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Sarvadamana
Kanva is a great ascetic sage, head of the hermitage that’s the setting of the play’s first few acts, and Shakuntala’s beloved foster father. At the beginning of the play, he is absent from his hermitage because he’s trying to appease the gods on Shakuntala’s behalf. When he returns, he’s pleased to learn of his daughter’s good marriage and sends her to join King Dusyanta, accompanied by an escort of ascetics and seers.
Kanva Quotes in Shakuntala
The Shakuntala quotes below are all either spoken by Kanva or refer to Kanva. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 2
Quotes
BOTH SEERS. The inhabitants of the ashram have learnt that Your Honor is here, and they have a request to make of you.
KING. Their wish is my command.
BOTH SEERS. They say that, owing to the absence of the great and revered sage Kanva, evil spirits are disrupting their rituals, and so they ask that you should come with your driver and protect the ashram for the next few nights.
KING. It's an honor to be asked.
VIDUSAKA [aside]. This couldn't be better if you'd planned it yourself.
[…]
BOTH SEERS [with delight].
And so you are at one with your ancestors:
For all the descendants of Puru are initiates
In that great sacrifice which protects
The afflicted and alleviates
Their pain.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Shakuntala LitChart as a printable PDF.
Kanva Quotes in Shakuntala
The Shakuntala quotes below are all either spoken by Kanva or refer to Kanva. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 2
Quotes
BOTH SEERS. The inhabitants of the ashram have learnt that Your Honor is here, and they have a request to make of you.
KING. Their wish is my command.
BOTH SEERS. They say that, owing to the absence of the great and revered sage Kanva, evil spirits are disrupting their rituals, and so they ask that you should come with your driver and protect the ashram for the next few nights.
KING. It's an honor to be asked.
VIDUSAKA [aside]. This couldn't be better if you'd planned it yourself.
[…]
BOTH SEERS [with delight].
And so you are at one with your ancestors:
For all the descendants of Puru are initiates
In that great sacrifice which protects
The afflicted and alleviates
Their pain.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
