8300 BC - manu	6300 BC - shakuntala	5100 BC - ramayan	3102 BC - mahabharat	3200 BC - kashmir
3100 - 1829 BC - pandav	1829 - 829 BC - magadh	829 - 691 BC - pradyot	691 - 400 BC - shishung	400 - 300 BC - nanda

We come to know of Shakuntala from two sources: Mahabharata and Kalidasa's poem Shakuntal. The Shakuntala depicted by Kalidasa is a damsel in distress. An abalaa. With the introduction of the ring and Sage Durvasa's curse, Kalidas tries to make Dushyant look better. Whereas in Mahabharata she is depicted as a woman of courage and knowledge. A woman who fights for her rights. A woman who proves her chastity, all by herself. Shakuntala, unlike Sita does not get a Sage Valmiki to do so. She is all alone in her fight, and the brave, strong Shakuntala fights till she wins!

	King Nahush caretaker of Indra's Kingdom
	King Yayati's thirst to remain young.
	Shakuntala is born to Apsara Menaka.
	Prince Dushyant secretly marries Shakuntala.
	Shakuntala rightfully demands to be accepted as queen.
	King Bharat. After whom the country is called Bhaarat.

King Nahush caretaker of Indra's Kingdom
Nahush was a decendant of Manu, through Manu's daughter Ila. He ruled Pratishtahan (today's Paithan, on banks of Godavari). When Indra escaped to hide, (for killing a Brahmin) Nahush was chosen as a caretaker of Indra's kingdom. Attracted to Sachi (Indra's queen), Nahush ordered some bramhins to take him to Sachi. Enraged the bramhins, cursed the King. Nahush was promptly removed from his caretaker position.

King Yayati's thirst to remain young.
Nahush's son, Yayati became the king of Pratishthan after Nahush. Yayati had two wives: Devyani (daughter of Danav guru, Sukracharya) and Sharmishtha (daughter of Danav king, Vrushparva). Due to the administrative tasks, Yayati did not get time to satisfy his youthful desires. He asked his sons to take the administrative tasks for him. His son Puru agreed. Eventually, Yayati realsied his mistake. He crowned Puru to the throne of Pratishthan.

Shakuntala is born to Apsara Menaka.
Sage Vishwamitra was busy creating Pratisrushti. Indra could not tolerate that. So, he sent Apsara Menaka to distract him from his work. Apsara Menaka successfully broke interupted his project, and bore Sage Vishwamitra's daughter Shakuntala. She was raised in the hermitage of Sage Kanva.

Prince Dushyant secretly marries Shakuntala.
King Puru's son Dushyant, wandered in the hermitage of Sage Kanwa. Here he met and fell in love with Shakuntala. He secretly married Shakuntala in the hermitage. He promised that he would make her son the crown prince of Pratishthan. Promised he would send an envoy to take Shakuntala to Pratishthan and left.

Shakuntala rightfully demands to be accepted as queen.
Days pass into years ... Shakuntala's son Sarvadaman is now 8 years old. Probably in the mean time Shakuntala sent messages to Dushyant. Maybe she simply waited for Dushyant to arrive someday. Whatever be the case, Dushyant does not see, nor send for Shakuntala.

Atlast, Sage Kanva sends Shakuntala and Sarvadaman with few diciples to Pratishathan. The deciples leave her at the court, introduce Shakuntala and leave. Shakuntala informs the king that Sarvadaman is his son, reminds him of his promises and asks him to accept her and his son. Dushyant refuses to remember anything at all. He even says, "You are a daughter of an Apsara. Who should believe in the character of an Apsara? I have never seen you in my life. And this child is certainly not my son!"

On this Shakuntala gets very angry and says "O King! The most important thing in the world it is the truth. You think there was no witness to your deed. But your conciense is a witness. People wish for a son, and your own son is here, and you want to give up the joy in holding a child in your arms? Dont accept me if you wish so, but atleast accept your child. And if you do not wish to accept your child, so be it. I shall go away with him. I am strong enough grow him up myself into an emperor!" The ministers in the court were impressed by her speech, and believed she spoke the true. Dushyant then accepted Shakuntala and Sarvadaman. He crowned Sarvadaman and named him Bharat.

 

King Bharat. After whom the country is called Bhaarat.
Bharat became the king of Pratishthan after Dushyant. Bharat, is unquestionably the greatest king of this land. After him the country came to be known as Bhaarat. He had nine sons, and none of them seemed fit to rule after him. So, he adopted a capable child, who succeeded Bharat