01.065
Library: Dushyanta meets Shakuntala and is curious to know her background.
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
Then, the mighty-armed hero, after dismissing his ministers, went alone and did not find the sage of firm vows in the hermitage.
He looked around and, not seeing the sage, observed the empty hermitage. He called out loudly, 'Who is here?' making the forest echo with his voice.
Upon hearing his sound, the girl, as beautiful as Lakshmi, emerged from the hermitage, dressed in ascetic garments.
Upon seeing King Duṣyanta, the dark-eyed lady quickly greeted him with respect, saying, "Welcome to you."
After offering a seat and worshipping with water for the feet and an offering, he certainly asked the king about his name and welfare, O ruler.
After properly worshipping and inquiring about the welfare, she then, as if smiling, said, "What task should be done?"
The king, having seen the maiden who spoke sweetly and was honored properly, addressed her, noting her flawless form.
I have come to see the greatly revered sage Kaṇva. O gentle lady, could you please tell me where the revered one has gone, O beautiful one?
Śakuntalā said:
My revered father has gone to fetch fruits from the hermitage. Please wait for a moment, you will see him arriving here.
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
The king, unable to see the sage, was addressed by her. Upon seeing her, he noticed her beautiful form, prosperity, and charming smile.
The king, observing her shining form, her austerity, restraint, and her beauty and youth, spoke thus.
Who are you and to whom do you belong, O beautiful-hipped lady? What is the reason for your arrival in the forest? With such beauty and qualities, where do you come from, O charming one?
O auspicious one, just by seeing you, my mind has been captivated by you. I wish to know you; please tell me about yourself, O beautiful one.
Thus addressed by the king in that hermitage, the girl smilingly spoke these very sweet words.
I am regarded as the daughter of the venerable Duḥṣanta, known for his asceticism, steadfastness, knowledge of dharma, and illustriousness, by Kaṇva.
Duḥṣanta spoke:
The blessed one, who is greatly fortunate and worshipped by the world, possesses upward-flowing energy and firm vows, and would indeed deviate from conduct; however, even righteousness would not deviate.
How did you, his beautiful daughter, come to be born? I have a great doubt here, and you should clear it for me.
Shakuntala said:
O king, listen to the truth of how this arrival came to me and how I am the daughter of the sage, as it was in the past.
A certain sage came here and asked about my birth. To him, the Lord replied, "Listen to that, O king."
Once upon a time, Viśvāmitra, through his great penance, intensely tormented Indra, the lord of the gods.
Afraid that this person, with his blazing energy from penance, might displace him from his position, Purandara (Indra) spoke to Menaka.
O Menaka, you are distinguished among the celestial nymphs by your divine qualities. O auspicious one, please do what I am about to tell you for my benefit, so listen to it.
The great ascetic Viśvāmitra, who is as radiant as the sun, is performing such intense penance that it unsettles my mind.
O Menaka, this is your responsibility. Viśvāmitra, who is firm-minded and very difficult to overcome, is engaged in intense penance, O slender-waisted one.
He should not displace me from my position. Indeed, go and entice him. Create an obstacle to his penance and fulfill my best wish.
O beautiful lady, using your form, youth, sweetness, movements, smile, and words, entice and turn him away from his penance.
Menaka spoke:
The greatly powerful and austere Lord, who is always angry, also knows him well.
How can you, who are afraid of the brilliance, penance, and anger of the great soul, expect me not to be afraid?
The greatly fortunate Vasiṣṭha, who was deprived of his desired sons, was originally born in the Kshatriya caste and later became a Brahmin by force.
For the purpose of purification, he created a river that was difficult to cross due to its many waters, which people in the world know as the most sacred river Kauśikī.
In ancient times, in the fort, the great soul Matanga, who was a righteous royal sage, lived with his wives and eventually became a hunter.
In the past, during a famine, when the sage returned to the hermitage, he named the river 'Pāra', indeed, then the lord did so.
The elephant was sacrificed by himself where he was pleased. And you, O lord of heroes, went to drink Soma out of fear.
In his excessive anger, endowed with the wealth of stars, he created the lineages of stars and the stars that precede Śravaṇa.
I am greatly afraid of his actions. Please command me, O lord, so that the angry one does not harm me.
With his brilliance, he should burn the worlds, shake the earth with his foot, compress the great Meru, and quickly whirl it around.
How can a young girl like us, who is endowed with penance, even think of approaching one who has conquered his senses and is like a blazing fire?
O best of gods, how could someone like us touch the blazing, fire-faced, sun-moon-eyed stars with the tongue of time?
Even Yama, Soma, and the great sages, along with all the Sādhyas, Viśve, and Vālakhilyas, tremble at his influence; why then should someone like me not tremble?
Having been thus addressed by you, O lord of gods, how could I go in vain? Consider my protection, O king of gods, so that I may act for your sake.
O god, may the wind reveal my desire for residence there, of the playful one. And may Cupid be my helper in the task there, by your grace.
The fragrant wind blew from the forest, tempting the sage at that moment. Having said thus and arranged everything, he then proceeded to the hermitage of Kauśika.
