Chapter 72

Kanwa continued, ‘And Sakra, thus addressed by her, then commanded himwho could approach every place (viz., the god of the wind) to be presentwith Menaka at the time she would be before the Rishi.

And the timid andbeautiful Menaka then entered the retreat and saw there Viswamitra whohad burnt, by his penances, all his sins, and was engaged still inascetic penances. And saluting the Rishi, she then began to sport beforehim. And just at that time Marut robbed her of her garments that werewhite as the Moon. And she thereupon ran, as if in great bashfulness, tocatch hold of her attire, and as if she was exceedingly annoyed withMarut. And she did all this before the very eyes of Viswamitra who wasendued with energy like that of fire. And Viswamitra saw her in thatattitude. And beholding her divested of her robes, he saw that she was offaultless feature. And that best of Munis saw that she was exceedinglyhandsome, with no marks of age on her person. And beholding her beautyand accomplishments that bull amongst Rishis was possessed with lust andmade a sign that he desired her companionship. And he invited heraccordingly, and she also of faultless features expressed her acceptanceof the invitation. And they then passed a long time there in each other’scompany. And sporting with each other, just as they pleased, for a longtime as if it were only a single day, the Rishi begat on Menaka adaughter named Sakuntala. And Menaka (as her conception advanced) went tothe banks of the river Malini coursing along a valley of the charmingmountains of Himavat. And there she gave birth to that daughter. And sheleft the new-born infant on the bank of that river and went away. Andbeholding the new-born infant lying in that forest destitute of humanbeings but abounding with lions and tigers, a number of vultures sataround to protect it from harm. No Rakshasas or carnivorous animals tookits life. Those vultures protected the daughter of Menaka. I went thereto perform my ablution and beheld the infant lying in the solitude of thewilderness surrounded by vultures. Bringing her hither I have made her mydaughter. Indeed, the maker of the body, the protector of life, the giverof food, are all three, fathers in their order, according to thescriptures. And because she was surrounded in the solitude of thewilderness, by Sakuntas (birds), therefore, hath she been named by meSakuntala (bird-protected). O Brahman, learn that it is thus thatSakuntala hath become my daughter. And the faultless Sakuntala alsoregards me as her father.’

“This is what my father had said unto the Rishi, having been asked byhim. O king of men, it is thus that thou must know I am the daughter ofKanwa. And not knowing my real father, I regard Kanwa as my father. Thushave I told thee, O king, all that hath been heard by me regarding mybirth!'”