out their approval for Chryses' request, Agamemnon refuses to grant it. He threatens to kill
Chryses if the priest should ever come into Agamemnon's presence again. Chryses flees, but
he prays to Apollo for vengeance and justice. The god, angered by Agamemnon's disrespect
for his priest, rains arrows on the Achaeans. The result is a horrible plague, as men and
animals die mysteriously for nine days.
On the tenth day, Achilles calls the Greeks to assembly, the idea put into his head by the
goddess Hera, who sides with the Achaeans against Troy. Achilles asks for some prophet or
seer to tell them what has caused the plague and what must be done to end it. Calchas, a great
prophet, says that he knows the answer, but he makes Achilles vow to protect him once he
has revealed it. Achilles vows, and Calchas tells them that the plague has been sent by Apollo
in punishment for Agamemnon's treatment of Chryses. To atone for the sin, the Achaeans
must give Chryseis back without accepting any ransom and in addition they must give a
hundred sacred bulls to Chryses for sacrifice. Agamemnon is furious with Calchas, saying
that the seer enjoys delivering evil prophecies, but the king agrees to give up the girl. He
insists, however, that one of the Achaeans give him a prize to compensate him for his loss.

Achilles is enraged by the request. The plunder has already been distributed, he argues, and a
good man does not take back what he has given. Agamemnon and Achilles argue, each man
insulting the other. Agamemnon threatens to take a prize if one is not given to him, and
Achilles reminds him that all of the Achaeans are fighting against foes who have only
wronged Menelaus. For the sake of the two royal brothers, the Argives bloody their hands
against men who have done them no wrong. Achilles also complains that though he bears the
heaviest burden in battle, it is the king who is always greedy for prizes. Achilles refuses to
fight anymore: he will go home to Phthia. Agamemnon responds that to compensate for the
loss of Chryseis, he will take Achilles' own prize, the girl Briseis.
Because of this dishonor, anger seizes Achilles and he strides toward Agamemnon to kill him.
Hera sends the goddess Athena to stop him. Only Achilles can see Athena, who tells him not
to kill the king. She promises that Achilles will be justly compensated for this great dishonor.
Achilles obeys her, but he vows to Agamemnon that one day the Achaeans will come begging
Achilles for help. They will need his protection from Hector, the greatest of the Trojan
warriors, and Agamemnon will regret his pride.
Nestor, oldest of the Achaean kings, rises and tells the two men that they must listen to him,
because he is old and has lived and fought with warriors greater than any now living. He asks
Agamemnon not to take Briseis, Achilles' fairly won prize, and he tells Achilles that he must
respect Agamemnon's position as commander-in-chief.
His words are lost on the two men. Achilles returns to his ships with his companionPatroclus.
The Achaeans send the ships to make the sacrifice, with Odysseus in charge of the expedition.
Meanwhile, Agamemnon sends men to fetch Briseis, who is given up without a fight Achilles
does not resist because the girl was a gift distributed by Agamemnon and the great warrior
feels it is not his place to refuse the king. But Achilles is humiliated, and he calls on his
mother, the goddess Thetis; she hears him and emerges from her home in the sea. He weeps
and asks his mother to help him to win justice. Zeus is in Thetis' debt; in a revolt of the gods
in which Zeus was nearly defeated, only Thetis' intervention saved him. Achilles tells her
what has happened and asks Thetis to go as a suppliant to Zeus, to ask him to intervene so
that the Achaeans might know suffering as long as Achilles does not fight. Thetis responds
with sadness. She tells her son that he is destined to die young and with great sorrow, but she
agrees to do as he asks. The gods are away for feasting in Ethiopia, but they will return soon
and Thetis will make her plea then.
Meanwhile, Odysseus delivers Chryseis back to her father and helps the priest to make the
sacrifice. Chryses prays to Apollo to stop the plague; the god is appeased. The Achaeans who
sailed on the ships bringing the sacred bulls now feast on the meat left over after the sacrifice.
The men return to the front, where Achilles is still withdrawn into his ship, refusing to fight.
The gods return to Olympus and Thetis clasps Zeus' knees the position of a supplicant and
asks that the Trojan win victory after victory as long as her son does not fight. Zeus is
anxious because his wife, Hera, queen of the gods, despises the Trojans and will be furious
with him. But he agrees. When he returns to his house, where all the gods are assembled,
Hera is waiting in anger for him. She knows that he has seen Thetis, and fears the disasters
that might be brought down on the Achaeans if Zeus decides to help bring Achilles honor.
The two argue bitterly, until Zeus threatens to harm her, and she takes her place
quietly. Hephaestus, god of the forge and child of Zeus and Hera, urges his parents not to

fight over the fate of mortals. He wants Hera to obey Zeus because he does not wish to see
his mother harmed. He serves the gods sweet nectar to drink, beginning with his mother, and
the gods feast and listen to song. As night falls, they return to their beds and sleep, Hera by
Zeus's side.

Virgil: The Aeneid

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The Aeneid opens with Virgil's famous words, "I sing of arms and of a man." The narrator
describes the impetus behind Aeneas's many struggles: Juno, Queen of the gods, was angered
when a Trojan man, Paris, did not choose her as the fairest of the goddesses. She became
even more determined to do whatever she could to destroy the Trojans when she learned that
the ancestors of these men were fated to bring the downfall of Carthage, the city of which she
was patron. Although the Trojans were destined to land at Latium and build a great city that
would one day become Rome, Juno spends the entirety of the Aeneid doing all that she can to
steer them off course.
Readers first encounter Aeneas and his men while they are at sea, having just left the coast of
Italy, and are about to suffer Juno's rage. Juno tells Aeolus, god of the winds, that if he will
send a storm to stir up the seas, she will give him a lovely nymph in marriage. Aeolus
complies and creates a storm so terrible that Aeneas cries out in dismay, asking the gods what
he has done to deserve such hardship.
Aeneas is given respite when Neptune, god of the sea, notices the storm on the surface.
Angered that another god has infringed on his territory, he quickly calms the waters. Aeneas
and his men then turn their ships toward the coast of Libya. They dock their vessels and
happily stretch out on the beach. Aeneas leaves his men to rest and climbs atop a hill looking
for other ships, but all he sees are some stags. He slays seven of them and brings the meat
back to his comrades for a feast, telling them not to despair, and that the gods will put an end
to their trials. He refers to their destiny, saying that the gods have decreed that the Trojans
will rise again.
Although Aeneas offers his men words of hope, he is still fearful about what is to
come. Venus, Aeneas's mother, asks Jupiter, king of the gods and her father, why he persists
in causing such hardships to befall the Trojans. Jupiter, smiling kindly, answers that her son's
fate is firm, and that she should not fear what will become of him. He describes the future of
the race and the birth of Romulus and Remus (founders of Rome), and says that there will be
no limit to the fortunes of the Romans: "I give them empire without end" (390). After this
speech, Jupiter sends word that the gates of Carthage should be opened wide and that its
ruler, Dido, should offer the men her hospitality.
The next morning, Aeneas sets out with Achates to explore the land. In the woods, his
mother, in the guise of a young huntress, reveals herself to him. Aeneas, recognizing that she
is a goddess - but not realizing that the being is his mother - asks her to help him and his men.
Venus tells him to seek out Dido, and she relates Dido's story: Dido was once married
to Sychaeus, a wealthy Phoenician. Her brother, Pygmalion, slew Sychaeus out of desire for
his gold. When Sychaeus revealed Pygmalion's treachery to Dido in a dream, she fled the
land with her companions and Pygmalion's ill-gotten wealth, and started a new city, Carthage.
Finally, Venus reveals her true self to her son, who cries out to her, asking why she mocks
him with disguises.

Venus cloaks Aeneas and Achates in a dark fog so that no one can halt them on their journey.
They climb a hill and look down on the wondrous city, even mingling unseen with the
Tyrians (because they remain hidden in the mist). They come across a shrine that Dido is
building for Juno, and they marvel at the city's riches. The art on the walls depicts the fall of
Troy, and Aeneas wonders if there is anywhere in the world that does not know of the
sorrows of the Trojans.
While Aeneas gazes on the stories, paying particular attention to the story of Troilus and
Achilles, Dido approaches the temple and sits down to mete out judgments to her subjects.
Aeneas, still hidden in the mist, sees his companions approach to ask for refuge. Dido assures
them that she has heard of the greatness of the Trojans and that she will come to their aid.
Aeneas and Achates are stirred by her words, and the cloud surrounding them breaks apart.
Aeneas is revealed in all his glory, having been invested with a remarkable handsomeness by
his mother's hand.
Dido welcomes Aeneas and his comrades into her palace, and Aeneas sends Achates to bring
back gifts for her from his ships. Venus, fearing Dido's capricious nature, sends for her
son, Cupid, and tells him to inflame Dido with love for Aeneas so that she will not be swayed
by Juno's malice. The god of love obeys his mother: he takes on the guise of Ascanius,
Aeneas's son, and when Dido draws the young boy close, Cupid uses his breath to fill her
with passion for her handsome guest. Dido is so overcome by love for Aeneas that she draws
out the night's feasting, asking him to relate his sad tale so that he may stay at her side a few
hours longer.

Sophocles: Oedipus, the King

King Oedipus, aware that a terrible curse has befallen Thebes, sends his brother-in-law,
Creon, to seek the advice of Apollo. Creon informs Oedipus that the curse will be lifted if the
murderer of Laius, the former king, is found and prosecuted. Laius was murdered many years
ago at a crossroads.
Oedipus dedicates himself to the discovery and prosecution of Laiuss murderer. Oedipus
subjects a series of unwilling citizens to questioning, including a blind prophet. Teiresias, the
blind prophet, informs Oedipus that Oedipus himself killed Laius. This news really bothers
Oedipus, but his wife Jocasta tells him not to believe in prophetsthey've been wrong
before. As an example, she tells Oedipus about how she and King Laius had a son who was
prophesied to kill Laius and sleep with her. Well, she and Laius had the child killed, so
obviously that prophecy didn't come true, right?
Jocasta's story doesn't comfort Oedipus. As a child, an old man told Oedipus that he was
adopted, and that he would eventually kill his biological father and sleep with his biological
mother. Not to mention, Oedipus once killed a man at a crossroads, which sounds a lot like
the way Laius died.
Jocasta urges Oedipus not to look into the past any further, but he stubbornly ignores her.
Oedipus goes on to question a messenger and a shepherd, both of whom have information
about how Oedipus was abandoned as an infant and adopted by a new family. In a moment of
insight, Jocasta realizes that she is Oedipuss mother and that Laius was his father. Horrified
at what has happened, she kills herself. Shortly thereafter, Oedipus, too, realizes that he was

Laiuss murder and that hes been married to (and having children with) his mother. In horror
and despair, he gouges his eyes out and is exiled from Thebes.
Oedipus emerges from his palace at Thebes. Outside are a priest and a crowd of
children. Oedipus is the King, in case you didnt get that from the title. Everyone else
is, in short, "suppliant."
Oedipus has heard rumors that a curse is afflicting Thebes. After briefly
congratulating his own greatness, he asks the priest whats up.
The priest responds that basically everything that could be wrong in the city is wrong:
crops are dying, cattle are dying, people are dying, and there's generally low morale.
Because Oedipus is the boss man, the priest asks him to please take care of this mess.
We learn that Oedipus has saved the city once before by lifting a curse put on it by the
Sphinx.
Oedipus reveals he already knew that the city was in a bad state, so he sent his
brother-in-law, Creon, to Apollo (or at least to Apollos oracle) to get more
information.
In the midst of this conversation, Creon returns with news from Apollo.
Creon tells Oedipus that Apollo told him that in order to lift the curse on the city, the
men that murdered the citys former king, Laius, must be banished or killed.
Well, where was the criminal investigation unit when the murder went down? Turns
out the Sphinx had previously warned against inquiring into the murder. Talk about
mixed signals. So thus far, no ones busted out the cavalry to hunt the murderers
down.
Oedipus repeatedly congratulates himself and promises to deal with the murderers and
save the city.
Everyone exits except the Chorus, an ever-present group of wise and gossip-prone
observers. They, unfortunately, do not sing.
The Chorus then recounts the multiple problems the city faces including infertility,
plague, famine and no ones Xboxes are working. The lamentation is split into two
voices, the "Strophe" and the "Antistrophe." This is a Greek tool where the Chorus is
made up of two halves so it can sort of converse with itself. Like a duet made of lots
of people. Anyway, the Chorus begs for help.
Oedipus reenters and demands that anyone with information about the former king's
murder speak up. He curses the murderer.
The Chorus responds that they know nothing and suggest Oedipus ask the blind
prophet, Teiresias (which we think is a major case of irony) for his knowledge.
Oedipus, ever-prepared, informs the Chorus that, quite conveniently, Teiresias is
already on his way.
Teiresias shows up immediately.
Oedipus briefly explains to him the citys situation and Apollos advice. Then Oedipus
asks for help.
Teiresias says with great foreboding (and foreshadowing), "You do NOT want to hear
what I have to say." Roughly speaking, anyway. Teiresias continues to insist that it is
better for him to leave rather than speak.
Oedipus, however, demands that Teiresias tell him what he knows.
Oedipus works himself into an angry rage and then busts out an insult we think you
should add to your personal repertoire: "You would provoke a stone!." Oh, diss.

Teiresias grumbles "fine" and reveals that Oedipus himself was the one who killed the
former king.
Then Oedipus says, "What? I didnt hear you."
Teiresias tells him for the second time.
Most mysterious of all, according to Teiresias, Oedipus is committing "the worst of
sins" with the people "he loves the most." More foreshadowing. Teiresias tells
Oedipus that he is a threat to himself, in the "stop asking questions" kind of way.
Oedipus responds that he thinks Teiresias and Creon are simply framing him in order
to seize the throne. He then taunts Teiresias about his blindness, which is not only
politically incorrect but makes him out to be a total jerk.
The Chorus freaks out and tells the men they arent solving anything by arguing. Lets
just call them "reality-check Chorus."
Teiresias tells Oedipus hes majorly, grossly cursed and will end up blinded, poor, and
alone. This is the worst psychic reading ever. He then casually mentions Oedipuss
parents and informs Oedipus that he "shall learn the secret" of his marriage.
Then, right before he leaves, he says (in cryptic language) that Oedipus is married to
his mother. Well, he says that Oedipus is "a son and husband both," which maybe isnt
so cryptic after all, unless youre Oedipus.
The Chorus talks about the fight between Oedipus and Creon. The Strophe says
whoever he is, the murderer needs to get out of Thebes, and fast. The Antistrophe
which, dont forget, is made up of the citys citizens, declares that it cant believe
Oedipus is at fault until they see the glove on his hand, so to speak. Both halves of the
Chorus agree that they have no idea whether or not to believe Teiresias.
Creon arrives, having overheard that Oedipus accused him of conspiring to steal the
throne. Rumor, apparently, travels almost as fast in Thebes as in high school.
Oedipus enters again and accuses Creon to his face. Creon wants the opportunity to
respond, but Oedipus wont shut up.
Finally, Creon gets a word in. He explains that, as Oedipuss brother-in-law, he has
everything he could want without any of the stress of being in charge. Basically, no
one wants to shoot the Vice President. In ancient Greece.
Oedipus continues to make accusations and says hell have Creon killed.
Jocasta, Oedipuss wife and Creons sister, comes in. She is horrified at her husband
and brothers fighting, and also at the death threat.
Jocasta and the Chorus urge Oedipus to listen to Creons honest appeals and spare his
life.
Creon storms off.
Jocasta asks Oedipus whats going on. He explains hes been accused of killing Laius.
He leaves out the "you might be my Mom" part.
Jocasta responds that such prophecies are ridiculous. As an example, Jocasta says that
her son by Laius was prophesized to kill his father, but that they killed the child as a
baby to prevent it. Plus, Laius was killed by foreign highway robbers, none of which
could possibly have been his son.
Oedipus, hearing the story, flips out. Suddenly, he worries that he might be the
murderer after all. He asks Jocasta lots of questions about the murders whereabouts
and other details.
Confused, Jocasta reveals that one of Laiuss servants survived the incident at the
crossroads.

Oedipus insists that the servant be summoned for questioning.

Oedipus tells Jocasta that as a child, a man once told him that his mother and father
were not his real parents. It was also prophesized that he would kill his father and
sleep with his mother.
The plot is thickening considerably.
Oedipus also reveals that he killed several men in a small incident at a crossroads.
Oops. He hopes to find out from the servant whether the Kings murderers were many
or just one man. Oedipus utters the incredibly wise statement, "One man can not be
many." Well, now we know why this guy is king. In other words, hes saying if it was
a sole murderer, that will confirm his guilt. (You know, in case the repeated
prophecies, overwhelming evidence, and sinking stomach feeling were not enough).
Jocasta reminds Oedipus that even if he did kill Laius, he is not Laiuss son, since
their only child was killed.
The Chorus pleads with the gods for mercy.
Jocasta, completely frazzled, makes an offering to the gods and prays for Oedipus to
keep his temper and wits.
The Chorus asks a lot of questions, mostly revolving around the one big question of
"what is going on?"
Conveniently, a messenger shows up from Corinth and informs Jocasta and Oedipus
that Oedipuss father, the King of Corinth, has died of natural causes. Jocasta
interprets the Kings natural death as proof that the prophecy about Oedipus killing
his father was false. Phew.
Jocasta pulls an, "I was right and you were wrong," and Oedipus is all, "Yeah, yeah, I
know."
Oedipus, however, is still worried about the sleeping with his mother part of the
prophecy. Jocasta tells Oedipus that if he just stops thinking about it, it will go away.
We wish this still worked today.
The messenger questions Oedipus about the prophecy and his fears. The messenger
tells Oedipus that the King of Corinth (Polybus) and his wife, Merope, were not
Oedipuss real parents. Unable to have a child themselves, they adopted Oedipus. Yet
another "uh-oh" moment.
Turns out, Oedipus (as an infant) was given to the messenger with his feet pierced and
tied. This is apparently why he is named "Oedipus," which means "screwed-up foot"
in Greek (roughly speaking).
The messenger got the infant Oedipus from a shepherd who, conveniently, is still
alive and within bellowing distance of the rest of our cast.
Jocasta urges quite energetically that Oedipus drop the issue before he discovers more
than he bargained for.
Oedipus says, "No," and insists on his talking to the shepherd.
Jocasta makes reference to seeing Oedipus for the last time and runs off wailing.
Oedipus assumes shes ashamed of his low birth (since as an infant he was found in
some rather raggedy swaddling clothes) and vows to set things right.
The old shepherd shows up.
Oedipus questions the old shepherd. Like Teiresias, this guy refuses to speak. Oedipus
has his servants twist the old mans arms to try to force him to talk.
The man folds like a bad poker hand, revealing that Jocasta was the mother of the
child that he discovered and gave to the messenger. Jocasta wanted the child taken

away because it had been prophesized that the boy would kill his father and sleep with
his mother.
FINALLY, Oedipus pieces things together and realizes that Jocasta is his mother. As
predicted by the prophecy, he has slept with his mother and killed his father.
Oedipus runs out, saying, quite eloquently, "O, O, O."
The Chorus, expectedly, laments the tragedy.
Another messenger arrives and announces that Jocasta, disgusted with herself for
sleeping with her own son, has hung herself. Shes dead.
Oedipus finds that he has lost both his wife and mother. He very dramatically rushes
to her dead body, tears the broaches from her dress (which have sharp, phallic pins on
them) and gouges out his eyes.
Oedipus staggers outside all bloody and gross.
The Chorus is startled (understatement of the year) and feels bad for him
(understatement of the century).
Oedipus explains that he gouged his eyes out because there was no longer anything
pleasant for him to see. Were just amazed that the man can manage to stand around
and explain things at this point.
Oedipus asks the Chorus to help send him out of Thebes or kill him. He wishes he had
died as a child.
Creon enters and Oedipus asks to be sent away. Oedipus feels it is his fate to stay
alive so that he can suffer.
Oedipus asks Creon to take care of his daughters, but not his sons because they can
take care of themselves.
Creon leads Oedipus out of the room while Oedipus continues to beg for his exile.

Kalidasa: Sakuntala
One of the most famous dance dramas, Abhijnanasakuntalam (also known as
Shakuntalam/Shakuntala) was written by Kalidasa.
Abhijnanasakuntalam is a beautiful tale of love and romance, the name literally meaning 'Of
Sakuntala who is recognized by a token'. Written by one of the greatest poets of India,
Sakuntalam is synonymous with its author, Kalidasa. Abhijnanasakuntalam is the first Indian
play ever to be translated into western languages.
It is for the very first time translated in English language by Sir William Jones in the year
1789. Later to this, there were at least 46 translations of this play by Kalidasa in 12 different
European languages. To know more about this beautiful play called Abhijnanasakuntalam,
continue to read this insightful article on it.
Synopsis
Long ago, the powerful sage Viswamitra, who lived a life of strong austerities, was drawn in
a deep meditation. Fearing that he might gain more power than the gods, Lord Indra sent one
of his most gorgeous heavenly damsels, Menaka to earth to disturb his devotions. She
succeeded in seducing him and together they begot a beautiful daughter. Infuriated at the loss
of his chastity, Viswamitra turned down Menaka and her daughter. Knowing that she can't
take the child with her to the heaven, Menaka left the newborn infant in the forest.
As fate would have it, Sage Kanava happened to pass by that forest where he spotted the
newborn child, surrounded by Shakunta birds. Taken by kindness, he decides to take the child
home and names her 'Sakuntala', which means one fed by Shakunta birds.

Sakuntala grows up to be a beautiful young lady just like her mother Menaka. One day, King
Dushyant, while returning from a deer hunt, happens to stop by the hermit's cottage. There he
sees Sakuntala engaged in a friendly banter with her friends and immediately falls for her. In
the absence of the sage, they secretly marry in the ceremony of "Gandharva Vivaha" with
Mother Nature as the witness.
After some days, the King gets news of unrest in his city and is summoned to return. He
leaves halfheartedly, but promises to return soon and take his beloved with him. As a token of
love, he gives her a signet ring and promises to send an envoy to escort her to the palace.
One day, sage Durvasa, infamous for his mercurial anger, stops by the hut for hospitality.
Lost in her love thoughts, Sakuntala fails to acknowledge his presence. This infuriates the
temperamental sage and he censures Sakuntala, cursing that the one whom she is thinking
about will forget her. Sakuntala begs for mercy and explains her situation. On the plea of
Sakuntala and her friends, the sage relents and says that if the king sees any significant
souvenir that he gave her, he will remember everything.
After months of waiting, when she fails to hear anything from the king, Sage Kanava
arranges for the visit of Sakuntala to the royal court of King Dushyant. On her way, she stops
by a lake to drink water and unfortunately the ring slips out of her finger and a fish swallows
it. She reaches the royal palace, but Dushyant fails to recognize her because of the curse. She
then remembers the ring but realizes that she has lost it somewhere. Dejected, she returns
back to the forest. After sometime, an angler finds the ring in the stomach of a fish. He
immediately takes it to the king, who on seeing the ring recalls everything and rushes to the
hermitage to meet Sakuntala. There they reunite and later Sakuntala gives birth to a son,
Bharath, after whom India begets her name.
Connection with Mahabharata
The version of Abhijinanasakuntalam in the famous epic of Mahabharata is slightly different
to the original version. In the Mahabharata version, Sakuntala had to stay apart from her
husband, king Dushyanta, for a very long time. It is only when their son Bharata was born
that Dushyanta found him playing in the forest with a couple of lion cubs, opening their muth
with his bare hands, trying to count their teeth. Seeing a little boy playing with such courage
amongst lions, Dushyanta becomes curious about the boy and asks him about his
parents. The little boy then takes him to Kanva rishis ashram where Dushyant meets
Sakuntala and remembers everything. This fills up Dushyants heart with warmth and joy; he
gets reunited with his long lost family and takes his wife and his son back home in
Hastinapur. Bharata is known to be the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas, who partook in
the epic war of Mahabharata. It is said that it is after the name of Bharata that India took its
name. India was known as Bharatadesham which precisely means the land of Bharata.
Although, this version is more popular mythology wise but Kalidasas original version is still
considered to be the standard one.