01.066
Library: Shakuntala concludes narration of her birth to Vishwamitra and Menaka and how Kanwa is her foster father.
śakuntalovāca॥
Śakuntalā said:
evamuktastayā śakraḥ saṃdideśa sadāgatim. prātiṣṭhata tadā kāle menakā vāyunā saha ॥1-66-1॥
After being addressed in this way by her, Indra gave the command for the constant arrival. Then, at the appointed time, Menaka set forth together with the wind.
athāpaśyadvarārohā tapasā dagdhakilbiṣam। viśvāmitraṃ tapasyantaṃ menakā bhīrurāśrame ॥1-66-2॥
Then the beautiful Menakā saw the sage Viśvāmitra, who had purified himself through penance, engaged in deep meditation in the hermitage, and she felt timid.
abhivādya tataḥ sā taṃ prākrīḍadṛṣisaṃnidhau| apovāha ca vāso'syā mārutaḥ śaśisaṃnibham ॥1-66-3॥
After greeting, she then played with him in the presence of the sage. The wind blew away her garment, which was as bright as the moon.
sāgacchattvaritā bhūmiṃ vāsastadabhiliṅgatī। utsmayantīva savrīḍaṃ mārutaṃ varavarṇinī ॥1-66-4॥
The beautiful woman quickly descended to the earth, her garment clinging to her, smiling shyly as if at the wind.
gṛddhāṃ vāsasi sambhrāntāṃ menakāṃ munisattamaḥ। anirdeśyavayorūpāmapaśyadvivṛtāṃ tadā ॥1-66-5॥
The supreme sage then saw Menakā, who was eager and agitated in her garment, with indescribable age and beauty, exposed at that moment.
tasyā rūpaguṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa tu viprarṣabhastadā। cakāra bhāvaṃ saṃsarge tayā kāmavaśaṃ gataḥ ॥1-66-6॥
Upon seeing her beauty and qualities, the best of the sages was overcome by desire and sought union with her.
nyamantraya caapyenaaM saa caapyaicchadaninditaa| tau tatra suciraM kaalaM vane vyaharatAmubhau ॥ ramamaaNau yathaakaamaM yathaikadivasaM tathaa ॥1-66-7॥
He invited her, and she, being blameless, also desired. They both spent a long time in the forest, enjoying themselves as they pleased, as if it were just one day.
janayāmāsa sa munirmenakāyāṃ śakuntalām। prasthe himavato ramye mālinīmabhito nadīm ॥1-66-8॥
The sage fathered Śakuntalā with Menakā on the beautiful slopes of the Himalayas, near the Mālinī river.
jātam utsṛjya taṃ garbhaṃ menakā mālinīmanu। kṛtakāryā tatas tūrṇam agacchac chakrasaṃsadam ॥1-66-9॥
Menaka, after leaving the newborn with Mālinī, swiftly returned to Indra's court, having completed her mission.
taṃ vane vijane garbhaṃ siṃhavyāghrasamākule| dṛṣṭvā śayānaṃ śakunāḥ samantātparyavārayan ॥1-66-10॥
In the lonely forest, teeming with lions and tigers, the birds saw him lying there and surrounded him from all sides.
nemāṃ hiṃsyurvane bālāṃ kravyādā māṃsagṛddhinaḥ। paryarakṣanta tāṃ tatra śakuntā menakātmajām ॥1-66-11॥
The carnivorous creatures in the forest, eager for flesh, did not harm the girl; instead, the birds protected her there, as she was the daughter of Menaka.
upaspraṣṭuṃ gataścāhamapaśyaṃ śayitāmimām। nirjane vipine'raṇye śakuntaiḥ parivāritām ॥ ānayatvā tataścaināṃ duhitṛtve nyayojayam ॥1-66-12॥
I went to touch her and saw her lying in a lonely forest wilderness surrounded by birds. Then, having brought her, I appointed her as my daughter.
śarīrakṛtprāṇadātā yasya cānnāni bhuñjate। krameṇa te trayo'pyuktāḥ pitaro dharmaniścaye ॥1-66-13॥
The one who creates the body, gives life, and whose food is consumed, these three are considered fathers in the context of determining duty.
nirjane ca vane yasmācchakuntaiḥ parirakṣitāḥ। śakuntaleti nāmāsyāḥ kṛtaṃ cāpi tato mayā ॥1-66-14॥
In the lonely forest, since she was protected by birds, I named her Śakuntalā.
evaṁ duhitaṁ viddhi mama saumya śakuntalām। śakuntalā ca pitaraṁ manyate māmaninditā ॥1-66-15॥
Thus, gentle one, you should know that Śakuntalā is my daughter. And Śakuntalā, blameless as she is, considers me her father.
etadācaṣṭa pṛṣṭaḥ sanmama janma maharṣaye। sutāṃ kaṇvasya māmevaṃ viddhi tvaṃ manujādhipa ॥1-66-16॥
When asked about my origin, this was told to the great sage: "Understand me as the daughter of Kanva, O ruler of men."
kaṇvaṃ hi pitaraṃ manye pitaraṃ svamajānati। iti te kathitaṃ rājanyathāvṛttaṃ śrutaṃ mayā ॥1-66-17॥
I consider Kanva as my father, not knowing my own father. Thus, O king, it has been told to you as it happened, as I have heard.
