Shakuntala (Sanskrit: शकुन्तला, romanized: Śakuntalā) is a heroine in ancient Indian literature, best known for her portrayal in the ancient Sanskrit play Abhijnanashakuntalam (The Recognition of Shakuntala), written by the classical poet Kalidasa in the 4th or 5th century AD.

Abhijñānaśākuntalam (Devanagari: अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम्, IAST: Abhijñānaśākuntalam), also known as Shakuntala, The Recognition of Shakuntala, The Sign of Shakuntala, and many other variants, is a Sanskrit play by the ancient Indian poet Kālidāsa, dramatizing the story of Śakuntalā told in the epic Mahābhārata and regarded as the best of Kālidāsa's w...

Dusyanta, a king in northern India, is racing along in his chariot, preparing to shoot a deer. Suddenly, a forest-dwelling ascetic warns him not to shoot, since the deer belongs to the nearby hermitage of Kanva, a great sage. The ascetic invites King Dusyanta to visit the hermitage, which is under his royal protection.

The tale of Shakuntala gained widespread recognition through Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntalam (The Recognition of Shakuntala), a celebrated Sanskrit play that embellishes her story with poetic elegance. This work has influenced literature, art, and drama across generations, resonating with audiences due to its themes of love, separation, and ...

This article narrates the tale of Shakuntala, starting from the stories of her parents Menaka and Vishwamitra, to her dalliance with king Dushyanta and finally the birth and growing up of her son, Bharata - the source of the Mahabharata

Mar 20, 2025 · Shakuntala, a fictional character, is the heroine of Indian poet Kalidasa’s Sanskrit drama Abhijnanashakuntala (‘The Recognition of Shakuntala’). She embodies beauty, virtue, and resilience and navigates love, rejection, and ultimate redemption.

Feb 3, 2023 · Shakuntala is a mythical Hindu heroine who has long captivated people’s imaginations. She is the main character in Kalidas’s “Abhijnanasakuntalam,” a great Sanskrit playwright from ancient India’s repertoire. This play is a timeless classic that has been enjoyed and admired for thousands of years.

The best study guide to Shakuntala on the planet, from the creators of SparkNotes. Get the summaries, analysis, and quotes you need.

The story of Shakuntala is one of the most beloved and enduring tales in Indian literature, originating from the Mahabharata and later elaborated by the classical Sanskrit playwright Kalidasa in his play "Abhijnanasakuntalam" (The Recognition of Shakuntala).

Shakuntala was a beautiful maiden who was the adopted daughter of Sage Karnva. She lived with him and her pet deer, in his hermitage in the forest. One day, Dushyanta, the king of Hastinapur, came hunting in the forest.