कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

श्रियं दिशतु वः शंभोः श्यामः कण्ठो मनोभुवा ।
अङ्कस्थपार्वतीदृष्टिपाशैरिव विवेष्टितः ॥

Summary AI May the dark throat of Śambhu, which appears as if entwined by the noose-like glances of Pārvatī seated on his lap out of love, grant you prosperity.

१.१.२

संध्यानुत्तोत्सवे ताराः करेणोद्धूय विघ्नजित् ।
सीत्कारसीकरैरन्याः कल्पयन्निव पातु वः ॥

Summary AI May the vanquisher of obstacles protect you, as he scatters the stars with his trunk during the evening dance and appears to create new ones with the spray of his hissing breath.

१.१.३

प्रणम्य वाचं निःशेषपदार्थोद्योतदीपिकाम् ।
बृहत्कथायाः सारस्य संग्रहं रचयाम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI Having bowed to the Goddess of Speech (Vāc), who is a lamp illuminating all objects of knowledge, I compose this compendium of the essence of the Bṛhatkathā.

१.१.४

आद्यमत्र कथापीठं कथामुखमतः परम् ।
ततो लावानको नाम तृतीयो लम्बको भवेत् ॥

Summary AI In this work, the first chapter is Kathāpīṭha, followed by Kathāmukha, and the third book is known as Lāvānaka.

१.१.५

नरवाहनदत्तस्य जननं च ततः परम् ।
स्याच्चतुर्दारिकाख्यश्च ततो मदनमञ्चुका ॥

Summary AI Then follows the birth of Naravāhanadatta, after which comes the book titled Caturdārikā, and then Madanamañcukā.

१.१.६

ततो रत्नप्रभा नाम लम्बकः सप्तमो भवेत् ।
सूर्यप्रभाभिधानश्च लम्बकः स्यादथाष्टमः ॥

Summary AI After that, the seventh book shall be named Ratnaprabhā, and the eighth book shall be called Sūryaprabhā.

१.१.७

अलंकरवती चाथ ततः शक्तियशा भवेत् ।
वेलालम्बकसंज्ञश्च भवेदेकादशस्ततः ॥

Summary AI Then comes Alaṃkaravatī, followed by Śaktiyaśas, and after that the eleventh book named Velā.

१.१.८

शशाङ्कवत्यपि तथा ततः स्यान्मदिरावती ।
महाभिषेकानुगतस्ततः स्यात्पञ्चलम्बकः ॥

Summary AI Similarly, after that comes Śaśāṅkavatī, then Madirāvatī, and finally the five books following the Mahābhiṣeka.

१.१.९

ततः सुरतमञ्जर्यप्यथ पद्मवती भवेत् ।
ततो विषमशीलाख्यो लम्बको ऽष्टादशो भवेत् ॥

Summary AI Then follows Suratamañjarī, then Padmavatī, and finally, the eighteenth book titled Viṣamaśīla.

१.१.१०

यथा मूलं तथैवैतन्न मनागप्यतिक्रमः ।
ग्रन्थविस्तरसंक्षेपमात्रं भाषा च भिद्यते ॥

Summary AI This work follows the original exactly without the slightest deviation; only the length (expansion or contraction) of the text and the language differ.

१.१.११

औचित्यान्वयरक्षा च यथाशक्ति विधीयते ।
कथारसाविघातेन काव्यांशस्य च योजना ॥

Summary AI Propriety and the logical connection of parts are maintained to the best of my ability, and poetic elements are joined without interrupting the flow of the narrative's aesthetic flavor.

१.१.१२

वैदग्ध्यख्यातिलोभाय मम नैवायमुद्यमः ।
किं तु नानाकथाजालस्मृतिसौकर्यसिद्धये ॥

Summary AI My effort is not driven by a desire for fame or to display cleverness, but rather to facilitate the easy remembrance of the vast web of various stories.

१.१.१३

अस्ति किंनरगन्धर्वविद्याधरनिषेवितः ।
चक्रवर्ती गिरीन्द्राणां हिमवानिति विश्रुतः ॥

Summary AI There exists the king of mountains known as Himavat, inhabited by Kinnaras, Gandharvas, and Vidyādharas.

१.१.१४

माहात्म्यमियतीं भूमिमारूढं यस्य भूभृताम् ।
यद्भवानीं सुताभावं त्रिजगज्जननी गता ॥

Summary AI The greatness of this mountain among all mountains has reached such a height that Bhavānī, the mother of the three worlds, became his daughter.

१.१.१५

उत्तरं तस्य शिखरं कैलासाख्यो महागिरिः ।
योजनानां सहस्राणि बहून्याक्रम्य तिष्ठति ॥

Summary AI His northern peak is the great mountain named Kailāsa, which stands covering many thousands of yojanas.

१.१.१६

मन्दरो मथिते ऽप्यब्धौ न सुधासिततां गतः ।
अहं त्वयत्नादिति यो हसतीव स्वकान्तिभिः ॥

Summary AI He seems to laugh with his own brilliance, thinking, 'Even after the ocean was churned, Mount Mandara did not attain the whiteness of nectar, but I possess it effortlessly.'

१.१.१७

चराचरगुरुस्तत्र निवसत्यम्बिकासखः ।
गणैर्विद्याधरैः सिद्धैः सेव्यमानो महेश्वरः ॥

Summary AI There dwells the supreme lord Maheśvara, the preceptor of all moving and unmoving beings and the companion of Ambikā, served by his attendants (Gaṇas), Vidyādharas, and Siddhas.

१.१.१८

पिङ्गोत्तुङ्गजटाजूटगतो यस्याश्नुते नवः ।
संध्यापिशङ्गपूर्वाद्रिशृङ्गसङ्गसुखं शशी ॥

Summary AI On whose tall, reddish-brown matted hair the new moon enjoys the pleasure of contact, like resting on the peak of the eastern mountain reddened by twilight.

१.१.१९

येनान्धकासुरपतेरेकस्यार्पयता हृदि ।
शूलं त्रिजगतो ऽप्यस्य हृदयाच्चित्रमुद्धृतम् ॥

Summary AI It is wonderful how he, by thrusting his trident into the heart of the single demon-king Andhaka, simultaneously removed the spear of pain from the hearts of the three worlds.

१.१.२०

चूडामणिषु यत्पादनखाग्रप्रतिमाङ्किताः ।
प्रसदप्राप्तचन्द्रार्धा इव भान्ति सुरासुराः ॥

Summary AI The gods and demons, with the reflections of his toenails on their crest-jewels, shine as if they had received the crescent moon as a mark of his favor.

१.१.२१

तं कदाचित्समुत्पन्नविस्रम्भा रहसि प्रिया ।
स्तुतिभिस्तोषयामास भवानीपतिमीश्वरम् ॥

Summary AI Once, having developed deep trust, the beloved Goddess Pārvatī pleased her lord, the Master of Bhavānī, with praises in solitude.

१.१.२२

तस्याः स्तुतिवचोहृष्टस्तामङ्कमधिरोप्य सः ।
किं ते प्रियं करोमीति बभाषे शशिशेखरः ॥

Summary AI Gladdened by her words of praise, Śaśiśekhara placed her on his lap and spoke: "What dear thing may I do for you?"

१.१.२३

ततः प्रोवाच गिरिजा प्रसन्नो ऽसि यदि प्रभो ।
रम्यां कांचित्कथां ब्रूहि देवाद्य मम नूतनाम् ॥

Summary AI Then Girijā spoke: "O Lord, if you are pleased, O God, tell me some beautiful and new tale today."

१.१.२४

भूतं भवद्भविष्यद्वा किं तत्स्याज्जगति प्रिये ।
भवती यन्न जानीयादिति शर्वो ऽप्युवाच ताम् ॥

Summary AI Śarva replied to her: "O beloved, what is there in the world—past, present, or future—that you do not already know?"

१.१.२५

ततः स वल्लभा तस्य निर्बन्धमकरोत्प्रभोः ।
प्रियप्रणयहेवाकि यतो मानवतीमनः ॥

Summary AI Then his beloved pressed the Lord further, for the mind of a proud woman is ever eager for the affectionate attention of her lover.

१.१.२६

ततस्तच्चाटुबुद्ध्यैव तत्प्रभावनिबन्धनाम् ।
तस्याः स्वल्पां कथामेवं शिवः संप्रत्यवर्णयत् ॥

Summary AI Then Śiva, with a desire to please her with sweet words, began to narrate a short story concerning her own divine power.

१.१.२७

अस्ति मामीक्षितुं पूर्वं ब्रह्मा नारायणस्तथा ।
महीं भ्रमन्तौ हिमवत्पादमूलमवापतुः ॥

Summary AI "Formerly, Brahmā and Nārāyaṇa, wandering the earth to behold me, reached the foot of the Himavat mountains."

१.१.२८

ततो ददृशतुस्तत्र ज्वालालिङ्गं महत्पुरः ।
तस्यान्तमीक्षितुं प्रायादेक ऊर्ध्वमधो ऽपरः ॥

Summary AI "There they beheld a great pillar of fire before them. To find its end, one went upwards and the other downwards."

१.१.२९

अलब्धान्तौ तपोभिर्मां तोषयामासतुश्च तौ ।
आविर्भूय मया चोक्तौ वरः को ऽप्यर्थ्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI "Failing to find the end, they gratified me with penances. Appearing before them, I said: 'Ask for any boon.'"

१.१.३०

तच्छ्रुत्वैवाब्रवीद्ब्रह्मा पुत्रो मे ऽस्तु भवानिति ।
अपूज्यस्तेन जातो ऽसावल्यारोहेण निन्दितः ॥

Summary AI "Upon hearing this, Brahmā said: 'May you become my son.' Because of that arrogant demand, he became unworthy of worship and was censured."

१.१.३१

ततो नारायणो देवः स वरं मामयाचत ।
भूयासं तव शुश्रूषापरो ऽहं भगवन्निति ॥

Summary AI "Then the god Nārāyaṇa asked me for this boon: 'O Lord, may I be ever devoted to your service.'"

१.१.३२

अतः शरीरभूतो ऽसौ मम जातस्त्वदात्मना ।
यो हि नारायणः सा त्वं शक्तिः शक्तिमतो मम ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, he became part of my body in your form; for she who is Nārāyaṇa is truly you, the power of me, the possessor of power."

१.१.३३

किं च मे पूर्वजाया त्वमित्युक्तवति शंकरे ।
कथं ते पुर्वजायाहमिति वक्ति स्म पार्वती ॥

Summary AI When Śaṅkara further said, "Moreover, you were my wife in a former life," Pārvatī asked, "How was I your former wife?"

१.१.३४

प्रत्युवाच ततो भर्गः पुरा दक्षप्रजापतेः ।
देवि त्वं च तथान्याश्च बह्व्यो ऽजायन्त कन्यकाः ॥

Summary AI Then Bharga replied: "O Goddess, in former times, you and many other daughters were born to the patriarch Dakṣa."

१.१.३५

स मह्यं भवतीं प्रादाद्धर्मादिभ्यो ऽपराश्च ताः ।
यज्ञे कदाचिदाहूतास्तेन जामातरो ऽखिलाः ॥

Summary AI "He gave you to me and the others to Dharma and the rest. Once, all his sons-in-law were invited by him to a sacrifice."

१.१.३६

वर्जितस्त्वहमेवैकस्ततो ऽपृच्छ्यत स त्वया ।
किं न भर्ता ममाहूतस्त्वया तातोच्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI "I alone was excluded. Then you asked him: 'O Father, tell me, why was my husband not invited by you?'"

१.१.३७

कपालमाली भर्ता ते कथमाहूयतां मखे ।
इत्युवाच गिरं सो ऽथ त्वत्कर्णविषसूचिकाम् ॥

Summary AI "Then he spoke words like poisoned needles to your ears: 'How can your skull-wearing husband be invited to a sacrifice?'"

१.१.३८

पापो ऽयमस्माज्जातेन किं देहेन ममामुना ।
इति कोपात्परित्यक्तं शरीरं तत्प्रिये त्वया ॥

Summary AI "'He is a sinner; what use have I for this body born of him?' Thus, O beloved, you abandoned that body in anger."

१.१.३९

स च दक्षमखस्तेन मन्युना नाशितो मया ।
ततो जाता हिमाद्रेस्त्वमब्धेश्चन्द्रकला यथा ॥

Summary AI "In that wrath, I destroyed the sacrifice of Dakṣa. Then you were born from the Himādri, like a digit of the moon from the ocean."

१.१.४०

अथ स्मर तुषाराद्रिं तपो ऽर्थमहमागतः ।
पिता त्वं च नियुङ्क्ते स्म शुश्रूषायै ममातिथेः ॥

Summary AI "Now remember, when I came to the snowy mountain for the sake of penance, your father appointed you to serve me as his guest."

१.१.४१

तारकान्तकमत्पुत्रप्राप्तये प्रहितः सुरैः ।
लब्धावकाशो ऽविध्यन्मां तत्र दग्धो मनोभवः ॥

Summary AI Sent by the gods to facilitate the birth of my son, the destroyer of Tāraka, the burnt Manobhava found an opportunity and pierced me there.

१.१.४२

ततस्तीव्रेण तपसा क्रीतो ऽहं धीरया त्वया ।
तच्च तत्संचयायैव मया सोढं तव प्रिये ॥

Summary AI Then, O steadfast one, I was won over by your intense penance. O beloved, I endured that suffering of yours only for the sake of accumulating its merit for you.

१.१.४३

इत्थं मे पूवजाया त्वं किमन्यत्कथ्यते तव ।
इत्युक्त्वा विरते शंभौ देवी कोपाकुलाब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI "Thus, you are my former wife; what more can be said to you?" When Śambhu finished speaking, the Goddess, agitated by anger, spoke.

१.१.४४

धूर्तस्त्वं न कथां हृद्यां कथयस्यर्थितो ऽपि सन् ।
गङ्गां वहन्नमन्संध्यां विजितो ऽसि न किं मम ॥

Summary AI "You are a deceiver; though requested, you do not tell a pleasing story. Bearing the Gaṅgā and bowing to Saṃdhyā, have you not been conquered by me?"

१.१.४५

तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रतिपेदे ऽस्य विहितानुनयो हरः ।
कथां कथयितुं दिव्यां ततः कोपं मुमोच सा ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, Hara, having offered conciliation, agreed to tell her a divine story. Then she abandoned her anger.

१.१.४६

नेह कैश्चित्प्रवेष्टव्यमित्युक्तेन तया स्वयम् ।
निरुद्धे नन्दिना द्वारे हरो वक्तुं प्रचक्रमे ॥

Summary AI When Nandin barred the door, as ordered by her that no one should enter, Hara began to narrate the story.

१.१.४७

एकान्तसुखिनो देवा मनुष्या नित्यदुःखिताः ।
दिव्यमानुषचेष्टा तु परभागे न हारिणी ॥

Summary AI Gods are exclusively happy, while humans are constantly miserable. The deeds of gods and humans, however, are not attractive when placed in contrast.

१.१.४८

विद्याधराणां चरितमतस्ते वर्णयाम्यहम् ।
इति देव्या हरो यावद्वक्ति तावदुपागमत् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, I shall describe to you the adventures of the Vidyādharas." While Hara was speaking thus to the Goddess, someone approached.

१.१.४९

प्रसादवित्तकः शंभोः पुष्पदन्तो गणोत्तमः ।
न्यषेधि च प्रवेशो ऽस्य नन्दिना द्वारि तिष्ठता ॥

Summary AI Puṣpadanta, the best of the Gaṇas and a favorite of Śambhu, arrived, but his entry was forbidden by Nandin standing at the door.