Dusyanta’s brother-in-law, the police chief of the city, apprehends a thief with the king’s ring. The man says he is a mere fisherman who happened to find the ring in the belly of a fish. He took the ring to the market to sell, which is where the police grabbed him.

The chief takes the ring to Dusyanta. Later, he tells his officers that the ring must have been very important to the king, as he became very agitated when he saw it. The king absolved the fisherman of any crime and has ordered he be paid the cost of the ring in exchange for his trouble. The policemen befriend the fisherman and together they all head to the wine shop to celebrate the ring’s recovery.

Sanumati, a celestial nymph, enters, as if from the sky. She is here on the request of the nymph Maneka, her friend and Sakuntala’s mother. Sakuntala is safe with her mother, who has asked Sanumati to find out what is happening with Dusyanta. Sanumati makes herself invisible to observe what is happening in the king’s gardens. Two gardeners enter. They banter and joke as they pick flowers. A chamberlain enters, scolding the women.