Versions of Sakuntalam

A comparative analysis of one passage from the these four translators will help to exemplify the points already made. I have selected one stanza from Act I of the play. This is a four-line verse stanza in which Dushyanta is describing Sakuntala.:

Sir William Jones

The damsel is fatigued, I imagine, by pouring so much water on the cherished plants. Her arms, graced with palms like fresh blossoms, hang carelessly down; her bosom heaves with strong breathing; and now her dishevelled locks, from which the string has dropped, are held by one of her lovely hands. Suffer me, therefore, thus to discharge the debt.

Sir Monier Monier-Williams

Spare her this trouble, gentle maiden. The exertion of watering the shrubs has already fatigued her.

  The water-jar has overtasked the strength
  Of her slim arms; her shoulders droop, her hands
  Are ruddy with the glow of quickened pulses;
  E'en now her agitated breath imparts
  Unwonted tremor to her heaving breast;
  The pearly drops that mar the recent bloom
  Of the [S']irísha pendent in her ear,
  Gather in clustering circles on her cheek;
  Loosed is the fillet of her hair; her hand
  Restrains the locks that struggle to be free.
  Suffer me, then, thus to discharge the debt for you.

M. R. Kale

Gentle maiden, I see that this lady is exhausted just by watering the trees. For her arms, on account of lifting up the jar, have their shoulders drooping, and their palms extremely reddened; her abnormal breathing, still causes her breasts to heave; on her face has gathered a mist of the drops of perspiration, obstructing (the play of) the Sirisha flower placed on her ear; and the knot of hair being loosened, her tresses, held (by her) with one hand, are disheveled. I will, therefore, discharge her (lit. make her free from debt).

Chandra Rajan

I see that the lady is exhausted from watering the trees; as it is,
Her arms droop, languid, her palms glow
reddened lifting up the watering-jar;
her bosom still heaves as she draws deep breaths.
The Sirisa blossom adorning her ear,
caught in the sparkling web of beads of sweat,
ceases its delicate play against her cheek.
With one hand she restrains her hair, straying wild,
unruly, released from its knot undone.