कथासरित्सागरः — पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः

पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः ।

एवमुक्त्वा वररुचिः पुनरेतदवर्णयत् ।
कालेन योगनन्दो ऽथ कामादिवशमाययौ ॥

Summary AI Having said this, Vararuci continued his narration: In time, Yogananda fell under the influence of lust and other passions.

१.५.२

गजेन्द्र इव मत्तश्च नापैक्षत स किंचन ।
अकाण्डपातोपनता कं न लक्ष्मीर्विमोहयेत् ॥

Summary AI Intoxicated like a mighty elephant, he disregarded everything. Whom does wealth, arriving suddenly and unexpectedly, not delude?

१.५.३

अचिन्तयं ततश्चाहं राजा तावद्विशृङ्खलः ।
तत्कार्यचिन्तयाक्रान्तः स्वधर्मो मे ऽवसीदति ॥

Summary AI Then I thought, "The King is completely unrestrained. Burdened with the concerns of his affairs, my own duty is suffering."

१.५.४

तस्माद्वरं सहायं तं शकटालं समुद्धरे ।
क्रियेता चेद्विरुद्धं च किं द कुर्यान्मयि स्थिते ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, it is better that I rescue Śakaṭāla to be my assistant. If he acts against me, what can he possibly do while I am here?"

१.५.५

निश्चित्यैतन्मयाभ्यर्थ्य राजानं सो ऽन्धकूपतः ।
उद्धृतः शकटालो ऽथ मृदवो हि द्विजातयः ॥

Summary AI Having decided this, I petitioned the King, and Śakaṭāla was pulled out from the dark well; for indeed, brāhmaṇas are soft-hearted.

१.५.६

दुर्जयो योगनन्दो ऽयं स्थिते वररुचावतः ।
आश्रये वैतसीं वृत्तिं कालं तावत्प्रतीक्षितुम् ॥

Summary AI Śakaṭāla thought, "While Vararuci is present, this Yogananda is invincible. Therefore, to bide my time, I shall adopt the policy of a reed."

१.५.७

इति संचिन्त्य स प्राज्ञः शकटालो मदिच्छया ।
अकरोद्राजकार्याणि पुनः संप्राप्य मन्त्रिताम् ॥

Summary AI Reflecting thus, the wise Śakaṭāla, with my consent, regained his ministership and performed the King's business.

१.५.८

कदाचिद्योगनन्दो ऽथ निर्गतो नगराद्वहिः ।
श्लिष्यत्पञ्चाङ्गुलिं हस्तं गङ्गामध्ये व्यलोकयत् ॥

Summary AI Once, while going outside the city, Yogananda saw a hand with five fingers joined together rising in the middle of the Gaṅgā.

१.५.९

किमेतदिति पप्रच्छ मामाहूय स तत्क्षणम् ।
अहं च द्वे निजाङ्गुल्यौ दिशि तस्यामदर्शयम् ॥

Summary AI He immediately summoned me and asked, "What is this?" I, in turn, showed two of my own fingers toward that direction.

१.५.१०

तेन तस्मिंस्तिरोभूते हस्ते राजातिविस्मयात् ।
भूयो ऽपि तदपृच्छन्मां ततश्चाहं तमब्रवम् ॥

Summary AI When the hand disappeared because of that gesture, the King, in great wonder, asked me about it again, and I said to him:

१.५.११

पञ्चभिर्मिलितैः किं यज्जगतीह न साध्यते ।
इत्युक्तवानसौ हस्तः श्वाङ्गुलीः पञ्च दर्शयन् ॥

Summary AI "By showing its five fingers, that hand was saying, 'What is there in this world that cannot be accomplished when five are united?'"

१.५.१२

ततो ऽस्य राजन्नङ्गुल्यावेते द्वे दर्शिते मया ।
ऐकचित्ये द्वयोरेव किमसाध्यं भवेदिति ॥

Summary AI "O King, I then showed it these two fingers to signify, 'If even two are of one mind, what would be impossible?'"

१.५.१३

इत्युक्ते गूढविज्ञाने समतुष्यत्ततो नृपः ।
शकटालो व्यषीदच्च मद्बुद्धिं वीक्ष्य दुर्जयाम् ॥

Summary AI When this hidden meaning was explained, the King was pleased, but Śakaṭāla became despondent upon seeing my invincible intellect.

१.५.१४

एकदा योगनन्दश्च दृष्टवान्महिषीं निजाम् ।
वातायनाग्रात्पश्यन्तीं ब्राह्मणातिथिमुन्मुखम् ॥

Summary AI Once, Yogananda saw his queen looking out from a window at a brāhmaṇa guest with an upturned face.

१.५.१५

तन्मात्रादेव कुपितो राजा विप्रस तस्य सः ।
आदिशद्बधमीर्ष्या हि विवेकपरिपन्थिनी ॥

Summary AI The King, enraged by just that, ordered the execution of that brāhmaṇa; for jealousy is indeed the enemy of discernment.

१.५.१६

हन्तुं वध्यभुवं तस्मिन्नीयमाने द्विजे तदा ।
अहसद्गतजीवो ऽपि मत्स्यो विपणिमध्यगः ॥

Summary AI When that brāhmaṇa was being led to the execution ground to be killed, even a dead fish in the middle of the market laughed.

१.५.१७

तदैव राजा तद्बुद्ध्वा वधं तस्य न्यवारयत् ।
विप्रस्य मामपृच्छच्च मत्स्यहासस्य कारणम् ॥

Summary AI Immediately upon learning of this, the King stayed the execution of the brāhmaṇa and asked me the reason for the fish's laughter.

१.५.१८

निरूप्य कथयाम्येतदित्युक्त्वा निर्गतं च माम् ।
चिन्तितोपस्थितैकान्ते सरस्वत्येवमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI After I said, "I will explain this after investigation," and went out, the Goddess Sarasvatī appeared in a secluded spot upon being thought of and spoke thus:

१.५.१९

अस्य तालतरोः पृष्ठे तिष्ठ रात्राबलक्षितः ।
अत्र श्रोष्यसि मत्स्यस्य हासहेतुमसंशयम् ॥

Summary AI "Stay hidden tonight behind this palmyra tree; here you will undoubtedly hear the reason for the fish's laughter."

१.५.२०

तच्छ्रुत्वा निशि तत्राहं गत्वा तालोपरि स्थितः ।
अपश्यं राक्षसीं घोरां बालैः पुत्रैः सहागतम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, I went there at night and stayed atop the palmyra tree, where I saw a terrible ogress arrive with her young sons.

१.५.२१

सा भक्ष्यं याचमानांस्तानवादीत्प्रतिपाल्यताम् ।
प्रातर्वो विप्रमांसानि दास्याम्यद्य हतो न सः ॥

Summary AI She spoke to those requesting food, saying, "Wait. I will give you the flesh of the Brāhmaṇa tomorrow morning; today he has not been killed."

१.५.२२

कस्मात्स न हतो ऽद्येति पृष्टा तैरब्रवीत्पुनः ।
तं हि दृष्ट्व मृतो ऽपीह मत्स्यो हसितवानिति ॥

Summary AI When asked by them why he was not killed today, she replied again, "Indeed, seeing him, even a dead fish here laughed."

१.५.२३

हसितं किमु तेनेति पृष्टा भूयः सुतैश्च सा ।
अवोचद्राक्षसी राज्ञः सर्वा राज्ञो ऽपि विप्लुताः ॥

Summary AI Questioned again by her children as to why it laughed, the Rākṣasī said, "All the king’s wives are corrupted, even those belonging to the king."

१.५.२४

सर्वत्रान्तःपुरे ह्यत्र स्त्रीरूपाः पुरुषाः स्थिताः ।
हन्यते ऽनपराधस्तु विप्र इत्यहसत्तिमिः ॥

Summary AI "Indeed, everywhere in this inner apartment, men disguised as women are residing. The fish laughed because an innocent Brāhmaṇa is being killed."

१.५.२५

भूतानां पार्थिवात्यर्थनिर्विवेकत्वहासिनाम् ।
सर्वान्तश्चारिणां ह्येता भवन्त्येव च विक्रियाः ॥

Summary AI Such transformations indeed occur in beings who move everywhere and laugh at the extreme lack of discernment in kings.

१.५.२६

एतत्तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा ततो ऽपक्रान्तवाहनम् ।
प्राप्तश्च मत्स्यहासस्य हेतुं राज्ञे न्यवेदयम् ॥

Summary AI Having heard her words and subsequently reached the place where the vehicle had left, I reported the reason for the fish's laughter to the king.

१.५.२७

प्राप्य चान्तःपुरेभ्यस्तान्स्त्रीरूपान्पुरुषांस्ततः ।
बह्वमन्यत मां राजा वधाद्विप्रं च मुक्तवान् ॥

Summary AI Then, after discovering those men disguised as women in the inner apartments, the king held me in high regard and released the Brāhmaṇa from execution.

१.५.२८

इत्यादि चेष्टितं दृष्ट्वा तस्य राज्ञो विशृङ्खलम् ।
खिन्ने मयि कदाचिच्च तत्रागाच्चित्रकृन्नवः ॥

Summary AI Seeing such unrestrained behavior of that king, while I was distressed, a new painter arrived there one day.

१.५.२९

अलिखत्स महादेवीं योगनन्दं च तं पटे ।
सजीवमिव तच्चित्रं वाक्चेष्टारहितं त्वभूत् ॥

Summary AI He painted the queen and Yogananda on a canvas; the painting appeared life-like, though it was devoid of speech and movement.

१.५.३०

तं च चित्रकरं राजा तुष्टो वित्तैरपूरयत् ।
तं च वासगृहे चित्रपटं भित्तावकारयत् ॥

Summary AI The satisfied king rewarded the painter with wealth and had that painted canvas placed on the wall of his bedchamber.

१.५.३१

एकदा च प्रविष्टस्य वासके तत्र सा मम ।
संपूर्णलक्षणा देवी प्रतिभाति स्म चित्रगा ॥

Summary AI Once, as I entered that bedchamber, the queen depicted in the painting appeared to me as possessing all auspicious marks.

१.५.३२

लक्षणान्तरसंबन्धादभ्यूह्य प्रतिभावशात् ।
अथाकार्षमहं तस्यास्तिलकं मेखलापदे ॥

Summary AI Then, inferring through my intuition and the connection with other marks, I added a mole on her hip in the painting.

१.५.३३

संपूर्णलक्षणां तेन कृत्वैनां गतवानहम् ।
प्रविष्टो योगनन्दो ऽथ तिलकं तं व्यलोकयत् ॥

Summary AI Having made her complete in marks with that mole, I departed. Then, Yogananda, having entered, noticed that mole.

१.५.३४

केनायं रचितो ऽत्रेति सो ऽपृच्छच्च महत्तरान् ।
ते च न्यवेदयंस्तस्मै कर्तारं तिलकस्य माम् ॥

Summary AI He asked the chamberlains, "By whom was this made here?" and they reported to him that I was the creator of that mole.

१.५.३५

देव्या गुप्तप्रदेशस्थमिमं नान्यो मया विना ।
वेत्ति तज्ज्ञातवानेवमसौ वररुचिः कथम् ॥

Summary AI "No one other than me knows of this mark on the queen's private part; how then did this Vararuci come to know of it?"

१.५.३६

छन्नः कृतो ऽमुना नूनं ममान्तःपुरविप्लवः ।
दृष्टवानत एवायं स्त्रीरूपांस्तत्र तान्नरान् ॥

Summary AI "Certainly, he has secretly violated my harem; that is why he saw those men disguised as women there."

१.५.३७

इति संचिन्तयामास योगनन्दः क्रुधा ज्वलन् ।
जायन्ते बत मूढानां संवाद अपि तादृशाः ॥

Summary AI Thus Yogananda reflected, burning with anger. Alas! For the foolish, even such coincidences occur.

१.५.३८

ततः स्वैरं समाहूय शकटालं समादिशत् ।
त्वया वररुचिर्वध्यो देवीविध्वंसनादिति ॥

Summary AI Then, summoning Śakaṭāla privately, he commanded, "Vararuci must be executed by you for violating the queen."

१.५.३९

यथा ज्ञापयसीत्युक्त्वा शकटालो ऽगमद्बहिः ।
अचिन्तयच्च शक्तिः स्याद्धन्तुं वररुचिं न मे ॥

Summary AI Saying, "As you command," Śakaṭāla went out and thought, "I would not have the power to kill Vararuci."

१.५.४०

दिव्यबुद्धिप्रभावो ऽसाबुद्धर्ता च ममापदः ।
विप्रस्य तद्वरं गुप्तं संप्रति स्वीकरोमि तम् ॥

Summary AI "He possesses divine intellectual power and is the savior from my calamities. Therefore, I shall now keep that Brāhmaṇa in hiding."

१.५.४१

इति निश्चित्य सो ऽभ्येत्य राज्ञः कोपमकारणम् ।
वधान्तं कथयित्वा मे शकटालो ऽब्रवीत्ततः ॥

Summary AI Having thus decided, Śakaṭāla approached and informed the narrator of the King's causeless wrath, which was destined to end in the narrator's execution.

१.५.४२

अन्यं कंचित्प्रवादाय हन्म्यहं त्वं च मद्गृहे ।
प्रच्छन्नस्तिष्ठ मामस्माद्रक्षितुं कोपनान्नृपात् ॥

Summary AI "I shall kill someone else to spread a rumor of your death, while you remain hidden in my house to protect me from this wrathful King," said Śakaṭāla.

१.५.४३

इति तद्वचनाच्छन्नस्तद्गृहे ऽवस्थितो ऽभवम् ।
स चान्यं हतवान्कंचिन्मद्वधाख्यातये निशि ॥

Summary AI Thus, following his advice, the narrator remained hidden in his house, and the minister killed another person at night to announce the narrator's death.

१.५.४४

एवं प्रयुक्तनीतिं तं प्रीत्यावोचमहं तदा ।
एको मन्त्री भवान्येन हन्तुं मां न कृता मतिः ॥

Summary AI Then, the narrator affectionately said to the minister who had employed such a strategy: "You are the only true minister, as you did not intend to kill me."

१.५.४५

नहि हन्तुमहं शक्यो राक्षसो मित्त्रमस्ति मे ।
ध्यातमात्रागतो विश्वं ग्रसते स मदिच्छया ॥

Summary AI "Indeed, I cannot be killed, for I have a rākṣasa as a friend; arriving as soon as he is remembered, he can swallow the entire universe at my command."

१.५.४६

राजा त्विहेन्द्रदत्ताख्यः सखा वध्यो न मे द्विजः ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा सो ऽब्रवीन्मन्त्री रक्षो मे दर्श्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI "However, the King here named Indradatta is my friend and a brāhmaṇa, so he must not be killed." Hearing this, the minister asked to see the rākṣasa.

१.५.४७

ततो ध्यातागतं तस्मि तद्रक्षो ऽहमदर्शयम् ।
तद्दर्शनाच्च वित्रस्तो विस्मितश्च वभूव सः ॥

Summary AI Then, the narrator showed him the rākṣasa who arrived upon being summoned; at that sight, the minister was both terrified and struck with wonder.

१.५.४८

रक्षस्यन्तर्हिते तस्मिञ्शकटालः स मां पुनः ।
कथं ते राक्षसो मित्त्रं संजात इति पृष्टवान् ॥

Summary AI When the rākṣasa had vanished, Śakaṭāla questioned the narrator again: "How did that rākṣasa become your friend?"

१.५.४९

ततो ऽहमवदं पूर्वं रक्षार्थं नगरे भ्रमन् ।
रात्रौ रात्रौ क्षयं प्रापदेकैको नगराधिपः ॥

Summary AI The narrator replied: "Previously, while I was patrolling the city for its protection, the city-governors used to perish one by one every single night."

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