Shakuntala (epic) should not be confused with Shakuntala (play).
| Italic Title: | (see above) --> |
| Shakuntala (epic) | |
| Author: | Laxmi Prasad Devkota |
| Title Orig: | शाकुन्तल |
| Cover Artist: | Tekbir Mukhiya |
| Country: | Nepal |
| Language: | Nepali |
| Subject: | Romance |
| Genre: | Epic poetry |
| Publisher: | Sajha Publications |
| Pub Date: | 1945 |
| Isbn: | 9-7899-373-2213-3 |
| Orig Lang Code: | ne |
Shakuntala (Nepali: शकुन्तला) is a 1945 Nepali epic poem written by Laxmi Prasad Devkota and published by Sajha Publications.[1] [2] It is considered to be one of the greatest works of Laxmi Prasad Devkota and indeed of the entire Nepali literature.[3] [4]
The epic is based on the classical play Shakuntala by ancient Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa. It is considered the first original epic in the Nepali language.[5] Although it is based on an ancient work, the work has sufficient originality to be considered as such, specially compared to the first Nepali epic Bhanubhakta Ramayana which was a translation of Valmiki Ramayana. It was published in 1945. Devkota took just three months to complete the entire epic.[3] [6]
Laxmi Prasad Devkota translated the epic into English himself. It was published posthumously in 1991.[7] [8]
Shakuntala has been adapted into a play and performed by the students of Bidya Shankar School under the guidance of Sunil Pokharel, the director of Aroha Gurukul.[9]