Notes: There are many versions of the legend of Shakuntala, including one found in the Mahabharata, where Shakuntala's son is the "Bharata" of the epic's title. Find out more at Wikipedia.
Summary: This is a version of the legend of Shakuntala, the woman who gave birth to the king's son in the forest and later presented him to his father.
Read the story below:
THE WOMAN WITH THE KING'S SIGNET-RING
Once on a time in Benares Brahmadatta the king, having gone in great state to his pleasaunce, was roaming about looking for fruits and flowers when he came on a woman who was merrily singing away as she picked up sticks in the grove. Falling in love at first sight, the king became intimate with her, and the Bodhisatta was conceived then and there.
Feeling as heavy within as though weighed down with the bolt of Indra, the woman knew that she would become a mother, and told the king so. He gave her the signet-ring from his finger and dismissed her with these-words: "If it be a girl, spend this ring on her nurture; but if it be a boy, bring ring and child to me."
When the woman's time was come, she bore the Bodhisatta.
The boy called "No-Father"
And when he could run about and was playing in the playground, a cry would arise, "No-Father has hit me!" Hearing this, the Bodhisatta ran away to his mother and asked who his father was.
"You are the son of the King of Benares, my boy."
"What proof of this is there, mother?"
"My son, the king on leaving me gave me this signet-ring and said, 'If it be a girl, spend this ring on her nurture; but if it be a boy, bring ring and child to me.'"
"Why then don't you take me to my father, mother?"
Seeing that the boy's mind was made up, she took him to the gate of the palace, and bade their coming be announced to the king.
The woman confronts the king
Being summoned in, she entered and bowing before his majesty said, "This is your son, sire."
The king knew well enough that this was the truth, but shame before all his court made him reply, "He is no son of mine."
"But here is your signet-ring, sire; you will recognise that."
"Nor is this my signet-ring."
Then said the woman, "Sire, I have now no witness to prove my words, except to appeal to truth. Wherefore, if you be the father of my child, I pray that he may stay in mid-air; but if not, may he fall to earth and be killed." So saying, she seized the Bodhisatta by the foot and threw him up into the air.
The miracle
Seated cross-legged in mid-air, the Bodhisatta in sweet tones repeated this stanza to his father, declaring the truth:
Your son am I, great monarch; rear me, Sire!
The king rears others, but much more his child.
Hearing the Bodhisatta thus teach the truth to him from mid-air, the king stretched out his hands and cried, "Come to me, my boy! None, none but me shall rear and nurture you!"
A thousand hands were stretched out to receive the Bodhisatta; but it was into the arms of the king and of no other that he descended, seating himself in the king's lap. The king made him viceroy, and made his mother queen-consort.
At the death of the king his father, he came to the throne by the title of King Kaṭṭhavāhana — the faggot-bearer — and after ruling his realm righteously, passed away to fare according to his deserts.
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