कथासरित्सागरः — द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः

द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः स मर्त्यवपुषा पुष्पदन्तः परिभ्रमन् ।
नाम्ना वररुचिः किं च कात्यायन इति श्रुतः ॥

Summary AI Then, wandering in human form, that Puṣpadanta became known by the name Vararuci and was also called Kātyāyana.

१.२.२

पारं संप्राप्य विद्यानां कृत्वा नन्दय मन्त्रिताम् ।
खिन्नः समाययौ द्रष्टुं कदाचिद्विन्ध्यवासिनीम् ॥

Summary AI After mastering all branches of knowledge and serving as a minister to King Nanda, he became weary and once went to visit the goddess Vindhyavāsinī.

१.२.३

तपसाराधिता देवी स्वप्नादेशेन सा च तम् ।
प्राहिणोद्विन्ध्यकान्तारं काणभूतिमवेक्षितुम् ॥

Summary AI Propitiated through penance, the goddess commanded him in a dream to go to the Vindhya forest to seek out Kāṇabhūti.

१.२.४

व्याघ्रवानरसंकीर्णे निस्तोयपरुषद्रुमे ।
भ्रमंस्तत्र च स प्रांशु न्यग्रोधतरुमैक्षत ॥

Summary AI While wandering there in the forest, which was filled with tigers and monkeys and had waterless, harsh trees, he saw a tall banyan tree.

१.२.५

ददर्श च समीपे ऽस्य पिशाचानां शतैर्वृतम् ।
काणभूतिं पिशाचं तं वर्ष्मणा सालसंनिभम् ॥

Summary AI Near that tree, he saw the piśāca Kāṇabhūti, who was surrounded by hundreds of other piśācas and possessed a body as tall as a Sāla tree.

१.२.६

स काणभूतिना दृष्ट्वा कृतपादोपसंग्रहः ।
कात्यायनो जगादैनमुपविष्टः क्षणान्तरे ॥

Summary AI Seen by Kāṇabhūti, Kātyāyana offered his respects by touching his feet and, sitting down after a moment, spoke to him.

१.२.७

सदाचारो भवानेवं कथमेतां गतिं गतः ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा कृतसौहार्दं काणभूतिस्तमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI "How did a person of virtuous conduct like you come to this state?" Hearing this, the friendly Kāṇabhūti replied to him.

१.२.८

स्वतो मे नास्ति विज्ञानं किं तु शर्वान्मया श्रुतम् ।
उज्जयिन्यां श्मशाने यच्छृणु तत्कथयामि ते ॥

Summary AI "I have no knowledge of my own, but I will tell you what I heard from Lord Śarva in the cremation ground of Ujjayinī; listen."

१.२.९

कपालेषु श्मशानेषु कस्माद्देव रतिस्तव ।
इति पृष्टस्ततो देव्या भगवानिदमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI When asked by the Goddess Pārvatī, "O Lord, why do you delight in skulls and cremation grounds?" the Lord replied as follows.

१.२.१०

पुरा कल्पक्षये वृत्ते जातं जलमयं जगत् ।
मया ततो विभिद्योरुं रक्तबिन्दुर्निपातितः ॥

Summary AI "Long ago, at the end of the Kalpa, the world became filled with water. Then, I pierced my thigh and let a drop of blood fall."

१.२.११

जलान्तस्तदभूदण्डं तस्माद्द्वेधाकृतात्पुमान् ।
निरगच्छत्ततः सृष्टा सर्गाय प्रकृतिर्मया ॥

Summary AI "Inside the water, that drop became an egg. From that egg, split in two, a primeval Man emerged. Then, I created Nature for the purpose of further creation."

१.२.१२

तौ च प्रजापतीनन्यान्सृष्टवन्तौ प्रजाश्च ते ।
अतः पितामहः प्रोक्तः स पुमाञ्जगति प्रिये ॥

Summary AI "O dear one, those two created other Lords of Creatures and all living beings. Therefore, that Man is called the Grandsire (Pitāmaha) in the world."

१.२.१३

एवं चराचरं सृष्ट्वा विश्वं दर्पमगादसौ ।
पुरुषस्तेन मूर्धानमथैतस्याहमच्छिदम् ॥

Summary AI "Having thus created the universe of moving and non-moving beings, that Man became arrogant. Therefore, I cut off his head."

१.२.१४

ततो ऽनुतापेन मया महाव्रतमगृह्यत ।
अतः कपालपाणित्वं श्मशानप्रियता च मे ॥

Summary AI "Out of remorse for that act, I undertook the Great Vow (Mahāvrata). This is why I carry a skull in my hand and delight in cremation grounds."

१.२.१५

किं चैतन्मे कपालात्म जगद्देवि करे स्थितम् ।
पूर्वोक्ताण्डकपाले द्वे रोदसी कीर्तिते यतः ॥

Summary AI "Moreover, O Goddess, this universe in the form of a skull rests in my hand, for the two halves of the previously mentioned egg-shell are known as heaven and earth."

१.२.१६

इत्युक्ते शंभुना तत्र श्रोष्यामीति सकौतुके ।
स्थिते मयि ततो भूयः पार्वती पतिमभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI While I remained there, listening with great curiosity to what Śambhu said, Pārvatī spoke again to her husband.

१.२.१७

स पुष्पदन्तः कियता कालेनास्मानुपैष्यति ।
तदाकर्ण्याब्रवीद्देवीं मामुद्दिश्य महेश्वरः ॥

Summary AI "How long will it be before Puṣpadanta returns to us?" Hearing this, Maheśvara addressed the Goddess, referring to me.

१.२.१८

पिशाचो दृश्यते यो ऽयमेष वैश्रवणानुगः ।
यक्षो मित्रमभूच्चास्य रक्षः स्थूलशिरा इति ॥

Summary AI "This piśāca who is seen here was an attendant of Vaiśravaṇa, a yakṣa. He had a friend, a rākṣasa named Sthūlaśiras."

१.२.१९

संगतं तेन पापेन निरीक्ष्यैनं धनाधिपः ।
विन्ध्याटव्यां पिशाचत्वमादिशद्धनदेश्वरः ॥

Summary AI "Seeing him associating with that sinful being, the Lord of Wealth (Dhanadeśvara) cursed him to become a piśāca in the Vindhya forest."

१.२.२०

भ्रात्रास्य दीर्घजङ्घेन पतित्वा् पादयोस्ततः ।
शापान्तं प्रति विज्ञप्तो वदति स्म धनाधिपः ॥

Summary AI "Then, when his brother DīrghajaṄgha fell at the feet of the Lord of Wealth and pleaded for an end to the curse, the Lord spoke."

१.२.२१

शापावतीर्णादाकर्ण्य पुष्पदन्तान्महाकथाम् ।
उक्त्वा माल्यवते तां च शापात्प्राप्ताय मर्त्यताम् ॥

Summary AI Having heard the Great Tale from Puṣpadanta, who had descended to earth due to a curse, and after narrating it to Mālyavān, who had also become a mortal by a curse.

१.२.२२

ताभ्यां गणाभ्यां सहितः शापमेनं तरिष्यति ।
इतीह धनदेनास्य शापान्तो विहितस्तदा ॥

Summary AI "He will overcome this curse along with those two Gaṇas." Thus, the end of his curse was ordained by Dhanada (the Lord of Wealth) at that time.

१.२.२३

त्वया च पुष्पदन्तस्य स एवेति स्मर प्रिये ।
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचः शम्भोः सहर्षो ऽहमिहागतः ॥

Summary AI "O beloved, remember that this is the very end of Puṣpadanta's curse." Having heard these words of Śambhu, I have come here filled with joy.

१.२.२४

इत्थं मे शापदोषो ऽयं पुष्पदन्तागमावधिः ।
इत्युक्त्वा विरते तस्मिन्काणभूतौ च तत्क्षणम् ॥

Summary AI "Thus, the duration of my curse is until the arrival of Puṣpadanta." When he finished speaking, at that very moment, Kāṇabhūti...

१.२.२५

स्मृत्वा वररुचिर्जातिं सुप्तोत्थित इवावदत् ।
स एव पुष्पदन्तो ऽहं मत्तस्तां च कथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI Recalling his former birth like one waking from sleep, Vararuci said: "I am that very Puṣpadanta; hear that Great Tale from me."

१.२.२६

इत्युक्त्वा ग्रन्थलक्षाणि सप्त सप्त महाकथाः ।
कात्यायनेन कथिताः काणभूतिस्ततो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Having said this, seven Great Tales consisting of seven hundred thousand verses were narrated by Kātyāyana (Vararuci); then Kāṇabhūti spoke.

१.२.२७

देव रुद्रावतारस्त्वं को ऽन्यो वेत्ति कथामिमाम् ।
त्वत्प्रसादाद्गतप्रायः स शापो मे शरीरतः ॥

Summary AI "O Lord, you are an incarnation of Rudra; who else knows this story? By your grace, that curse has almost departed from my body."

१.२.२८

तद्ब्रूहि निजवृत्तन्तं जन्मनः प्रभृति प्रभो ।
मां पवित्रय भूयो ऽपि न गोप्यं यदि मादृशे ॥

Summary AI "O Lord, therefore, tell your own story from birth onwards. If it is not to be kept secret from one like me, purify me once again."

१.२.२९

ततो वररुचिस्तस्य प्रणतस्यानुरोधतः ।
सर्वमाजन्मवृत्तान्तं विस्तरादिदमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Then, at the request of the bowing Kāṇabhūti, Vararuci narrated his entire life story from birth in great detail.

१.२.३०

कौशाम्ब्यां सोमदत्ताख्यो नाम्नाग्निशिख इत्यपि ।
द्विजो ऽभूत्तस्य भार्या च वसुदत्ताभिधाभवत् ॥

Summary AI In the city of Kauśāmbī, there was a Brāhmaṇa named Somadatta, also known as Agniśikha; his wife was named Vasudattā.

१.२.३१

मुनिकन्या च सा शापात्तस्यां जाताववातरत् ।
तस्यां तस्माद्द्विजवरादेष जातो ऽस्मि शापतः ॥

Summary AI She was the daughter of a sage, born there due to a curse; I was born of her from that excellent Brāhmaṇa due to a curse.

१.२.३२

ततो ममातिबालस्य पिता पञ्चत्वमागतः ।
अतिष्ठद्वर्धयन्ती तु माता मां कृच्छ्रकर्मभिः ॥

Summary AI Then, while I was still a very young child, my father passed away. My mother continued to raise me through difficult labors.

१.२.३३

अथाभ्यगच्छतां विप्रौ द्वावस्मद्गृहमेकदा ।
एकरात्रिनिवासार्थं दूराध्वपरिधूसरौ ॥

Summary AI Once, two Brāhmaṇas, dusty from a long journey, came to our house to seek shelter for a single night.

१.२.३४

तिष्ठतोस्तत्र च तयोरुदभून्मुरजध्वनिः ।
तेन मामब्रवीन्माता भर्तुः स्मृत्वा सगद्गदम् ॥

Summary AI While they were staying there, the sound of a drum arose. Hearing it, my mother, remembering her late husband, spoke to me with a choked voice.

१.२.३५

नृत्यत्येष पितुर्मित्त्रं तव नन्दो नटः सुत ।
अहमप्यवदं मातर्द्रष्टुमेतद्व्रजाम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI "O son, your father’s friend, the actor Nanda, is dancing." I replied, "O mother, I am going to see this."

१.२.३६

तवापि दर्शयिष्यामि सपाठं सर्वमेव तत् ।
एतन्मद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विप्रौ तौ विस्मयं गतौ ॥

Summary AI "I will show you everything, along with the recitation." Hearing these words of mine, those two Brāhmaṇas were filled with wonder.

१.२.३७

अवोचत्तौ च मन्माता हे पुत्रौ नात्र संशयः ।
सकृच्छ्रुतमयं बालः सर्वं वै धारयेद्धृदि ॥

Summary AI My mother told them, "O sons, there is no doubt about this; this boy can retain in his heart everything he hears even once."

१.२.३८

जिज्ञासार्थमथाभ्यां मे प्रातिशाख्यमपठ्यत ।
तथैव तन्मया सर्वं पठितं पश्यतोस्तयोः ॥

Summary AI Then, for the sake of testing, a Prātiśākhya was recited to me by them; I recited it all back exactly as it was while they watched.

१.२.३९

ततस्ताभ्यां समं गत्वा दृष्ट्वा नाट्यं तथैव तत् ।
गृहमेत्याग्रतो मातुः समग्रं दर्शितं मया ॥

Summary AI Then, after going with them and watching the play, I returned home and demonstrated the entire performance before my mother.

१.२.४०

एकश्रुतधरत्वेन मां निश्चित्य कथामिमाम् ।
व्याडिनामा तयोरेको मन्मातुः प्रणतो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Having confirmed that I was an ekaśrutadhara (one who remembers after a single hearing), one of them named Vyāḍi bowed to my mother and told this story.

१.२.४१

वेतसाख्ये पुरे मातर्देवस्वामिकरम्भकौ ।
अभूतां भ्रातरौ विप्रावतिप्रीतौ परस्परम् ॥

Summary AI Mother, in the city named Vetasa, there lived two brahmin brothers named Devasvāmin and Karambhaka, who were deeply affectionate toward each other.

१.२.४२

तयोरेकस्य पुत्रो ऽयमिन्द्रदत्तो ऽपरस्य च ।
अहं व्याडिः समुत्पन्नो मत्पितास्तं गतस्ततः ॥

Summary AI Indradatta was born as the son of one of those brothers, and I, Vyāḍi, was born as the son of the other; subsequently, my father passed away.

१.२.४३

तच्छोकादिन्द्रदत्तस्य पिता यातो महापथम् ।
अस्मज्जनन्योश्च ततः स्फुटितं हृदयं शुचा ॥

Summary AI Out of grief for my father, Indradatta’s father also departed on the great journey of death, and then the hearts of both our mothers burst from sorrow.

१.२.४४

तेनानाथौ सति धने ऽप्यावां विद्याभिकाङ्क्षिणौ ।
गतौ प्रार्थयितुं स्वामिकुमारं तपसा ततः ॥

Summary AI Consequently, though we possessed wealth, we became orphans. Desiring knowledge, we went to propitiate Lord Svāmikumāra through penance.

१.२.४५

तपःस्थितौ च तत्रावां स स्वप्ने प्रभुरादिशत् ।
अस्ति पाटलिकं नाम पुरं नन्दस्य भूपतेः ॥

Summary AI While we were performing penance there, the Lord commanded us in a dream: "There is a city named Pāṭalika belonging to King Nanda."

१.२.४६

तत्रास्ति चैको वर्षाख्यो विप्रस्तस्मादवाप्स्यथः ।
कृत्स्नां विद्यामतस्तत्र युवाभ्यां गम्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI "There lives a brahmin named Varṣa; from him, you both shall obtain all knowledge. Therefore, you must go there."

१.२.४७

अथावां तत्पुरं यातौ पृच्छतोस्तत्र चावयोः ।
अस्तीह मूर्खो वर्षाख्यो विप्र इत्यवदज्जनः ॥

Summary AI Then we reached that city, and when we made inquiries there, the people told us, "A foolish brahmin named Varṣa lives here."

१.२.४८

ततो दोलाधिरूढेन गत्वा चित्तेन तत्क्षणम् ।
गृहमावामपश्याव वर्षस्य विधुरस्थिति ॥

Summary AI Then, with hearts wavering like a swing, we went and immediately saw the house of Varṣa, which was in a wretched condition.

१.२.४९

मूषकैः कृतवल्मीकं भित्तिविश्लेषजर्जरम् ।
विच्छायं छदिषा हीनं जन्मक्षेत्रमिवापदाम् ॥

Summary AI With ant-hills made by mice, walls crumbling from cracks, devoid of luster and lacking a roof, it appeared like the very birthplace of misfortunes.

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