Divine Beings
Menaka
मेनका
First of the Apsaras
Who was Menaka?
Menaka (मेनका): First of the Apsaras, one of the divine beings in the Mahabharata. The foremost of the celestial dancing girls, born of Brahma, whom Indra sent to break the austerities of Vishvamitra when he feared for his throne.
Quick Facts
| Sanskrit name | मेनका |
|---|---|
| Title / Epithet | First of the Apsaras |
| Faction | Divine Beings |
| Key traits | Beautiful, Shrewd, Obedient, Unmaternal |
| Notable relationships | The Sage She Broke: Vishvamitra, Daughter: Shakuntala, Sent By: Indra, Fosterer of Her Child: Sage Kanva |
| Featured in | 1 story |
About Menaka
The foremost of the celestial dancing girls, born of Brahma, whom Indra sent to break the austerities of Vishvamitra when he feared for his throne. She agreed only on terms, asking that the wind god and the god of love go with her, and the sage fell; she bore him a daughter on the banks of the Malini, left the newborn ringed by vultures, and returned to heaven. That abandoned child was Shakuntala, mother of Bharata.
In Their Words
The illustrious Kausika is terrible. Let Wind and Desire come with me, and I will go.
Menaka
Traits
- Beautiful
- Shrewd
- Obedient
- Unmaternal
Story Appearances
Character Arc
- The TermsAgrees to go only if Wind and Desire go with her
- The Fall of KausikaTen years pass for the sage like a single day
- The RiverbankLeaves the infant Shakuntala among the vultures
Key Relationships
- The Sage She BrokeVishvamitra
- DaughterShakuntala
- Sent ByIndra
- Fosterer of Her ChildSage Kanva
Places in Menaka's Story
Drawn from the story Menaka appears in.
Related Characters
Others counted among the Divine Beings.