कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

अवारणीयं रिपुभिर्वारणीयं करं नुमः ।
हेरम्बस्य ससिन्दूरमसिं दूरमघच्छिदम् ॥

Summary AI We bow to the hand of Heramba (Gaṇeśa), which cannot be obstructed by enemies, which wards off obstacles, is smeared with vermilion, is like a sword that severs sins from afar, and resembles an elephant's trunk.

१०.१.२

पायाद्वः पुरदाहाय शंभोः संदधतः शरम् ।
समं व्यग्रेषु नेत्रेषु तृतीयमधिकं स्फुरत् ॥

Summary AI May the third eye of Śambhu (Śiva) protect you—the eye which shone intensely among his restless eyes as he fixed his arrow to burn the city of the demons (Tripura).

१०.१.३

रक्तारुणा नृसिंहस्य कुटिला विद्विषो वधे ।
नखश्रेणी च दृष्टिश्च निहन्तुं दुरितानि वः ॥

Summary AI May the curved, blood-red claws and the gaze of Nṛsiṃha, intended for the slaughter of his enemies, destroy your sins.

१०.१.४

एवं वत्सेश्वरसुतः कौशाम्ब्यां सचिवैः सह ।
नरवाहनदत्तः स तस्थौ भार्यासखः सुखी ॥

Summary AI Thus Naravāhanadatta, the son of the King of Vatsa, lived happily in Kauśāmbī with his ministers and in the company of his wife.

१०.१.५

एकदा चास्थिते तस्मिन्नास्थानस्थस्य तत्पितुः ।
वत्सेश्वरस्य विज्ञप्त्यै तद्वासी वणिगाययौ ॥

Summary AI Once, while Naravāhanadatta was present, a resident merchant came to submit a petition to his father, the King of Vatsa, who was presiding over the royal court.

१०.१.६

स रत्नदत्तनामा तं प्रतीहारनिवेदितः ।
प्रविश्य नत्वा राजानं वणिगेवं व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI That merchant, named Ratnadatta, introduced by the doorkeeper, entered, bowed to the King, and made the following submission.

१०.१.७

नाम्ना वसुधरो देव दरिद्रो ऽस्तीह भारिकः ।
अकस्माच्च ददत्खादन्पिबंश्चाद्य स दृश्यते ॥

Summary AI "O King, there is a poor porter here named Vasudhara; today, he is suddenly seen distributing gifts, eating, and drinking sumptuously."

१०.१.८

कौतुकाच्च गृहं नीत्वा यथेष्टं पानभोजनम् ।
दत्त्वा स क्षीबतां नीत्वा मया पृष्टो ऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥

Summary AI "Out of curiosity, I took him home and gave him as much food and drink as he desired. When he was intoxicated, I questioned him, and he spoke as follows."

१०.१.९

लब्धं राजकुलद्वारात्सरत्नं कटकं मया ।
उत्पाट्य रत्नमेकं च ततो विक्रीतवानहम् ॥

Summary AI "'I found a jeweled bracelet at the palace gate; I then pried out one gem and sold it.'"

१०.१.१०

तच्च दीनारलक्षेण मूल्येन वणिजो मया ।
दत्तं हिरण्यगुप्तस्य तेनाद्याहं सुखं स्थितः ॥

Summary AI "'I sold it to the merchant Hiraṇyagupta for a price of one hundred thousand dīnāras; that is why I am living in comfort now.'"

१०.१.११

इत्युक्त्वा दर्शितं तेन देवनामाङ्कितं मम ।
कटकं यत्ततो देव विज्ञप्तो ऽद्य मया प्रभुः ॥

Summary AI "Having said this, he showed me the bracelet engraved with the King's name. Therefore, O King, I have informed my lord today."

१०.१.१२

एतच्छ्रुत्वा स वत्सेशस्तत्रानाययति स्म तौ ।
भारिकं तं सवलयं सरत्नं वाणिजं च तम् ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing this, the King of Vatsa summoned the porter with the bracelet and the merchant who had the gem to the court.

१०.१.१३

हन्त स्मृतं प्रकोष्ठान्मे भ्रष्टमेतत्पुरभ्रमे ।
इति तत्कटकं दृष्ट्वा स राजाभिदधे स्वयम् ॥

Summary AI "Ah, I remember! This fell from my wrist while I was wandering through the city," the King himself remarked upon seeing the bracelet.

१०.१.१४

निर्हृतं राजनामाङ्कं लब्ध्वा किं कटकं त्वया ।
इति पृष्टो ऽथ सभ्यैः स राजाग्रे भारिको ऽभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI When the courtiers asked the porter in front of the King why he had kept the bracelet despite seeing the royal name engraved on it, he replied.

१०.१.१५

भारजीवी कुतो वेद्मि राजनामाक्षराण्यहम् ।
दारिद्र्यदुःखदग्धेन लब्ध्वैतत्स्वीकृतं मया ॥

Summary AI "I am but a porter; how should I know the characters of the King's name? Consumed by the misery of poverty, I took it when I found it."

१०.१.१६

इत्युक्ते तेन रत्नार्थमाक्षिप्तः सो ऽब्रवीद्वणिक् ।
प्रसह्य मूल्येन मया गृहीतं रत्नमापणे ॥

Summary AI When the porter said this, the merchant, accused regarding the gem, said: "I purchased the gem in the market by paying a substantial price."

१०.१.१७

न चास्य राजाभिज्ञानमस्ति तन्मयमुच्यते ।
मूल्यात्पञ्चसहस्री तु नीतानेन परं स्थितम् ॥

Summary AI "This gem has no royal mark, I declare; furthermore, this man has only received five thousand towards the price, while the rest remains with me."

१०.१.१८

एतद्धिरण्यगुप्तस्य वचो यौगन्धरायणः ।
श्रुत्वा तत्र स्थितो ऽवादीन्नात्र दोषो ऽस्ति कस्यचित् ॥

Summary AI Yaugandharāyaṇa, who was present there, heard this statement of Hiraṇyagupta and said: "There is no fault on anyone's part in this matter."

१०.१.१९

दरिद्रस्यालिपिज्ञस्य भण्यतां भारिकस्य किम् ।
दारिद्र्यात्क्रियते चौर्यं लब्धं केनोज्झितं पुनः ॥

Summary AI "What can be said against the illiterate and poor porter? Theft is driven by poverty, and who would abandon a valuable thing once found?"

१०.१.२०

मूल्येन रत्नग्राही च न वाच्यो वणिगप्यसौ ।
एतन्महामन्त्रिवचो वत्सेशः श्रद्दधे तदा ॥

Summary AI "Nor can this merchant be blamed for purchasing the gem at a price." Then the King of Vatsa accepted the counsel of his great minister.

१०.१.२१

दत्त्वा पञ्चसहस्रीं च भारिकेण व्ययीकृताम् ।
हिरण्यगुप्ताद्वणिजो रत्नं तस्मात्स्वमाददे ॥

Summary AI Having paid the five thousand gold pieces spent by the porter, the King recovered his own jewel from the merchant Hiraṇyagupta.

१०.१.२२

भारिकं चाकरोन्मुक्तं गृहीत्वा कटकं निजम् ।
भुक्तपञ्चसहस्रीको गतभीः सो ऽप्यगाद्गृहम् ॥

Summary AI After reclaiming his own bracelet, the King released the porter. Having enjoyed the five thousand gold pieces and now freed from fear, the porter returned home.

१०.१.२३

विश्वस्तघाती पापो ऽयमिति चान्तर्द्विषन्नृपः ।
रत्नदत्तं स वणिजं कार्यार्थं तममानयत् ॥

Summary AI Secretly loathing the merchant Ratnadatta as a treacherous sinner, the King treated him with feigned respect for the sake of his own purpose.

१०.१.२४

गतेषु तेषु राजाग्रगतो ऽवोचद्वसन्तकः ।
अहो दैवाभिशप्तानां प्राप्तो ऽप्यर्थः पलायते ॥

Summary AI Once they had departed, Vasantaka, standing before the King, remarked, "Alas! Even wealth that has been attained flees from those who are cursed by fate."

१०.१.२५

अस्य भद्रघटोदन्तः संवृत्तो भारिकस्य यत् ।
तथाहि कश्चिदासीत्प्राक्पुरे पाटलिपुत्रके ॥

Summary AI The story of the auspicious jar has happened to this porter; for in the past, there lived a certain man in the city of Pāṭaliputra.

१०.१.२६

शुभदत्तः स नाम्ना च प्रत्यहं काष्ठभारकम् ।
वनादानीय विक्रीय पुष्णाति स्म कुटुम्बकम् ॥

Summary AI His name was Śubhadatta, and he supported his family daily by bringing loads of wood from the forest and selling them.

१०.१.२७

एकदा चागतो दूरं वनं दैवाद्ददर्श सः ।
तत्रस्थांश्चतुरो यक्षान्दिव्याभरणवाससः ॥

Summary AI One day, having wandered deep into the forest, he by chance saw four yakṣas there, dressed in divine garments and ornaments.

१०.१.२८

ते भीतं वीक्ष्य तं प्रीत्या सर्वे पृष्ट्वा यथातथम् ।
बुद्ध्वा दरिद्रमुत्पन्नकृपा यक्षा बभाषिरे ॥

Summary AI Seeing him afraid, the yakṣas kindly questioned him about his situation, and upon learning he was poor, they spoke to him with compassion.

१०.१.२९

इहास्मदन्तिके तिष्ठ भद्र कर्मकरो भवान् ।
अक्लेशं गृहनिर्वाहं करिष्यामो वयं तव ॥

Summary AI "O good man, stay here with us as a servant. We will provide for your household's maintenance without any hardship to you."

१०.१.३०

इत्युक्तस्तैस्तथेत्यासीच्छुभदत्तस्तदन्तिके ।
स्नानादिपरिचर्यां च कृत्स्नां तेषां चकार सः ॥

Summary AI Thus addressed by them, Śubhadatta agreed and stayed with them, performing all their personal services, such as preparing their baths.

१०.१.३१

संजाते भोजनस्थाने यक्षास्ते जगदुश्च तम् ।
आहारमस्मानमुतो देहि भद्रघटादिति ॥

Summary AI When the time for the meal arrived, the yakṣas said to him, "Serve us food from that auspicious jar."

१०.१.३२

अन्तःशून्यं स तं दृष्ट्वा घटं यावद्विलम्बते ।
तावत्ते गुह्यका भूयस्तमाहुः सस्मिताननाः ॥

Summary AI Seeing that the jar was empty inside, he hesitated; then those guhyakas spoke to him again with smiling faces.

१०.१.३३

शुभदत्त न वेत्सि त्वं क्षिप हस्तं घटान्तरे ।
यथेष्टं लप्स्यसे सर्वं घटः कामप्रदो ह्यसौ ॥

Summary AI "O Śubhadatta, you do not know its secret. Put your hand inside the jar; you will obtain everything you desire, for this jar grants all wishes."

१०.१.३४

तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रक्षिपत्यन्तः पाणिं यावद्धटान्तरे ।
तावदाहारपानादि कामितं दृष्टवानसौ ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, as he thrust his hand inside the jar, he found the food, drink, and other items he had desired.

१०.१.३५

॥। । शुभदत्तो ददौ तेभ्यो बुभुजे च स्वयं ततः ॥

Summary AI Śubhadatta served the yakṣas and then partook of the meal himself.

१०.१.३६

एवं परिचरन्यक्षान्भक्त्या भीत्या च सो ऽन्वहम् ।
तस्थौ कुटुम्बचिन्तार्तः शुभदत्तस्तदन्तिके ॥

Summary AI Serving the yakṣas daily with both devotion and fear, Śubhadatta remained with them, though he was pained by thoughts of his family.

१०.१.३७

तत्कुटुम्बं च दुःखार्तं स्वप्नादेशेन गुह्यकैः ।
आश्वासितं तत्प्रसादाद्रमते स्म ततश्च सः ॥

Summary AI His sorrowful family was comforted by the guhyakas through a dream-vision, and thereafter he lived happily by their grace.

१०.१.३८

मासमात्रेण यक्षास्ते शुभदत्तं तमभ्यधुः ।
तुष्टाः स्मस्ते ऽनया भक्त्या ब्रूहि किंचिद्ददाम ते ॥

Summary AI After just a month, the yakṣas said to Śubhadatta, "We are pleased with your devotion. Speak, and we shall give you something."

१०.१.३९

तच्छ्रुत्वा स जगादैतांस्तुष्टाः स्थ यदि सत्यतः ।
एष भद्रघटस्तन्मे युष्माभिर्दीयतामिति ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, he said to them, "If you are truly pleased, then let this auspicious jar be given to me by you."

१०.१.४०

ततस्तमूचुर्यक्षास्ते नैतं शक्ष्यसि रक्षितुम् ।
भङ्गे पलायते ह्येष तद्वृणीष्वापरं वरम् ॥

Summary AI Then the yakṣas told him, "You will not be able to protect it, for if it breaks, it vanishes. Therefore, choose another boon instead."

१०.१.४१

इत्युक्तो ऽपि स यक्षैस्तैः शुभदत्तो ऽपरं यदा ।
वरं नैच्छत्तदा तस्मै ते तं भद्रघटं ददुः ॥

Summary AI When Śubhadatta refused any other boon despite the Yakṣas' offer, they granted him the auspicious jar known as the bhadraghaṭa.

१०.१.४२

ततः प्रणम्य तान्हृष्टो घटमादाय तं जवात् ।
गृहं स शुभदत्तः स्वं प्राप नन्दितबान्धवः ॥

Summary AI Joyfully bowing to them, Śubhadatta took the jar and quickly returned home, bringing great delight to his kinsmen.

१०.१.४३

तत्र तस्माद्धटाल्लब्ध्वा भोजनादि निवेश्य तत् ।
गुप्त्यर्थमन्यभाण्डेषु सो ऽभुङ्क्त स्वजनैः सह ॥

Summary AI Obtaining food and supplies from the jar, he surreptitiously transferred them to other vessels for safekeeping and dined with his family.

१०.१.४४

भारमुक्तो भजन्भोगान्पानमत्तो ऽथ जातु सः ।
कुतस्तवैषा भोगश्रीरित्यपृच्छ्यत बन्धुभिः ॥

Summary AI Relieved of his manual labor and enjoying a life of luxury, he was once questioned by his kinsmen while intoxicated about the source of his sudden wealth.

१०.१.४५

स व्यक्तमब्रुवन्मूढो गरेणेप्सितकामदम् ।
गृहीत्वा घटकं स्कन्धे प्रारेभे बत नर्तितुम् ॥

Summary AI The fool, failing to speak clearly and driven by pride, placed the wish-fulfilling jar on his shoulder and began to dance.

१०.१.४६

नृत्यतस्तस्य च स्कन्धान्मदोद्रेकस्खलद्गतेः ।
स भद्रघटको यातः पतित्वा भुवि खण्डशः ॥

Summary AI As he danced with a gait faltering from heavy intoxication, the bhadraghaṭa slipped from his shoulder, fell to the ground, and shattered into pieces.

१०.१.४७

तदैव चाक्षतीभूय स जगाम यथागतम् ।
पूर्वावस्थां च स प्राप शुभदत्तो विषादवान् ॥

Summary AI The jar immediately became whole again and vanished to its origin, leaving the despondent Śubhadatta to return to his former state of poverty.

१०.१.४८

तदेवं पानदोषादिप्रभादाहतबुद्धयः ।
अभव्याः प्राप्तमत्यर्थं नैव जानन्ति रक्षितुम् ॥

Summary AI Thus, unfortunate people whose intellects are clouded by the vices of drinking and negligence cannot protect even the vast wealth they manage to acquire.

१०.१.४९

इति भद्रघटाख्यानहासं श्रुत्वा वसन्तकात् ।
उत्थाय चक्रे वत्सेशः स्नानाहारादिकाः क्रियाः ॥

Summary AI After laughing at the humorous tale of the bhadraghaṭa told by Vasantaka, the King of Vatsa (Vatsēśa) arose to perform his daily rites and meals.

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