Story Behind Verse-3 -Kalidasa’s Shakuntalam
Nostalgia has an incredible power to transport us back in time, evoking emotions and memories long forgotten. Nostalgia, a bittersweet longing for times gone by, holds a unique power to transport us to another time and place. It evokes emotions, triggers memories, and creates a deep sense of connection to our personal histories. Sometimes it comes to us gently; other times it hits us hard. And though we can usually identify the feeling as a bittersweet longing for a time gone by, the triggers and details are deeply personal. – especially when it’s an object attached to someone you loved. These senses touch a part of our brain that processes intense emotions, and can produce powerfully good emotions.
This famous verse from of Kalidasa’s famous Sanskrit play, Abhijnana Shakuntalam explain the feeling About Nostalgia.
रम्याणि वीक्ष्य मधुरांश्च निशम्य शब्दान्
पर्युत्सुको भवति यत्सुखितोऽपि जन्तुः |
तच्चेतसा स्मरति नूनमबोधपूर्वं
भावस्थिराणि जननान्तरसौहृदानि ||
रम्याणि वीक्ष्य मधुरांश्च निशम्य शब्दान् (Ramyāṇi vīkṣya madhurāṃś ca niśamya śabdān): "Seeing beautiful things and hearing sweet sounds".
पर्युत्सुको भवति यत्सुखितोऽपि जन्तुः (Paryutsuko bhavati yat sukhito 'pi jantuḥ): "When a living being (person), even though happy, becomes restless/melancholic".
तच्चेतसा स्मरति नूनमबोधपूर्वं (Tac cetasā smarati nūnam abodha-pūrvaṃ): "Then surely the mind unconsciously remembers (something not known before)".
भावस्थिराणि जननान्तरसौहृदानि (Bhāva-sthirāṇi jananāntara-sauhṛdāni): "Affections/friendships (that are) fixed in the heart (and belong to) another life/existence".
Meaning Of this Verse: "Seeing charming scenes and hearing sweet sounds, even a happy person becomes filled with a longing (or a vague, inexplicable sorrow). This is because [the mind/soul] surely remembers, on a subconscious level, the lasting friendships of previous lives."
In the play, King Dushyanta has forgotten his wife, Shakuntala, due to a curse. When he hears a song about a bee forgetting a flower, he feels a sudden pang of grief.
A playful moment with the bee used as an instrument for fleeting flirtation ,as Dushyanta,who is hiding behind the trees nearby and admiring her beauty, King Dushyanta observes a bee bothering Shakuntala as she waters the trees. Envious of the bee's intimacy with her, the King recites the following verse (Act 1, Verse 21): exclaims that the bee was indeed very fortunate to get so close to Shakuntala.
Bee Hymn:
Sanskrit Verse
चलापाङ्गां दृष्टिं स्पृशसि बहुशो वेपथुमतीं
रहस्याख्यायीव स्वनसि मृदु कर्णान्तिकचरः ।
करौ व्याधुन्वन्त्याः पिबसि रतिसर्वस्वमधरं
वयं तत्त्वान्वेषान्मधुकर हतास्त्वं खलु कृती ॥
English Meaning:
Touch: "You touch repeatedly her eyes, which have tremulous outer corners and are darting about in fear".
Whisper: "Hovering near her ear, you hum softly as if whispering some secret".
Kiss: "While she waves her hands to ward you off, you drink from her lower lip, which is the very essence of love's delight".
Envy: "O bee! We are ruined by our search for the truth (waiting to know if she can be loved), while you have truly achieved your desire".
Pics Credit- Google Image
King Dushyanta to a bee chasing Shakuntala. He says: "O bee! You touch again and again her eyes, moving with tremulous glances; softly humming, you move near her ear as if telling a secret; while she waves her hands, you kiss her lower lip, which is the essence of love's joy; we are undone trying to find the truth, while you are indeed fortunate
This verse explains his internal state: his soul remembers Shakuntala, even though his conscious mind cannot. It is spoken by King Dushyanta after he hears a haunting song that stirs deep, inexplicable emotions within him. This verse explains that when a happy person feels sudden, unexplained longing upon seeing beautiful sights or hearing sweet sounds, it is because their subconscious mind is remembering deep, emotional bonds of friendship and love from past lives.
“When a person, even if happy, becomes wistful on seeing beautiful things and hearing sweet sounds, it is because their mind unconsciously remembers friendships from past lives, which are firmly fixed deep in the heart rooted “.
Kalidasa This verse expresses the profound philosophical idea suggests that when we experience something beautiful in this life and feel a sudden, inexplicable sadness or yearning, it is because our soul is recalling the love and bonds we shared in a previous life. These memories are not vivid "thoughts," but rather deep-seated emotions (Vasanas) that remain in the soul even after the physical body changes. Some words can never be completely understood just by reading. You only get to see what they truly mean through experience.
