Shakuntala narrates the story of her conception
To answer the king's doubt, Shakuntala begins the story of her conception: how the god Indra, terrified by a sage's growing power, commanded the celestial dancer Menaka to seduce him, setting in motion a divine conspiracy.
Shakuntala said, “O king, then listen to how I learned what occurred, and how I came to be the sage’s daughter. Once, another rishi came here and asked about my birth. Hear what the illustrious Kanva told him.”
She began the story Kanva had told.
In ancient times, the sage Vishvamitra engaged in such great austerities that he alarmed Shakra — Indra, the king of the gods. The blazing energy of Vishvamitra’s penance made Indra fear he would be dislodged from his throne.
Purandara, the destroyer of forts, summoned Menaka, the best of the apsaras (celestial dancers). “O amiable one,” Indra said, “listen and do what will bring about my welfare. The great ascetic Vishvamitra possesses the sun’s radiance. His austerities make my mind tremble. O Menaka, Vishvamitra is your burden now. His soul is fixed on meditation. He is unassailable and may dislodge me from my seat. Go to him. Seduce him. Bring obstructions to his austerities. O one with the beautiful hips, turn him away from his path with your beauty, youth, sweetness, efforts, smiles, and words.”
Menaka was afraid. “O illustrious one, that sage has great energy and the power of austerities. You yourself know he is prone to anger. His energy, asceticism, and wrath have made even you afraid. Why should I not be scared? He once made the illustrious Vashishtha suffer grief through the death of his sons. He was born a Kshatriya (warrior) but became a Brahmana (priest-sage) through his own power. For the sake of performing ablutions, he created a river so full of water it is difficult to cross — the sacred river known in the worlds as Koushiki. In his anger, he created a new wealth of stars beyond the existing ones. I am afraid to go to such a person. O lord, tell me how I can escape being burnt by his anger. He can burn the worlds with his energy. He can make the earth quake with a kick. He can uproot the great Meru mountain and whirl it around. How can a woman like me touch someone who is like a blazing fire, in complete control of his senses? His mouth is radiant as fire. The pupils of his eyes are like the sun and moon. His tongue is like Yama, the god of death. O best of the gods, how can I touch him? Yama, Soma, the great sages, the saddhyas, the vishvadevas, and the valakhilyas are all alarmed of him. Why should I not be afraid?”
Then she made her conditions. “Nevertheless, commanded by you, I must go. O king of the gods, find a means so I can accomplish your wishes under your protection. Let Marut (the wind-god) strip me of my garments when I sport before the sage. On your instructions, let Manmatha (the god of love) be there to help me. Let the breeze carry soft fragrances from the wood when I tempt the rishi.”
Having said this, and once her wishes for divine assistance were granted, Menaka went to the hermitage of Koushika — Vishvamitra.