Reunion

As Kunti finished her tale of Dushyant and Shakuntala a new day was dawning. Soon they would walk through the killing fields where thousands of men lay slain, their red blood staining the green earth. The fires near the river were burning low, the acrid smoke mixed with fog. Yudhisthira sat patiently, his green eyes attentive to the story of his ancient ancestor, the great king Bharat.



Kunti contined, "The king lifted his head and saw something move through the ashoka trees. A white garment, a lotus-like hand. He heard the sound of soft feet crushing tender grass. Then a voice as sweet as any apsara, said, "where is my son?"



"In yonder field with a strange king who has come to visit us, my lady," said the nanny.
"Take me to him." said the voice.

The king looked again and through the ashokan grove she moved. He saw the rustic dress, the plain, worn, face of a simple girl, her bee-black hair woven in a single braid behind her alabaster neck. It was she. There could be no mistake. Standing before him with an angelic smile was the girl he had met in the mango groves of Kanva's ashram long ago. It was Shakuntala.

Artist's conception of Shakuntala

And Shakuntala looked at her child standing with his father close by and said, "Who is this man who soils my son with his embrace? His amulet should protect him."



And the boy said, "Mother, this man calls me his son. Who is he?"

Dushyant stepped forward, then bended down on one knee and said, "Forgive me. My memory was cursed. And with my memory lost, I spurned you. It was a cruel thing to do. But I was not myself. Please forgive me. And now the lost memory is yours. Don't you recognize me?"



" It is I, the king Dushyant. We once knew the joy of love together. Long ago in the mango groves by the river near the ashram of Kanva. Don't you know me? I am the father of this boy. I am your husband. It is I. Dushyant. The black madness is gone, my memory is restored. Before my eyes I see my only love. Just as Rahu flees when the eclipse is gone the demons of doubt are destroyed and light soon follows, so the loving star draws close to the moon and gives its light.

Shakuntala blushed. She took a step forward. Now she could see his face. It was indeed the king, her husband.  Her bitterness gone, pity took its place, then love. "It's him," she thought.



Child Bharata looked at the man who knelt before his mother and  made her blush. "Who is he, mother?" said the boy. Shakuntala covered her face with her lotus hands and wept tears of joy and shame. "Ask fate, my child," said she and wept.



And Dushyant, on bended knee said, "My dear and faithful wife you must forget the things I did in foolishness. Banish the pain, let the sin vanish; it was all madness. Blindness works to shake love's joy. Oft times we spurn a garland for a snake. Please do not punish me for my ignorance. I have come to make things right, to right the wrongs I caused in madness."

And Shakuntala recovered, saying, "Rise my husband. It was never your fault. Perhaps there was something in the stars...but let it pass."

And with this, King Dushyant arose. They embraced again as only long lost lovers can. Dushyant wiped a tear from her lotus eye.



 "But how did you find me?" she said. "What brought back the memory of your suffering wife, if, as you say you had forgotten me. How could you remember me?"

Dushyant held up the ring and smiled, "A miracle restored my memory."

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"Ah yes," the ring, she said. "I lost it in the river when we crossed.  How foolish we were."
"You wear it," said the king. "After all, I gave it to you."
"I have no faith in rings," she said. "You wear it."
"So be it," said the king and drew her closer in a tight embrace as the little boy smiled.



Just then the heavens opened and the wind-chariot of Matali appeared as if by magic. His air-car hovered a hand-span above the earth.



"Congratulations," said the charioteer of Indra, and touching his mustache he grinned. "What a fine reunion. I have attained permission from the sage Kashyapa Muni. That great sage, the son of Marichi and progenitor of gods, the austere muni whose cave we visited is ready to see you. Kashyapa Muni and his dear Aditi will see you. They are eager to bless your reunion."