ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Since the end of the eighteenth century, the Sanskrit drama known as Shakuntala (Abhijñānaśakuntala) by Kalidasa has held a place of prominence as a classic of world literature.

Detailed explanation-2: -Dushyanta, pursuing a male deer wounded by his arrow into the ashrama, saw Shakuntala nursing the deer, her pet, and fell in love with her. He profusely begged her forgiveness for harming the deer and spent some time at the ashrama. They fell in love and Dushyanta married Shakuntala there in the ashrama.

Detailed explanation-3: -Shakuntala and Dushyanta fell in love with each other and got married as per the Gandharva marriage system. Before returning to his kingdom, Dushyanta gave his personal royal ring to Shakuntala as a symbol of his promise to his wife to bring her to his palace as queen.

Detailed explanation-4: -Nature plays an important role in her psycho-sexual growth. Whenever Shakuntala appears in the play, she is accompanied by Nature in her different forms. She represents Nature in her beauty and feminine grace. Her permanent companions are birds, animals and plants in the forest.