Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/247

Rh born his daughter? This great doubt of mine it behoveth thee to dispel!'

Sakutala then replied, 'Hear, O king, what I have learnt regarding all that befell me of old and how I am the daughter of the Muni! Once on a time, a Rishi came here and asked about my birth. All that the illustrious one (Kanwa) told him hear now of me, O king!

My father Kanwa, in answer to that Rishi's enquiries said, Viswamitra of old having been engaged in the most austere of penances alarmed Indra the chief of the celestials who thought that the mighty ascetic of blazing energy would, by his penances, hurl him down from his high seat in the heavens. And Indra thus alarmed, summoned Menaka, and told her, "Thou, O Menaka, art the first of all the celestial Apsaras! Therefore, O amiable one, do me this service. Hear what I say. This great ascetic Viswamitra, like unto the Sun himself in splendour, is engaged in the most severe of penances. My heart is trembling with fear. Indeed, O slender-waisted Menaka, this is thy business! Thou must see that Viswamittra, of soul rapt in contemplation and engaged in the most austere of penances, who might hurl me from my seat. Go and tempt him, and frustrating his continued austerities accomplish my good! Win him away from his penances, O beautiful one, by tempting him with thy beauty, youth, agreeableness, arts, smiles and speech." Hearing all this, Menaka replied, "The illustrious Viswamitra is endued with great energy and is a mighty ascetic. He is very wrathful also as is known to thee. The energy, penances, and wrath of the high-souled one have made even thee anxious. Why should not I also be anxious? He it was who made even the illustrious Vasishta bear the pangs of witnessing the premature death of his children. He it was who though at first was born a Kshatria subsequently became a Brahmana by strength of his ascetic penances. He it was who for purposes of his ablutions created a deep river that can with difficulty be forded, and which sacred stream is known by the name of the Kausiki. It was Viswamitra whose wife in a season of distress was maintained by the royal sage Matanga (Trisaku) who was then