Episode 13 Sakuntala, Mother of the Bharatas

The charming tale of one of the most feisty women characters of the Mahabharata - Sakuntala

Suggested Reading:

Witzel, Michael. "Early Sanskritization. Origins and development of the Kuru state." Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies 1.4 (1995): 1-26.

Murthy, S. S. N. "The questionable historicity of the Mahabharata." Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies 10.5 (2003): 1-15.

Reference:

Duhsanta to Sakuntala - “Oneself is one’s own best friend, oneself one’s only recourse; one may therefore legitimately make the gift of oneself” (I.67.7)

Characters in this episode:

Visvamitra - Famous king and rsi, father of Sakuntala

Menaka - Famous apsara, mother of Sakuntala

Kanva - Famous rsi, adoptive father of Sakuntala

Duhsanta - Descendant of Puru, king, father of Bharata, marries Sakuntala

Bharata - Son of Sakuntala and Duhsanta