Departure

"And now you know the truth," Kashyapa said. "Do not be angry with the king, your husband. Remember the curse was done in anger. All things done in anger must bring pain. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Remember the laws of karma and dharma. Anger will cloud the mirror of your soul; keep the mirror clean. Reflections are not seen in dusty glass. Clean the mirror of your soul with the holy name."

"Clean the mirror of your soul with the holy name."

"We thank you," O holy one, "for your advice." Said the king.

And Kashyapa turned to the little boy who sat on his mother's lap undoing the single braid of her bee-black hair which fell down her alabaster neck. Kashyapa said, "You must treat this boy with great respect.

"Treat this boy with respect"

I myself performed his birth ceremony, awarded him his magic amulet and gave him the name Bharata. Later the country you rule will be ruled by him. It will come to be known as Bharata."

Dushyant laughed and touched the boy under his chin, saying, "Yes, I see the resemblance. He is like me. He will be the hope of all of India."

"Bharat will rule India"

Kashyapa smiled, his ancient eyes boring deep into Dushyant's soul: "Yes. His courage and strength will make him emperor of all the land and his air-chariot will travel the seven islands of the earth. All will bow before his mighty arms.  He will tame wild beasts even as he plays with lion cubs and his descendants will cherish his memory as Bharata, the ruler of all the Indias.

Child Bharat with Lions and Tigers

"I expect no less," said Dushyant, as you have been his preceptor and guide.

"One more thing," said, Kashyapa. "We must inform Kanva that his daughter Shakuntala is happy and that her wishes have been fulfilled. He will be overjoyed to hear the news."

Shakuntala Postage Stamp, India

One of the ashram brahmacharis named Galava appeared as if on command. 

"Please accept my humble obeisances," he said, bowing before his master."How may I serve?"

Old Kashyapa smiled. "Kanva is a seer of the truth, a tattva-tarshibhi. He knows all this already. But we must show him the proper respect. We must send a messenger to him with all these good tidings, how his daughter and her son are accepted in marriage by her husband, how Bharata will become a great king, you understand?"

"We must show respect to other saints."

"Yes, my lord. Kashyapa Muni ki Jai!"

"Galava, fly through the air at once and give the good news to the saintly Kanva. Tell him how the terrible curse of Kanva has ended, how Dushyant recovered his memory, and of the happiness of Shakuntala."

"How may I serve?"

"Right away," said Galava, with another reverence, and set wings to his heels. 

"And now me must bid you all farewell," said Kashyapa. "Matali is here with his magic chariot. You must return to your capital in peace and proclaim the festivities."

A depiction of Matali, Chariot Driver of Indra

"Yes, my lord preceptor. I will do as you say," said the king, Dushyant.

Flying chariot

"And now that all our please, the king's memory is restored, Shakuntala the daughter of the divine Menaka and the great Vishvamitra is pleased, her son Bharat will one day give his name to the great state of India, I can only pray that the sacrificial fires are properly lit, that Vishnu is pleased with our service, that Indra may send abundant rain and that the harvest will be good. Let all live in peace with your rule on earth under the gods in heaven. What more can I do for you my son?"

Sita and Rama in the ashrama with Rishi Baradwaja, pre-Mahabharata period

And Dushyant replied, "It is impossible to repay the gifts given by the true saints. Your wisdom has benefited me with earthly love; I pray one day to attain the highest benefits of divine live. Let Vishnu give me faith to serve and free my soul from all rebirth."

Kunti finished her story. The sun was up now and it was time to revisit the battlefield and hear once again the dying instructions of the great Bhishmadeva.

Entourage of a King during the Vedic Period

"Of course," she said, "that was long ago. Hastinapura was much humbler than it is today before all the great palaces were built, before the rule of Shantanu and Bhishma and your forefathers, before this conflict of cousins, this war of kings. Bharata was a great king who ruled in peace. I hope that you, my son, will learn from his example.

Kunti, daughter of Kuntibhoja, wife of Pandu mother to the Pandavas with ancient manuscript of Mahabharata

Present-day ruins of Hastinapura, near Delhi