Author | Laxmi Prasad Devkota |
---|---|
Original title | शाकुन्तल |
Cover artist | Tekbir Mukhiya |
Country | Nepal |
Language | Nepali |
Subject | Romance |
Genre | Epic poetry |
Publisher | Sajha Publications |
Publication date | 1945 |
ISBN | 9-7899-373-2213-3 |
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]