अतीतकाले दुर्भिक्षे अभ्येत्य पुनराक्षमम्। मुनिः पारेति नद्या वै नाम चक्रे तदा प्रभुः
'When a famine had passed, the sage came again to Akshama, and there, by the river, the lord named it Pāreti.'
मतङ्गं याजयाञ्चक्रे यत्र प्रीतमनाः स्वयम्। त्वं च सोमं भयाद्यस्य गतः पातुं सुरेश्वर
'There, with a glad heart, he caused Matanga to perform a sacrifice, and you, out of fear, went to drink Soma, O lord of the gods.'
चकारान्यं च लोकं वै क्रुद्धो नक्षत्रसंपदा। प्रतिश्रवणपूर्वाणि नक्षत्राणि चकार यः। गुरुशापहतस्यापि त्रिशङ्कोः शरणं ददौ
In his anger, he created another world, endowed with stars; he made the constellations beginning with Śravaṇa, and gave refuge to Triśaṅku, even though he was struck down by the curse of his guru.
ब्रह्मर्षिशापं राजर्षिः कथं मोक्ष्यति कौशिकः। अवमत्य तदा देवैर्यज्ञाङ्गं तद्विनाशितम्
How could Kauśika, the royal sage, free himself from the curse of a brahmarṣi, when the gods, scorning him, destroyed the sacrificial rite?
अन्यानि च महातेजा यज्ञाङ्गान्यसृजत्प्रभुः। निनाय च तदा स्वर्गं त्रिशङ्कुं स महातपाः
That mighty ascetic, the lord of great energy, created other sacrificial limbs, and at that time led Triśaṅku to heaven.
एतानि यस्य कर्माणि तस्याहं भृशमुद्विजे। यथाऽसौ न दहेत्क्रुद्धस्तथाऽऽज्ञापय मां विभो
I am greatly afraid of him whose deeds are these; instruct me, O lord, so that he does not burn me in his anger.
तेजसा निर्दहेल्लोकान्कम्पयेद्धरणीं पदा। संक्षिपेच्च महामेरुं तूर्णमावर्तयेद्दिशः
By his energy he could burn up the worlds, shake the earth with his foot, swiftly compress mighty Meru, and turn the directions around.
तादृशं तपसा युक्तं प्रदीप्तमिव पावकम्। कथमस्मद्विधा नारी जितेन्द्रियमभिस्पृशेत्
How could a woman like me approach one so endowed with ascetic power, blazing like fire, and with senses conquered?
हुताशनमुखं दीप्तं सूर्यचन्द्राक्षितारकम्। कालजिह्वं सुरश्रेष्ठ कथमस्मद्विधा स्पृशेत्
How could a woman like me touch one whose face is like blazing fire, whose eyes are the sun, moon, and stars, whose tongue is time, O best of gods?
यमश्च सोमश्च महर्षयश्च साध्या विश्वे वालस्विल्याश्च सर्वे। एतेऽपि यस्योद्विजन्ते प्रभावा- त्तस्मात्कस्मान्मादृशी नोद्विजेत
Even Yama, Soma, the great sages, the Sādhyas, the Viśvedevas, and all the Vālakhilyas are afraid of his power—so why should a woman like me not be afraid?
त्वयैवमुक्ता च कथं समीप- मृषेर्न गच्छेयमहं सुरेन्द्र। रक्षां च मे चिन्तय देवराज यथा त्वदर्थं रक्षिताऽहं चरेयम्
Having been told thus by you, O lord of gods, how could I approach the sage? Think of my protection, O king of the gods, so that, for your sake, I may act under your protection.
कामं तु मे मारुतस्तत्र वासः प्रक्रीडिताया विवृणोतु देव। भवेच्च मे मन्मथस्तत्र कार्ये सहायभूतस्तु तव प्रसादात्
Let the wind-god provide me a dwelling there for my play, as I desire, O god; and let Kāma, by your favor, be my helper in this task.
वनाच्च वायुः सुरभिः प्रवाया- त्तस्मिन्काले तमृषिं लोभयन्त्याः। तथेत्युक्त्वा विहिते चैव तस्मिं- स्ततो ययौ साऽऽश्रमं कौशिकस्य
Then the fragrant wind blew from the forest, enticing the sage at that time; having agreed, and after all was arranged, she went to Kauśika’s hermitage.
एवमुक्तस्तया शक्रः संदिदेश सदागतिम्। प्रातिष्ठत तदा काले मेनका वायुना सह
Thus addressed by her, Śakra gave the command for her constant coming; then, at the proper time, Menakā set out together with the wind.
अथापश्यद्वरारोहा तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषम्। मिश्वामित्रं तप्यमानं मेनका भीरुराश्रमे
Then Menakā, of lovely limbs and fearful at heart, saw Viśvāmitra, whose sins had been burned away by asceticism, practicing austerities in his hermitage.
अभिवाद्य ततः सा तं प्राक्रीडदृषिसन्निधौ। अपोवाह च वासोऽस्या मारुतः शशिसंनिभम्
Having saluted him, she began to play in the presence of the sage; and the wind carried away her garment, shining like the moon.
सागच्छत्त्वरिता भूमिं वासस्तदभिलिप्सती। कुत्सयन्तीव सव्रीडं मारुतं वरवर्णिनी
She, swift-footed, went to the ground, wishing to retrieve her garment, and, as if reproaching the wind with modesty, she, of lovely complexion, moved on.
पश्यतस्तस्य राजर्षेरप्यग्निसमतेजसः। विश्वामित्रस्ततस्तां तु विषमस्थामनिन्दिताम्
Even as the royal sage, whose splendor was equal to fire, looked on, Viśvāmitra saw her, faultless and in a difficult situation.
गृद्धां वाससि संभ्रान्तां मेनकां मुनिसत्तमः। अनिर्देश्यवयोरूपामपश्यद्विवृतां तदा
The best of sages saw Menakā, eager for her garment and agitated, revealed, her age and beauty beyond description.
तस्या रूपगुणान्दृष्ट्वा स तु विप्रर्षभस्तदा। चकार भावं संसर्गे तया कामवशं गतः
Seeing her qualities and beauty, that foremost of brahmins then fell under the sway of desire and wished for union with her.
न्यमन्त्रयत चाप्येनां सा चाप्यैच्छदनिन्दिता। तौ तत्र सुचिरं कालमुभौ व्यवहरतां तदा
She invited him, and she, blameless, also wished for him; the two of them lived together there for a very long time.
रममाणौ यथाकामं यतैकदिवसं तथा। `एवं वर्षसहस्राणामतीतं नान्वचिन्तयत्
Enjoying each other as they desired, just as on a single day, thus a thousand years passed without their noticing.
कामक्रोधावजितवान्मुनिर्नित्यं समाहितः। चिरार्जितस्य तपसः क्षयं स कृतवान्मुनिः
The sage, always composed, had conquered desire and anger; yet he brought to an end the austerity he had long accumulated.
तपसः संक्षयादेव मुनिर्मोहं समाविशत्। मोहाभिभूतः क्रोधात्मा ग्रसन्मूलफलान्मुनिः
Because his austerity was depleted, the sage was overtaken by delusion; overcome by confusion and anger, he ate roots and fruits.
पादैर्जलरवं कृत्वा अन्तर्द्वीपे कुटीं गतः। मेनका गन्तुकामा तु शुश्राव जलनिस्वनम्
Making a sound in the water with his feet, he went to his hut on the island; Menakā, wishing to depart, heard the sound of the water.
तपसा दीप्तवीर्योऽसावाकाशादेति याति च। अद्य संज्ञां विजानामि ययाऽद्य तपसः क्षयः
His energy, bright from austerity, comes and goes through the sky; today I realize the sign by which his austerity is ended.
गन्तुं न युक्तमित्युक्त्वा ऋतुस्नाताथ मेनका। कामरागाभिभूतस्य मुनेः पार्स्वं जगाम ह
Saying, 'It is not proper to go,' Menakā, having bathed after her period, approached the sage who was overcome by desire and passion.
जनयामास स मुनिर्मेनकायां शकुन्तलाम्। प्रस्थे हिमवतो रम्ये मालिनीमभितो नदीम्
The sage begot on Menakā a daughter, Śakuntalā, on the beautiful slopes of Himavat, near the Mālinī river.
देवगर्भोपमां बालां सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्। शयानां शयने रम्ये मेनका वाक्यमब्रवीत्
A girl like a child of the gods, adorned with all ornaments, lay on a lovely bed; to her Menakā spoke these words.
महर्षेरुग्रतपसस्तेजस्त्वमसि भामिनि। तस्मात्स्वर्गं गमिष्यामि देवकार्यार्थमागता
'O radiant one, you possess the energy of the great sage's fierce austerity; therefore I shall go to heaven, for I came here for the work of the gods.'