कथासरित्सागरः — तृतीयस्तरङ्गः

तृतीयस्तरङ्गः ।

एवमुक्त्वा वररुचिः शृण्वत्येकाग्रमानसे ।
काणभूतौ वने तत्र पुनरेवेदमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI After saying this, as Kāṇabhūti listened with a focused mind, Vararuci spoke these words again in that forest.

१.३.२

कदाचिद्याति काले ऽथ कृते स्वाध्यायकर्मणि ।
इति वर्ष उपाद्यायः पृष्टो ऽस्माभिः कृताह्निकः ॥

Summary AI As time passed, once when the daily Vedic studies and morning rituals were completed, we questioned our teacher Varṣa.

१.३.३

इदमेवंविधं कस्मान्नगरं क्षेत्रतां गतम् ।
सरस्वत्याश्च लक्ष्म्याश्च तदुपाध्याय कथ्यताम् ॥

Summary AI "O Teacher! Why has this city become the common dwelling place of both Sarasvatī and Lakṣmī? Please tell us that."

१.३.४

तच्छ्रुत्वा सो ऽब्रवीदस्माञ्छृणुतैतत्कथामिमाम् ।
तीर्थं कनखलं नाम गङ्गाद्वारे ऽस्ति पावनम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, he said to us, "Listen to this story. There is a sacred place of pilgrimage named Kanakhala at the gate of the Gaṅgā."

१.३.५

यत्र काञ्चनपातेन जाह्नवी देवदन्तिना ।
उशीनरगिरिप्रस्थाद्भित्त्वा समवतारिता ॥

Summary AI It is the place where the river Jāhnavī was brought down by the divine elephant striking with gold, breaking through the slopes of Mount Uśīnara.

१.३.६

दाक्षिणात्यो द्विजः कश्चित्तपस्यन्भार्यया सह ।
तत्रासीत्तस्य चात्रैव जायन्ते स्म त्रयः सुताः ॥

Summary AI A certain brāhmaṇa from the south lived there performing penance with his wife, and three sons were born to him in that very place.

१.३.७

कालेन स्वर्गते तस्मिन्सभार्ये ते च तत्सुताः ।
स्थानं राजगृहं नाम जग्मुर्विद्यार्जनेच्छया ॥

Summary AI In the course of time, when he and his wife went to heaven, their sons went to the city named Rājagṛha, desiring to acquire knowledge.

१.३.८

तत्र चाधीतविद्यास्ते त्रयो ऽप्यानाथ्यदुःखिताः ।
ययुः स्वामिकुमारस्य दर्शने दक्षिणापथम् ॥

Summary AI Having completed their studies there, the three of them, distressed by their helpless state, traveled to the southern region (Dakṣiṇāpatha) to see Lord Svāmī Kumāra.

१.३.९

तत्र ते चिञ्चिनीं नाम नगरीमम्बुधेस्तटे ।
गत्वा भोजिकसंज्ञस्य विप्रस्य न्यवसन्गृहे ॥

Summary AI There, having reached a city named Ciñcinī on the shore of the ocean, they lived in the house of a brāhmaṇa named Bhojika.

१.३.१०

स च कन्या निजास्तिस्रस्तेभ्यो दत्त्वा धनानि च ।
तपसे ऽनन्यसंतानो गङ्गां याति स्म भोजिकः ॥

Summary AI That Bhojika, having no other offspring, gave his three daughters and his wealth to them, and then departed for the Gaṅgā to perform penance.

१.३.११

अथ तेषां निवसतां तत्र श्वशुरवेश्मनि ।
अवग्रहकृतस्तीव्रो दुर्भिक्षः समजायत ॥

Summary AI Then, while they were living in their father-in-law's house, a severe famine caused by drought occurred.

१.३.१२

तेन भार्याः परित्यज्य साध्वीस्तास्ते त्रयो ययुः ।
स्पृशन्ति न नृशंसानां हृदयं बन्धुबुद्धयः ॥

Summary AI Because of that famine, those three men abandoned their virtuous wives and left; indeed, thoughts of kinship do not touch the hearts of the cruel.

१.३.१३

ततस्तु मध्यमा तासां सगर्भाभूत्ततश्च ताः ।
भवनं यज्ञदत्तस्य पितृमित्रस्य शिश्रियुः ॥

Summary AI Then the middle sister among them became pregnant, and they all sought refuge in the house of Yajñadatta, their father's friend.

१.३.१४

तत्र तस्थुर्निजान्भर्तॄन्ध्यायन्त्यः क्लिष्टवृत्तयः ।
आपद्यपि सतीवृत्तं किं मुञ्चन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ॥

Summary AI They stayed there, constantly thinking of their husbands and living a difficult life; for do noble-born women ever abandon their virtuous conduct even in times of calamity?

१.३.१५

कालेन मध्यमा चात्र तासां पुत्रमसूत सा ।
अन्योन्यातिशयात्तस्मिन्स्नेहश्चासामवर्धत ॥

Summary AI In time, the middle sister gave birth to a son, and their mutual affection for the child grew exceedingly.

१.३.१६

कदाचिद्व्योममार्गेण विहरन्तं महेश्वरम् ।
अङ्कस्था स्कन्दजननी तं दृष्ट्वा सदयावदत् ॥

Summary AI Once, seeing Maheśvara wandering through the sky, Skanda-jananī, seated on his lap, spoke to him with compassion.

१.३.१७

देव पश्य शिशावस्मिन्नेतास्तिस्रो ऽपि योषितः ।
बद्धस्नेहा दधत्याशामेषो ऽस्माञ्जीवयेदिति ॥

Summary AI "O Lord! See, these three women have fixed their affection on this child and hold the hope that he will support them."

१.३.१८

तत्तथा कुरु येनायमेता बालो ऽपि जीवयेत् ।
इत्युक्तः प्रियया देवो वरदः स जगाद ताम् ॥

Summary AI "So, act in such a way that this child, even while young, may support them." Being addressed thus by his beloved, the boon-granting Lord replied to her.

१.३.१९

अनुगृह्णाम्यमुं पूर्वं सभार्येणामुना यतः ।
अराधितो ऽस्मि तेनायं भोगार्थं निर्मितो भुवि ॥

Summary AI "I favor him because he, along with his wife, worshipped me in a previous life. Therefore, he is created on earth for the purpose of enjoyment."

१.३.२०

एतज्जाया च सा जाता पाटली नाम भूपतेः ।
महेन्द्रवर्मणः पुत्री भार्यास्यैव भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI "And his former wife is born as the daughter of King Mahendravarman, named Pāṭalī; she indeed will become his wife."

१.३.२१

इत्युक्त्वा स विभुः स्वप्ने साध्वीस्तिस्रो जगाद ताः ।
नाम्ना पुत्रक एवायं युष्माकं बालपुत्रकः ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus, the divine being addressed those three virtuous women in a dream: "This young son of yours shall be known by the name Putraka."

१.३.२२

अस्य सुप्तप्रबुद्धस्य शीर्षान्ते च दिने दिने ।
सुवर्णलक्षं भविता राजा चायं भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI Every day, at the head of this boy's bed when he awakens, there will be a hundred thousand gold coins, and he will eventually become a king.

१.३.२३

ततः सुप्तोत्थिते तस्मिन्बाले ताः प्राप्य काञ्चनम् ।
यज्ञदत्तसुताः साध्व्यो ननन्दुः फलितव्रताः ॥

Summary AI Then, when the boy woke up, those virtuous daughters of Yajñadatta found the gold and rejoiced, seeing their penance finally bear fruit.

१.३.२४

अथ तेन सुवर्णेन वृद्धकोषो ऽचिरेण सः ।
बभूव पुत्रको राजा तपोधीना हि संपदः ॥

Summary AI Soon, through that gold, Putraka's treasury increased and he became a king; for indeed, all wealth is subject to the power of asceticism.

१.३.२५

कदाचिद्यज्ञदत्तो ऽथ रहः पुत्रकमब्रवीत् ।
राजन्दुर्भिक्षदोषेण क्वापि तेपितरो गताः ॥

Summary AI Once, Yajñadatta spoke to Putraka in private: "O King, your parents have departed to some unknown place due to the hardships of a famine."

१.३.२६

तत्सदा देहि विप्रेभ्यो येनायान्ति विशम्य ते ।
ब्रह्मदत्तकथां चैतां कथयाम्यत्र ते शृणु ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, give constantly to the Brāhmaṇas so that your parents may hear and return. I shall relate the story of Brahmadatta to you; listen."

१.३.२७

वाराणस्यामभूत्पूर्वं ब्रह्मदत्ताभिधो नृपः ।
सो ऽपश्यद्धंसयुगलं प्रयान्तं गगने निशि ॥

Summary AI Long ago, in Vārāṇasī, there lived a king named Brahmadatta. One night, he beheld a pair of swans flying through the sky.

१.३.२८

विस्फुरत्कनकच्छायं राजहंसशतैर्वृतम् ।
विद्युत्पुञ्जमिवाकाण्डसिताभ्रपरिवेष्टितम् ॥

Summary AI They possessed the luster of shimmering gold and were surrounded by hundreds of king-swans, like a flash of lightning amidst unexpected white clouds.

१.३.२९

पुनस्तद्दर्शनोत्कण्ठा तथास्य ववृधे ततः ।
यथा नृपतिसौख्येषु न बबन्ध रतिं क्वचित् ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, his longing to see them again grew so intense that he no longer found any pleasure in the luxuries of his royal state.

१.३.३०

मन्त्रिभिः सह संमन्त्र्य ततश्चाकारयत्सरः ।
स राजा स्वमते कान्तं प्राणिनां चाभयं ददौ ॥

Summary AI After consulting with his ministers, the king had a beautiful lake constructed according to his design and granted safety to all creatures there.

१.३.३१

ततः कालेन तौ प्राप्तौ हंसौ राजा ददर्श सः ।
विश्वस्तौ चापि पप्रच्छ हैमे वपुषि कारणम् ॥

Summary AI In time, the king saw those two swans arrive; as they were unafraid, he questioned them about the cause of their golden bodies.

१.३.३२

व्यक्तवाचौ ततस्तौ च हंसौ राजानमूचतुः ।
पुरा जन्मान्तरे काकावावां जातौ महीपते ॥

Summary AI Speaking clearly, the two swans replied to the king: "O monarch, in a previous life, we were born as two crows."

१.३.३३

बल्यर्थं युध्यमानौ च पुण्ये शून्ये शिवालये ।
विनिपत्य विपन्नौ स्वस्तत्स्थानद्रोणिकान्तरे ॥

Summary AI "While fighting for an offering in a holy, deserted temple of Śiva, we fell into a stone water-trough and perished there."

१.३.३४

जातौ जातिस्मरावावां हंसौ हेममयौ ततः ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा तौ यथाकामं पश्यन्राजा तुतोष सः ॥

Summary AI "Consequently, we were reborn as golden swans with the memory of our past life." Hearing this, the king was delighted, watching them freely.

१.३.३५

अतो ऽनन्यादृशादेव पितृन्दानादवाप्स्यसि ।
इत्युक्तो यज्ञदत्तेन पुत्रकस्तत्तथाकरोत् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, you will regain your parents only through extraordinary charity." Advised thus by Yajñadatta, Putraka acted accordingly.

१.३.३६

श्रुत्वा प्रदानवार्तां तामाययुस्ते द्विजातयः ।
परिज्ञाताः परां लक्ष्मीं पत्नीश्च सह लेभिरे ॥

Summary AI Hearing the news of his great charity, those Brāhmaṇas came; once recognized, they received immense wealth along with their wives.

१.३.३७

आश्चर्यमपरित्याज्यो दृष्टनष्टापदामपि ।
अविवेकान्धबुद्धीनां स्वानुभावो दुरात्मनाम् ॥

Summary AI It is a marvel that the innate nature of the wicked, whose minds are blinded by ignorance, is never abandoned even after facing and escaping disasters.

१.३.३८

कालेन राज्यकामास्ते पुत्रकं तं जिघांसवः ।
निन्युस्तद्दर्शनव्याजाद्द्विजा विन्ध्यनिवासिनीम् ॥

Summary AI In time, those Brāhmaṇas, desiring the kingdom and wishing to kill Putraka, led him to the shrine of Goddess Vindhyavāsinī under the pretext of visiting.

१.३.३९

वधकान्स्थापयित्वा च देवीगर्भगृहान्तरे ।
तमूचुः पूर्वमेकस्त्वं पश्य देवीं व्रजान्तरम् ॥

Summary AI Having stationed assassins inside the inner chamber of the temple, they told him: "Go inside alone first and behold the Goddess."

१.३.४०

ततः प्रविष्टो विश्वासात्स दृष्ट्वा हन्तुमुद्यतान् ।
पुरुषान्पुत्रको ऽपृच्छत्कस्मान्निहथ मामिति ॥

Summary AI Entering out of trust, Putraka saw the men ready to kill him and asked: "Why are you going to slay me?"

१.३.४१

पितृभिस्ते प्रयुक्ताः स्मः स्वर्णं दत्त्वेति चाब्रुवन् ।
ततस्तान्मोहितान्देव्या बुद्धिमान्पुत्रको ऽवदत् ॥

Summary AI They said, "We have been employed by your uncles with gifts of gold." Then the intelligent Putraka spoke to them, who had been deluded by the Goddess.

१.३.४२

ददाम्येतदनर्घं वो रत्नालंकरणं निजम् ।
मां मुञ्चत करोम्यत्र नोद्भेदं यामि दूरतः ॥

Summary AI "I give you this priceless jewel-ornament of my own. Release me. I will not reveal anything here and will go far away."

१.३.४३

एवमस्त्विति तत्तस्माद्गृहीत्वा वधका गताः ।
हतः पुत्रक इत्यूचुस्तत्पितॄणां पुरो मृसा ॥

Summary AI Saying "So be it," the executioners took the ornament from him and left. They falsely told his uncles that Putraka had been killed.

१.३.४४

ततः प्रतिनिवृत्तास्ते हता राज्यार्थिनो द्विजाः ।
मन्त्रिभिर्द्रोहिणो बुद्ध्वा कृतघ्नानां शिवं कुतः ॥

Summary AI Then those kingdom-seeking Brāhmaṇas, having returned, were identified as traitors by the ministers and killed. How can there be well-being for the ungrateful?

१.३.४५

अत्रान्तरे स राजापि पुत्रकः सत्यसंगरः ।
विवेश विन्ध्यकान्तारं विरक्तः स्वेषु बन्धुषु ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, King Putraka, true to his word and detached from his relatives, entered the Vindhya forest.

१.३.४६

भ्रमन्ददर्श तत्रासौ बाहुयुद्धैकतत्परौ ।
पुरुषौ द्वौ ततस्तौ स पृष्टवान्कौ युवामिति ॥

Summary AI While wandering there, he saw two men engaged solely in wrestling. Then he asked them, "Who are you two?"

१.३.४७

मयासुरसुतावावां तदीयं चास्ति नौ धनम् ।
इदं भाजनमेषा च यष्टिरेते च पादुके ॥

Summary AI "We are the sons of the Asura Maya. This is our inheritance from him: this vessel, this staff, and these sandals."

१.३.४८

एतन्निमित्तं युद्धं नौ यो बली स हरेदिति ।
एतत्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हसन्प्रोवाच पुत्रकः ॥

Summary AI "Our fight is over these; whoever is stronger shall take them." Hearing their words, Putraka laughed and spoke.

१.३.४९

कियदेतद्धनं पुंसस्ततस्तौ समवोचताम् ।
पादुके परिधायैते खेचरत्वमवाप्यते ॥

Summary AI "How much value does this wealth have for a man?" Then they replied, "By wearing these sandals, the power of flying in the air is obtained."

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