MÁTHAVYA, the Jester, friend and companion of the King.
KANWA, chief of the Hermits, foster-father of Sakoontalá.
SÁRNGARAVA, SÁRADWATA, two Bráhmans, belonging to the hermitage of Kanwa.
MITRÁVASU, brother-in-law of the King, and Superintendent of the city police.
VÁTÁYANA, the Chamberlain or attendant on the women's apartments.
KARABHAKA, a messenger of the Queen-mother.
SARVA-DAMANA, afterwards Bharata, a little boy, son of Dushyanta by Sakoontalá.
KASYAPA, a divine sage, progenitor of men and gods, son of Maríchi and grandson of Brahmá.
SAKOONTALÁ, daughter of the sage Viswámitra and the nymph Menaká, foster-child of the hermit Kanwa.
PRIYAMVADÁ and ANASÚYÁ, female attendants, companions of Sakoontalá.
GAUTAMÍ, a holy matron, Superior of the female inhabitants of the hermitage.
TARALIKÁ, personal attendant of the King.
CHATURIKÁ, personal attendant of the Queen.
VETRAVATÍ, female warder, or door-keeper.
PARABARITIKÁ and MADHUKARIKÁ, maidens in charge of the royal gardens.
ADITI, wife of Kasyapa; grand-daughter of Brahmá, through her father, Daksha.
Charioteer, Fisherman, Officers, and Hermits.
Observe, that in order to secure the correct pronunciation of the title of this Drama, "Sakuntalá" has been spelt "Sa-koontalá," the _u_ being pronounced like the _u_ in the English word _rule_.
The vowel _a_ must invariably be pronounced with a dull sound, like the _a_ in _organ_, or the _u_ in _fun, sun. Dushyanta_ must therefore be pronounced as if written _Dooshyunta_. The long vowel _a_ is pronounced like the _a_ in _last, cart; i_ like the _i_ in _pin, sin_; _í_ like the _i_ in _marine; e_ like the _e_ in _prey; o_ like the _o_ in _so; ai_ like the _ai_ in _aisle; au_ like _au_ in the German word _baum_, or like the _ou_ in _our_.
The consonants are generally pronounced as in English, but _g_ has always the sound of _g_ in _gun, give_, never of _g_ in _gin. S_ with the accent over it (s) has the sound of _s_ in _sure_, or of the last _s_ in _session_.
Isa preserve you! he who is revealed In these eight forms by man perceptible-- Water, of all creation's works the first; The fire that bears on high the sacrifice Presented with solemnity to heaven; The Priest, the holy offerer of gifts; The Sun and Moon, those two majestic orbs, Eternal marshallers of day and night; The subtle Ether, vehicle of sound, Diffused throughout the boundless universe; The Earth, by sages called "The place of birth Of all material essences and things"; And Air, which giveth life to all that breathe.