कथासरित्सागरः — चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः

चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो विद्याधरीयुग्मकथामाख्याय गोमुखः ।
नरवाहनदत्तं तमुवाच सचिवाग्रणीः ॥

Summary AI Then Gomukha, the chief of ministers, after narrating the story of the pair of Vidyādharīs, spoke to Naravāhanadatta.

१०.४.२

केचिद्देव सहन्ते ऽत्र लोकद्वयहितैषिणः ।
सामान्या अपि कामादेरावेगं कृतबुद्धयः ॥

Summary AI O Lord, in this world, some resolute commoners, seeking the welfare of both worlds, endure the impulses of passion and other emotions.

१०.४.३

तथा च शूरवर्माख्यो बभूव कुलपुत्रकः ।
राज्ञः कुलधराख्यस्य सेवकः ख्यातपौरुषः ॥

Summary AI There once lived a well-born man named Śūravarmā, renowned for his valor, who served as an attendant to King Kuladhara.

१०.४.४

स ग्रामदागतो जातु प्रविष्टो ऽशङ्कितं गृहे ।
भार्यां स्वेनैव मित्त्रेण ददर्श स्वैरसंगताम् ॥

Summary AI Once, arriving unexpectedly from a village and entering his home, he saw his wife in a secret meeting with his own friend.

१०.४.५

दृष्ट्वा नियम्य स क्रोधं चिन्तयामास धैर्यतः ।
किं मित्रद्रोहिणैतेन पशुना निहतेन मे ॥

Summary AI Seeing this, he restrained his anger and thought with fortitude, "What is to be gained by killing this beast who has betrayed his friend?"

१०.४.६

दुश्चारिण्यानया वापि पापया निगृहीतया ।
किं करोम्यहमप्येनमात्मानं पापभागिनम् ॥

Summary AI "And what is the use of punishing this sinful, unchaste woman? Why should I make myself a participant in this sin?"

१०.४.७

इत्यालोच्य परित्यज्य तावुभावप्युवाच सः ।
हन्यामहं तं युवयोर्यं पश्येयं पुनः पुनः ॥

Summary AI Reflecting thus, he let them both go and said, "Whomever of you two I see again, I shall kill him."

१०.४.८

नागन्तव्यमितो भूयो मम लोचनगोचरम् ।
इत्युक्त्वा तेन मुक्तौ तौ ययतुः क्वापि दूरतः ॥

Summary AI Saying, "Do not appear before my eyes again," he released them, and they fled to some distant place.

१०.४.९

स त्वन्यां परिणीयाभूच्छूरवर्म सुनिर्वृतः ।
एवं देव जितक्रोधो न दुःखस्यास्पदीभवेत् ॥

Summary AI Śūravarmā then married another woman and lived happily; thus, O Lord, one who conquers anger does not become a victim of sorrow.

१०.४.१०

कृतप्रज्ञश्च विपदा देव जातु न बाध्यते ।
तिरश्चामपिहि प्रज्ञा श्रेयसे न पराक्रमः ॥

Summary AI O Lord, a wise man is never overcome by calamity; indeed, for animals as well, it is wisdom, not mere strength, that leads to welfare.

१०.४.११

तथा च शृण्विमां सिंहवृषभादिगतां कथाम् ।
आसीत्कोऽपि वणिक्पुत्रो धनवान्नगरे क्व चित् ॥

Summary AI Hear this story concerning a lion and a bull. In a certain city, there was a wealthy son of a merchant.

१०.४.१२

तस्यैकदा वणिज्यार्थं गच्छतो मथुरां पुरीम् ।
भारवोढा युगं कर्षन्भरेण युगभङ्गतः ॥

Summary AI Once, while traveling to Mathurā for trade, his bull, carrying a heavy load, suffered a broken yoke while pulling.

१०.४.१३

गिरिप्रस्रवणोद्भूतकर्दमे स्खलितः पथि ।
संजीवकाख्यो वृषभः पपाताङ्गैर्विचूर्णितैः ॥

Summary AI Slipping in the mud caused by a mountain spring on the path, the bull named Sañjīvaka fell with his limbs crushed.

१०.४.१४

दृष्ट्वाभिघातनिश्चेष्टमसिद्धोत्थापनक्रमः ।
निराशस्तं चिरात्त्यक्त्वा वणिक्पुत्रो जगाम सः ॥

Summary AI Seeing him motionless from the injury and failing to raise him, the merchant's son lost hope and eventually abandoned him.

१०.४.१५

स च संजीवको दैवात्समाश्वस्तो वृषः शनैः ।
उत्थाय शष्पान्समृदूनश्नन्प्रकृतिमाप्तवान् ॥

Summary AI By chance, the bull Sañjīvaka gradually recovered, stood up, and regained his strength by eating tender grass.

१०.४.१६

गत्वा च यमुनातीरं हरितानि तृणानि सः ।
खादन्स्वच्छन्दचारी सन्पृष्टाङ्गो बलवानभूत् ॥

Summary AI Reaching the banks of the Yamunā and eating green grass, he wandered freely and became strong with well-fed limbs.

१०.४.१७

व्यचरत्पीनककुदो माद्यन्हरवृषोपमः ।
शृङ्गोत्पाटितवल्मीकः स च तत्रोन्नदन्मुहुः ॥

Summary AI Resembling Śiva's bull with a stout hump, he wandered about excitedly, uprooting anthills with his horns and bellowing repeatedly.

१०.४.१८

तत्कालं चाभवत्तत्र नातिदूरे वनान्तरे ।
सिंहः पिङ्गलको नाम विक्रमाक्रान्तकाननः ॥

Summary AI At that time, in a nearby forest, there lived a lion named Piṅgalaka, who had dominated the woods by his prowess.

१०.४.१९

मृगराजस्य तस्यास्तां मन्त्रिणौ जम्बुकावुभौ ।
एको दमनको नाम तथा करटको ऽपरः ॥

Summary AI That king of beasts had two jackals as ministers: one named Damanaka and the other Karataka.

१०.४.२०

स सिंहो जातु तोयार्थमागच्छन्यमुनातटम् ।
तस्यारान्नादमश्रौषीत्संजीवकककुद्मतः ॥

Summary AI Once, while going to the bank of the Yamunā for water, the lion heard the loud bellowing of the humped Sañjīvaka from nearby.

१०.४.२१

श्रुत्वा चाश्रुतपूर्वं तं तन्नादं दिक्षु मूर्च्छितम् ।
स सिंहो ऽचिन्तयत्कस्य बत नादो ऽयमीदृशः ॥

Summary AI Hearing that unprecedented roar echoing through the directions, the lion thought, "Alas! To whom does such a sound belong?"

१०.४.२२

नूनमत्र महत्सत्त्वं किंचित्तिष्ठत्यवैमि तत् ।
तद्धि दृष्ट्वैव मां हन्याद्वनाद्वापि प्रवासयेत् ॥

Summary AI "Surely some great being resides here, I realize. Indeed, upon seeing me, it might kill me or even banish me from the forest."

१०.४.२३

इति सो ऽपीतपानीय एव गत्वा वनं द्रुतम् ।
भीतः सिंहो निगूह्यासीदाकारमनुयायिषु ॥

Summary AI Thus, without even drinking water, the frightened lion quickly entered the forest and remained there, concealing his true state from his followers.

१०.४.२४

अथ प्राज्ञो दमनकः स मन्त्री तस्य जम्बुकः ।
तमवोचत्करटकं द्वितीयं मन्त्रिणं रहः ॥

Summary AI Then the wise jackal Damanaka, who was the lion's minister, spoke in private to the second minister, Karaṭaka.

१०.४.२५

अस्मत्स्वामी पयः पातुं गतो ऽपीत्वैव तत्कथम् ।
आगतस्त्वरितं भद्र प्रष्टव्यो ऽत्रैष कारणम् ॥

Summary AI "Good friend! Although our master went to drink water, why has he returned so quickly without drinking? He should be asked the reason for this."

१०.४.२६

ततः करटको ऽवादीद्व्यापारो ऽस्माकमेष कः ।
श्रुतस्त्वया न वृत्तान्तः किं कीलोत्पाटिनः कपेः ॥

Summary AI Then Karaṭaka replied, "What business is this of ours? Have you not heard the story of the monkey who pulled out the wedge?"

१०.४.२७

नगरे क्वापि केनापि वणिजा देवतागृहम् ।
कर्तुं प्रारब्धमभवद्भूरिसंभृतदारुकम् ॥

Summary AI In a certain city, a merchant had begun constructing a temple, for which a vast amount of timber had been gathered.

१०.४.२८

तत्र कर्मकराः काष्ठं क्रकचोर्ध्वार्धताटितम् ।
दत्तान्तःकीलयन्त्रं ते स्थापयित्वा गृहं ययुः ॥

Summary AI There, the workers, having partially split a log with a saw and inserted a wedge into the middle, left it and went home.

१०.४.२९

तावदागत्य तत्रैको वानरश्चापलोत्प्लुतः ।
कीलव्यस्तविभागे ऽपि काष्ठे तस्मिन्नुपाविशत् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, a restless monkey arrived and jumped onto that log, which had its parts held apart by the wedge.

१०.४.३०

नाड्यन्तरे मुखे मृत्योरिव तत्रोपविश्य च ।
कीलमुत्पाटयामास हस्ताभ्यां निष्प्रयोजनम् ॥

Summary AI Sitting in the gap as if in the mouth of death, he pulled out the wedge with his hands for no purpose.

१०.४.३१

निपत्योत्खातकीलेन सह काष्ठेन तेन च ।
तद्भागद्वयसंघट्टपीडिताङ्गो ममार सः ॥

Summary AI As the wedge was pulled out, he fell, and his body was crushed by the two closing parts of the timber, leading to his death.

१०.४.३२

एवं न यस्य यस्त्कर्म स तत्कुर्वन्विनश्यति ।
तस्मात्किं मृगराजस्य विज्ञातेनाशयेन नः ॥

Summary AI "Thus, one who performs a task that is not theirs perishes. Therefore, what concern is it of ours to know the lion's intention?"

१०.४.३३

एतत्करटकाच्छ्रुत्वा धीरो दमनको ऽब्रवीत् ।
अन्तर्भूय प्रभोः प्राप्यो विशेषः सर्वदा बुधैः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this from Karaṭaka, the resolute Damanaka said, "Wise men should always seek to gain distinction by entering the inner circle of their master."

१०.४.३४

को हि नाम न कुर्वीत केवलोदरपूरणम् ।
एवं दमनकेनोक्ते साधुः करटको ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI "Who indeed would not work merely to fill his belly?" When Damanaka said this, the virtuous Karaṭaka replied.

१०.४.३५

स्वेच्छयातिप्रवेशो यो न धर्मः सेवकस्य सः ।
इति चोक्तः करटकेनेदं दमनको ऽभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI "Intruding excessively of one's own will is not the duty of a servant." Having been told this by Karaṭaka, Damanaka said this.

१०.४.३६

मैवमात्मानुरूपं हि फलं सर्वो ऽपि वाञ्छति ।
श्वा तुष्यत्यस्थिमात्रेण केसरी धावति द्विपे ॥

Summary AI "Do not say so, for everyone desires a reward suited to their nature. A dog is satisfied with just a bone, but a lion attacks an elephant."

१०.४.३७

एतच्छ्रुत्वा करटको ऽवादीदेवं कृते यदि ।
कुप्यति प्रत्युत स्वामी तद्विशेषफलं कुतः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Karaṭaka said, "If the master gets angry instead when this is done, then where is that special reward?"

१०.४.३८

अतीव कर्कशाः स्तब्धा हिंस्रैर्जन्तुभिरावृताः ।
दुरासदाश्च विषमा ईश्वराः पर्वता इव ॥

Summary AI "Masters are like mountains—extremely harsh, unyielding, surrounded by predatory creatures, difficult to approach, and treacherous."

१०.४.३९

ततो दमनको ऽवादीत्सत्यमेतद्बुधस्तु यः ।
स्वभावानुप्रवेशेन स्वीकरोति शनैः प्रभुम् ॥

Summary AI Then Damanaka said, "That is true, but a wise man gradually wins over his master by adapting to his nature."

१०.४.४०

एवं कुर्विति तेनोक्तस्ततः करटकेन सः ।
ययौ दमनकस्तस्य सिंहस्य स्वामिनो ऽन्तिकम् ॥

Summary AI After being told by Karaṭaka, "Do so then," Damanaka went to the presence of his master, the lion.

१०.४.४१

प्रणिपत्योपविष्टश्च सिंहं पिङ्गलकं स तम् ।
स्वामिनं कृतसत्कारं क्षणादेवं व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI Having bowed down and seated himself, Damanaka addressed his master, the lion Piṅgalaka, who had welcomed him, speaking in this manner after a moment.

१०.४.४२

अहं क्रमागतस्तावद्देव भृत्यो हितस्तव ।
हितः परो ऽपि स्वीकार्यो हेयः स्वो ऽप्यहितः पुनः ॥

Summary AI O Lord, I am your hereditary and loyal servant. Even a stranger should be accepted if he is beneficial, whereas even one's own kin should be abandoned if he is harmful.

१०.४.४३

क्रीत्वान्यतो ऽपि मूल्येन मार्जारः पोष्यते हितः ।
अहितो हन्यते यत्नाद्गृहजातो ऽपि मूषकः ॥

Summary AI A beneficial cat is purchased from elsewhere and nourished, while a harmful mouse, even if born within the house, is diligently destroyed.

१०.४.४४

श्रोतव्यं च हितैषिभ्यो भृत्येभ्यो भूतिमिच्छता ।
अपृष्टैरपि कर्तव्यं तैश्च काले हितं प्रभोः ॥

Summary AI One desiring prosperity should listen to well-wishing servants; likewise, those servants must perform what is beneficial for their master at the right time, even if unasked.

१०.४.४५

तद्विश्वसिषि चेद्देव न कुप्यसि न निह्नुषे ।
पृच्छामि तदहं किंचिन्न चोद्वेगं करोषि चेत् ॥

Summary AI O Lord, if you trust me, will not be angry, will not conceal the truth, and will not be agitated, then I wish to ask you something.

१०.४.४६

एवं दमनकेनोक्तः सिंहः पिङ्गलको ऽब्रवीत् ।
विश्वासार्हो ऽसि भक्तो ऽसि तन्निःशङ्कं त्वयोच्यताम् ॥

Summary AI Addressed thus by Damanaka, the lion Piṅgalaka replied, "You are trustworthy and devoted; therefore, speak without any hesitation."

१०.४.४७

इति पिङ्गलकेनोक्ते ऽवोचद्दमनको ऽथ सः ।
देव पानीयपानार्थं तृषितो गतवानसि ॥

Summary AI When Piṅgalaka spoke thus, Damanaka then said, "O Lord, you went to the water's edge because you were thirsty."

१०.४.४८

तदपीतजलः किं त्वमागतो विमना इव ।
एतत्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स मृगेन्रो व्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI "But why have you returned without drinking water, looking dejected?" Hearing these words, the king of beasts reflected.

१०.४.४९

लक्षितो ऽस्म्यमुना तत्किं भक्तस्यास्य निगूह्यते ।
इत्यालोच्याब्रवीत्तं स शृणु गोप्यं न ते ऽस्ति मे ॥

Summary AI "I have been observed by him, so why should I hide anything from this devoted servant?" Thinking thus, he said to him, "Listen, I have no secrets from you."

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