The Mahabharata
Book 1: Adi Parva
Kisari Mohan Ganguli, tr.
[1883-1896]
SECTION LXXII
(Sambhava Parva continued)
Kanwa continued, 'And Sakra, thus addressed by her, then commanded him who
could approach every place (viz., the god of the wind) to be present with Menaka
at the time she would be before the Rishi. And the timid and beautiful Menaka
then entered the retreat and saw there Viswamitra who had burnt, by his penances,
all his sins, and was engaged still in ascetic penances. And saluting the Rishi,
she then began to sport before him. And just at that time Marut robbed her of
her garments that were white as the Moon. And she thereupon ran, as if in great
bashfulness, to catch hold of her attire, and as if she was exceedingly annoyed
with Marut. And she did all this before the very eyes of Viswamitra who was endued
with energy like that of fire. And Viswamitra saw her in that attitude. And beholding
her divested of her robes, he saw that she was of faultless feature. And that
best of Munis saw that she was exceedingly handsome, with no marks of age on her
person. And beholding her beauty and accomplishments that bull amongst Rishis
was possessed with lust and made a sign that he desired her companionship. And
he invited her accordingly, and she also of faultless features expressed her acceptance
of the invitation. And they then passed a long time there in each other's company.
And sporting with each other, just as they pleased, for a long time as if it were
only a single day, the Rishi begat on Menaka a daughter named Sakuntala. And Menaka
(as her conception advanced) went to the banks of the river Malini coursing along
a valley of the charming mountains of Himavat. And there she gave birth to that
daughter. And she left the new-born infant on the bank of that river and went
away. And beholding the new-born infant lying in that forest destitute of human
beings but abounding with lions and tigers, a number of vultures sat around to
protect it from harm. No Rakshasas or carnivorous animals took its life. Those
vultures protected the daughter of Menaka. I went there to perform my ablution
and beheld the infant lying in the solitude of the wilderness surrounded by vultures.
Bringing her hither I have made her my daughter. Indeed, the maker of the body,
the protector of life, the giver of food, are all three, fathers in their order,
according to the scriptures. And because she was surrounded in the solitude of
the wilderness, by Sakuntas (birds), therefore, hath she been named by me Sakuntala
(bird-protected). O Brahman, learn that it is thus that Sakuntala hath become
my daughter. And the faultless Sakuntala also regards me as her father.'
"This is what my father had said unto the Rishi, having been asked by him.
O king of men, it is thus that thou must know I am the daughter of Kanwa. And
not knowing my real father, I regard Kanwa as my father. Thus have I told thee,
O king, all that hath been heard by me regarding my birth!'"
