कथासरित्सागरः — तृतीयस्तरङ्गः

तृतीयस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः प्रातः कृतावश्यकार्यः स सचिवैः सह ।
नरवाहनदत्तः स्वमुद्यानं विहरन्ययौ ॥

Summary AI Then in the morning, having performed his necessary duties, Naravāhanadatta went with his ministers to his garden for recreation.

१०.३.२

तत्रस्थश्च प्रभपुञ्जमादौ व्योम्नो ऽप्यनन्तरम् ।
ततो विद्याधरीर्वह्वीरवतीर्णा ददर्श सः ॥

Summary AI While standing there, he first saw a mass of light in the sky, and then numerous Vidyādharīs descending from it.

१०.३.३

तासां मध्ये च दीप्तानां ददर्शैकां स कन्यकाम् ।
ताराणामिव शीतांशुलेखां लोचनहारिनीम् ॥

Summary AI Among those shining beings, he beheld a maiden who captivated his eyes, resembling a crescent moon amidst the stars.

१०.३.४

विकसत्पद्मवदनां लोललोचनषट्पदाम् ।
सलीलहंसगमनां बहदुत्पलसौरभाम् ॥

Summary AI Her face was like a blooming lotus, her flickering eyes resembled bees, she possessed the graceful gait of a swan, and she diffused the fragrance of blue lotuses.

१०.३.५

तरङ्गहारित्रिवलीलतालंकृतमध्यमाम् ।
साक्षादिव स्मरोद्यानवापीशोभाधिदेवताम् ॥

Summary AI Her waist was adorned with three charming folds like ripples, making her appear as if she were the presiding deity of the beauty of the pond in the garden of Smara.

१०.३.६

स्मरसंजीवनीं तां च दृष्ट्वा सोत्कलिकामतः ।
चान्द्रीं मूर्तिमिवाम्भोधिश्चुक्षुभे स नृपात्मजः ॥

Summary AI Seeing her, the restorer of the life of Smara, that prince became agitated with longing, just as the ocean surges upon seeing the form of the moon.

१०.३.७

अहो सुन्दरनिर्माणवैचित्री काप्यसौ विधेः ।
इति शंसन्स सचिवैः सहितस्तामुपाययौ ॥

Summary AI Exclaiming, "Oh, what a wonderful and beautiful creation of the Creator this is!", he approached her along with his ministers.

१०.३.८

तिर्यक्प्रेमार्द्रया दृष्ट्या पश्यन्तीं तां च स क्रमात् ।
पप्रच्छ का त्वं कल्याणि किमिहागमनं च ते ॥

Summary AI He gradually asked her, as she looked at him with a side-glance moist with love: "O auspicious one, who are you, and what is the purpose of your coming here?"

१०.३.९

तच्छ्रुत्वा साब्रवीत्कन्या शृणुतैतद्वदामि वः ।
अस्ति काञ्चनशृङ्गाख्यं पुरं हैमं हिमाचले ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the maiden said: "Listen, I shall tell you. There is a golden city named Kāñcanaśṛṅga on the Himālaya mountains."

१०.३.१०

तत्रास्ति नाम्ना स्फटिकयशा विद्याधरेश्वरः ।
धार्मिकः कृपणानाहशरणागतवत्सलः ॥

Summary AI There lives a king of the Vidyādharas named Sphaṭikayaśas, who is righteous and compassionate toward the wretched, the helpless, and those seeking refuge.

१०.३.११

तस्य हेमप्रभादेव्यां जातां गौरीवरोद्भवाम् ।
मां शक्तियशसं नाम जानीहि तनयामिमाम् ॥

Summary AI Know me to be his daughter named Śaktiyaśas, born of Queen Hemaprabhā through the boon of Gaurī.

१०.३.१२

पितुः प्राणप्रिया साहं पञ्चभ्रातृकनीयसी ।
अतोषयं तदादेशाद्व्रतैः स्तोत्रैश्च पार्वतीम् ॥

Summary AI I, who am dearer than life to my father and the youngest of five brothers, gratified Pārvatī with fasts and hymns upon his instruction.

१०.३.१३

तुष्टा सा सकला विद्या दत्त्वा मामेवमादिशत् ।
पितुर्दशगुणं पुत्रि भावि विद्याबलं तव ॥

Summary AI Pleased, she granted me all the sciences and commanded me: "Daughter, your magical power shall be ten times greater than your father's."

१०.३.१४

नरवाहनदत्तश्च भर्ता तव भविष्यति ।
वत्सराजसुतो भाविचक्रवर्ती द्युचारिणाम् ॥

Summary AI "And Naravāhanadatta, the son of the king of the Vatsas and the future emperor of the sky-dwellers, shall be your husband."

१०.३.१५

इत्युक्त्वा शर्वपत्नी मे तिरो ऽभूत्तत्प्रसादतः ।
लब्धविद्याबला चाहं संप्राप्ता यौवनं क्रमात् ॥

Summary AI Having said this, the wife of Śarva vanished, and by her favor, having gained magical powers, I gradually reached youth.

१०.३.१६

अद्यादिशच्च सा रात्रौ देवी मां दत्तदर्शना ।
प्रातः पुत्रि त्वया गत्वा द्रष्टव्यः स निजः पतिः ॥

Summary AI Today, during the night, the Goddess appeared to me and commanded: "Daughter, in the morning you must go and behold your destined husband."

१०.३.१७

आगन्तव्यमिहैवाद्य मासेन हि पिता तव ।
चित्तस्थितैतत्संकल्पो विवाहं संविधास्यति ॥

Summary AI "You must return here today itself, for in a month, your father, having fixed this resolution in his mind, will arrange the marriage."

१०.३.१८

इत्यादिश्य तिरो ऽभूत्सा देवी याता च यामिनी ।
ततो ऽहमार्यपुत्रैषा त्वामिह द्रष्टुमागता ॥

Summary AI Having commanded thus, the Goddess vanished and the night passed; therefore, O noble prince, I have come here to see you.

१०.३.१९

तत्संप्रति व्रजामीति गदित्वा ससखीजना ।
उत्पत्य खं शक्तियशाः सा जगाम पुरं पितुः ॥

Summary AI Saying, "Therefore I now depart," Śaktiyaśas, accompanied by her friends, flew up into the sky and went to her father's city.

१०.३.२०

नरवाहनदत्तश्च तद्विवाहोत्सुकस्ततः ।
विवेशाभ्यन्तरं विग्नः पश्यन्मासम्युगोपमम् ॥

Summary AI Then Naravāhanadatta, eager for the marriage, entered his palace, feeling distressed and viewing the upcoming month as if it were an entire age.

१०.३.२१

तत्र दृष्ट्वा विमनसं सो ऽथ तं गोमुखो ऽब्रवीत् ।
शृणु देव कथामेकां तवाख्यामि विनोदिनीम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing Naravāhanadatta dejected, Gomukha spoke to him: "O Lord, listen, I shall tell you an entertaining story."

१०.३.२२

बभूव काञ्चनपुरीत्याख्यया नगरी पुरा ।
तस्यां च सुमना नाम महानासीन्महीपतिः ॥

Summary AI Long ago, there was a city named Kāñcanapurī. In that city, there lived a great king named Sumanas.

१०.३.२३

आक्रान्तदुर्गकान्तारभूमिना येन चक्रिरे ।
चित्रं विराजमानेन तादृशा अपि शत्रवः ॥

Summary AI That glorious king, who had invaded difficult terrains and forests, made even such powerful enemies appear like a mere painting.

१०.३.२४

तमेकदास्थानगतं प्रतीहारो व्यजिज्ञपत् ।
देव मुक्तालता नाम निषादाधिपकन्यका ॥

Summary AI Once, while the king was in court, the doorkeeper informed him: "Lord, a daughter of the Niṣāda chief, named Muktālatā,"

१०.३.२५

पञ्जरस्थितमादाय शुकं द्वारि बहिः स्थिता ।
वीरप्रभेणानुगता भ्रात्रा देवं दिदृक्षते ॥

Summary AI Standing outside at the door with a parrot in a cage and accompanied by her brother Vīraprabha, she wishes to see the king.

१०.३.२६

प्रविशत्विति राज्ञोके प्रतीहारनिदेशतः ।
भिल्लकन्या नृपास्थानप्राङ्गणं प्रविवेश सा ॥

Summary AI Upon the king saying "Let her enter," the Bhilla girl, following the doorkeeper's instruction, entered the courtyard of the royal assembly.

१०.३.२७

न मानुषीयं दिव्यस्त्री कापि नूनमसाविति ।
सर्वे ऽप्यचिन्तयंस्तत्र दृष्ट्वा तद्रूपमद्भुतम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing her extraordinary beauty, everyone there thought, "This is no human; she must surely be some celestial woman."

१०.३.२८

सा च प्रणम्य राजानमेवं व्यज्ञापयत्तदा ।
देवायं शास्त्रगञ्जाख्यश्चतुर्वेदधरः शुकः ॥

Summary AI Bowing to the king, she then submitted: "O Lord, this parrot named Śāstragañja is a master of the four Vedas."

१०.३.२९

कविः कृत्स्नासु विद्यासु कलासु च विचक्षणः ।
मयेश्वरोपयोगित्वादिहानीतो ऽद्य गृह्यताम् ॥

Summary AI He is a poet and expert in all sciences and arts. Since he is fit for a sovereign, I have brought him here today; please accept him.

१०.३.३०

इत्यर्पितस्तयादाय प्रतीहारेण कौतुकात् ।
नीतो ऽग्रे नृपतेरेतं शुकः श्लोकं पपाठ सः ॥

Summary AI Presented by her and taken with curiosity by the doorkeeper before the king, the parrot recited a verse.

१०.३.३१

राजन्युक्तमिदं सदैव यदयं देवस्य संध्युक्ष्यते
धूमश्याममुखो द्विषद्विरहिणीनिःश्वासवातोद्गमैः ।
एतत्त्वद्भुतमेव यत्परिभवाद्बाष्पाम्बुपूरप्लवै-
रासां प्रज्वलतीह दिक्षु दशसु प्राज्यः प्रतापानलः ॥

Summary AI "O King, it is natural that your fire of majesty is kindled by the sighs of your enemies' widows, turning its face dark with smoke. But it is truly wondrous that this same fire blazes intensely in all ten directions, even through the floods of their tears caused by their humiliation."

१०.३.३२

एवं पठित्वा व्याख्याय शुको ऽवादीत्पुनश्च सः ।
किं प्रमेयं कुतः शास्त्राद्ब्रवीम्यादिश्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI After reciting and explaining the verse, the parrot said again: "What subject and from which scripture shall I speak? Please command me."

१०.३.३३

ततो ऽतिविस्मिते राज्ञी मन्त्री तस्याब्रवीदिदम् ।
शङ्के शापाच्छुकीभूतः पूर्वर्षिः को ऽप्ययं प्रभो ॥

Summary AI As the king was greatly amazed, his minister said: "O Lord, I suspect this is some ancient Ṛṣi turned into a parrot due to a curse."

१०.३.३४

जातिस्मरो धर्मवशात्पुराधीतं स्मरत्यतः ।
इत्युक्ते मन्त्रिणा राजा स शुकं पृच्छति स्म तम् ॥

Summary AI "He remembers his former births and, by the power of merit, recalls what he studied previously." After the minister said this, the king questioned the parrot.

१०.३.३५

कौतुकं भद्र मे ब्रूहि स्ववृत्तान्तं क्व जन्म ते ।
शुकत्वे शास्त्रविज्ञानं कुतः को वा भवानिति ॥

Summary AI "O good one, I am curious; tell me your story—where were you born, how did you gain scriptural knowledge as a parrot, and who are you?"

१०.३.३६

ततः स बाष्पमुत्सृज्य वदति स्म शुकः शनैः ।
अवाच्यमपिदेवैतच्छृणु वच्मि त्वदाज्ञया ॥

Summary AI Then, shedding tears, the parrot slowly said: "O Lord, though this is not to be spoken, I shall tell it by your command; listen."

१०.३.३७

हिमवन्निकटे राजन्नस्त्येको रोहिणीतरुः ।
आम्नाय इव दिग्व्यापिभूरिशाखाश्रितद्विजः ॥

Summary AI Near the Himavat mountains, there is a Rohiṇī tree which, like the Veda, has many birds (or twice-born) resting on its far-reaching branches.

१०.३.३८

तस्मिन्नेकः समं शुक्या शुकस्तस्थौ कृतालयः ।
तस्मादेषो ऽहमुत्पन्नस्तस्यां दुष्कर्मयोगतः ॥

Summary AI On that tree, a parrot lived with his mate in a nest; from him and her, I was born because of my past evil deeds.

१०.३.३९

जातस्यैव च मे माता शुकी सा पञ्चतां गता ।
तातस्तु वृद्धः पक्षान्तः क्षिप्त्वा वर्धयति स्म माम् ॥

Summary AI As soon as I was born, my mother died. My aged father then raised me by keeping me tucked under the end of his wing.

१०.३.४०

निकटस्थशुकानीतभुक्तशेषफलानि च ।
अश्नन्मह्यं च वितरन्नथ तत्रास्त मत्पिता ॥

Summary AI There my father lived, eating the remnants of fruits brought by nearby parrots and sharing them with me.

१०.३.४१

एकदा तत्र तूर्याभिध्मातगोशृङ्गनादिनी ।
अखेटकाय समगाद्भिल्लसेना भयंकरी ॥

Summary AI Once, a fearsome army of Bhillas, making sounds with cow-horns blown like trumpets, arrived there for hunting.

१०.३.४२

वित्रस्तकृष्णसाराक्षी धूलिव्यालुलितांशुका ।
संभ्रमोद्वेलचमरीविस्रस्तकबरीभरा ॥

Summary AI The forest appeared like a woman with eyes of startled kṛṣṇasāra deer, clothes of dust, and disheveled hair-braids like the tails of agitated camarī deer.

१०.३.४३

विद्रुतव्याकुलेवाभूत्सहसा सा महाटवी ।
पुलिन्दवृन्दे विविधप्राणिघाताय धावति ॥

Summary AI As the tribe of Pulindas ran about to slaughter various creatures, that great forest suddenly became agitated and distressed as if fleeing.

१०.३.४४

कृतान्तक्रीडितं कृत्वा दिनमाखेटभूमिषु ।
आगाच्छबरसैन्यं तदात्तैः पिशितभारकैः ॥

Summary AI Having spent the day in the hunting grounds playing the game of Death, the army of Śabaras returned, carrying loads of flesh.

१०.३.४५

एकस्तु वृद्धशबरस्तत्रानासादितामिषः ।
अद्राक्षीत्स तरुं सायं क्षुधितस्तमुपागमत् ॥

Summary AI However, one old Śabara who had not obtained any meat and was hungry saw that tree in the evening and approached it.

१०.३.४६

आरुह्य च स तत्राशु शुकानन्यांश्च पक्षिणः ।
आकृष्याकृष्य नीडेभ्यो हत्वा हत्व भुवि न्यधात् ॥

Summary AI Climbing the tree quickly, he dragged parrots and other birds from their nests, killed them one by one, and threw them to the ground.

१०.३.४७

तथायान्तं च निकटं यमकिंकरसंनिभम् ।
तं दृष्ट्वाहं भयाल्लीनः शनैः पक्षान्तरे पितुः ॥

Summary AI Seeing him approaching, looking like a servant of Yama, I hid myself in fear slowly within my father's wings.

१०.३.४८

तावच्चास्मत्कुलायं स प्राप्याकृष्यैव पातकी ।
तातं मे पीडितग्रीवं हत्वा तरुतले ऽक्षिपत् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, that sinner reached our nest, dragged my father out, killed him by wringing his neck, and threw him to the foot of the tree.

१०.३.४९

अहं च तातेन समं पतित्वा तस्य पक्षतेः ।
निर्गत्य तृणपर्णान्तः सभयः प्राविशं शनैः ॥

Summary AI I too fell along with my father, but crawling out from under his wing, I fearfully and slowly entered the midst of grass and leaves.

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