Shakuntalam

Shakuntalam – Compared to Kalidasa’s poetic works, his plays have garnered greater appeal among the general public. Among his dramas, Abhijnana Shakuntalam is the most celebrated and widely translated across various languages. Kalidasa based this play on the Shakuntalopakhyana (the story of Shakuntala) found in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. Transforming this simple storyline into a profoundly captivating drama is a testament to Kalidasa’s unparalleled literary genius. According to legend, after composing Shakuntalam, Kalidasa refined and revised its content repeatedly, and it was only after eighteen years of refinement that this masterpiece was finally published.

Among the exquisitely beautiful scenes in Shakuntalam, the fourth act is considered the finest. Within this act, four verses—6, 9, 17, and 18—are regarded as the most outstanding by scholars. A famous verse highlights this:
“Among literary forms, drama is the most enchanting; among dramas, Shakuntalam is the finest; within Shakuntalam, the fourth act is the most delightful; and within that, the four verses shine supreme.”

Even after two thousand years, Shakuntalam continues to captivate poetry lovers and literary enthusiasts worldwide, underscoring its enduring greatness. Through Resaresa, these four shlokas are being beautifully presented—an experience to be cherished and enjoyed.