कथासरित्सागरः — पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः

पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः शक्तियशः सोत्कं गोमुखः स विनोदयन् ।
नरवाहनदत्तं तं मन्त्री पुनरभाषत ॥

Summary AI Then the minister Gomukha, entertaining the longing Naravāhanadatta, spoke further regarding Śaktiyaśas.

श्रुता प्राज्ञकथा देव त्वया मुग्धकथां शृणु ।
मुग्धबुद्धिरभूत्कश्चिदाढ्यश्य वणिजः सुतः ॥

Summary AI O Prince, you have heard stories of the wise; now hear the tale of a fool. There once was a foolish son of a wealthy merchant.

१०.५.३

जगाम स वणिज्यायै कटाहद्वीपमेकदा ।
भाण्डमध्ये च तस्याभून्महानगुरुसंचयः ॥

Summary AI He once traveled to the island of Kaṭāha for trade, carrying a large stock of aloe-wood (aguru) among his merchandise.

१०.५.४

विक्रीता परभाण्डस्य न तस्यागुरु तत्र तत् ।
कश्चिज्जग्राह तद्वासी जनो वेत्ति न तत्र तत् ॥

Summary AI His aloe-wood remained unsold because the local inhabitants did not recognize its value and thus did not buy it, while the goods of others were sold.

१०.५.५

काष्ठिकेभ्यस्ततो ऽङ्गारान्दृष्ट्वापि क्रीणतो जनान् ।
स कालागुरु दग्ध्वा तदङ्गारानकरोज्जडः ॥

Summary AI Noticing people buying charcoal from wood-sellers, the fool burnt his precious kālāguru to produce charcoal.

१०.५.६

विक्रीयाङ्गारमूल्येन तच्चागत्य ततो गृहम् ।
तदेव कौशलं शंसन्स ययौ लोकहास्यताम् ॥

Summary AI Having sold it for the price of common charcoal and returned home, he boasted of his cleverness but became a laughingstock to all.

१०.५.७

कथितो ऽगुरुदाह्येष श्रूयतां तिलकार्षिकः ।
बभूव कश्चिद्ग्रामीणो भूतप्रायः कृषीवलः ॥

Summary AI That was the story of the aloe-burner; now hear of the sesame-cultivator. There was a rustic farmer who was almost entirely a fool.

१०.५.८

स कदाचित्तिलान्भृष्टान्भुक्त्वा स्वादूनवेत्य तान् ।
भृष्टानेवावपद्भूरींस्तादृशोत्पत्तिवाञ्छया ॥

Summary AI Once, after eating roasted sesame seeds and finding them delicious, he sowed a vast quantity of roasted seeds, hoping to harvest a similar crop.

१०.५.९

भृष्टेषु तेष्वजातेषु नष्टार्थं तं जनो ऽहसत् ।
तिलकार्षिक उक्तो ऽसौ जले ऽग्निक्षेपकं शृणु ॥

Summary AI When the roasted seeds failed to sprout, people laughed at him for his loss. That was the sesame-cultivator; now hear about the one who threw fire into water.

१०.५.१०

मन्दबुद्धिरभूत्कश्चित्पुमान्निशि स चैकदा ।
प्रभाते देवतापूजां करिष्यन्नित्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI There was a foolish man who, one night, planned for the deity's worship he was to perform at dawn.

१०.५.११

उपयुक्तौ मम स्नानधूपाद्यर्थं जलानलौ ।
स्थापयामि तदेकस्थौ तौ शीघ्रं प्राप्नुयां यथा ॥

Summary AI He thought, "I need water and fire for my bath and incense; I shall place them together in one container to access them quickly."

१०.५.१२

इत्यालोच्याम्बुकुम्भान्तः क्षिप्त्वाग्निं संविवेश सः ।
प्रातश्च वीक्षते यावद्गतो ऽग्निर्नष्टमम्बु च ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus, he threw fire into a water-pot and went to sleep. At dawn, he found the fire extinguished and the water vanished.

१०.५.१३

अङ्गारमलिने तोये दृष्टे तस्याभवन्मुखम् ।
तादृगेव सहासस्य लोकस्यासीत्पुनः स्मितम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing his face reflected in the charcoal-blackened water, it appeared just as dark, causing the mocking people to smile once more.

१०.५.१४

श्रुतस्त्वयाग्निकुम्भाख्यो नासिकारोपणं शृणु ।
बभूव कश्चित्पुरुषो मूर्खो मूढमतिः क्व चित् ॥

Summary AI You have heard the story of the fire-pot; now hear about the nose-grafting. There was once a foolish and dull-witted man.

१०.५.१५

स भार्यां चिपिटघ्राणां गुरुं चोत्तुङ्गनासिकम् ।
दृष्ट्वा तस्य प्रसुप्तस्य नासां छित्त्वाग्रहीद्गुरोः ॥

Summary AI Observing his flat-nosed wife and his teacher with a prominent nose, he cut off the nose of his sleeping teacher and took it.

१०.५.१६

गत्वा च नासिकां छित्त्वा भार्यायास्तामरोपयत् ।
गुरुनासां मुखे तस्या न च तत्रारुरोह सा ॥

Summary AI He then cut off his wife’s nose and attempted to graft the teacher’s nose onto her face, but it did not adhere.

१०.५.१७

एवं भार्यागुरू तेन च्छिन्ननासौ कृतावुभौ ।
अधुना वनवासी च पशुपालो निशाम्यताम् ॥

Summary AI In this way, he left both his wife and his teacher noseless. Now, listen to the story of the forest-dwelling cowherd.

१०.५.१८

पशुपालो महामुग्धः को ऽप्यासीद्धनवान्वने ।
तस्य धूर्ताः समाश्रित्य मित्त्रत्वे बहवो ऽमिलन् ॥

Summary AI There lived an extremely foolish but wealthy cowherd in a forest. Many rogues approached and befriended him for their own benefit.

१०.५.१९

ते तं जगदुराढ्यस्य सुता नगरवासिनः ।
त्वत्कृते याचितास्माभिः सा च पित्रा प्रतिश्रुता ॥

Summary AI They told him, "We have requested the daughter of a wealthy city-dweller for you, and her father has promised her in marriage."

१०.५.२०

तच्छ्रुत्वा स ददौ तुष्टस्तेभ्यो ऽर्थं तं च ते पुनः ।
विवाहस्तव संपन्न इत्यूचुर्दिवसैर्गतैः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, he joyfully gave them wealth. After some days, they told him that his marriage had been successfully performed.

१०.५.२१

ततः स सुतरां तुष्टस्तेभ्यो भूरि धनं ददौ ।
दिनैश्च तं वदन्ति स्म पुत्रो जातस्तवेति ते ॥

Summary AI Then, highly pleased, he gave them much wealth. After some days, they told him, "A son has been born to you."

१०.५.२२

ननन्द तेन सर्वं च मूढस्तेभ्यः समर्प्य सः ।
पुत्रं प्रत्युत्सुको ऽस्मीति प्रारोदीच्चापरे ऽहनि ॥

Summary AI The fool rejoiced at the news and, having handed over everything to them, wept the next day, saying, "I am anxious to see my son."

१०.५.२३

रुदंश्चादत्त लोकस्य हासं धूर्तैः स वञ्चितः ।
पशुभ्य इव संक्रान्तजडिमा पशुपालकः ॥

Summary AI Deceived by the rogues, that cowherd, as if his dullness had been transferred from his cattle, became an object of laughter for the people while he wept.

१०.५.२४

पशुपालः श्रुतो देव शृण्वलंकारलम्बकम् ।
ग्राम्यः कश्चित्खनन्भूमिं प्रापालंकरणं महत् ॥

Summary AI O Lord, the story of the cowherd has been heard; now listen to the Alaṃkāra-lambaka. A certain villager found a great treasure of ornaments while digging the earth.

१०.५.२५

रात्रौ राजकुलाच्चौरैर्नीत्वा तत्र निवेशितम् ।
यद्गृहीत्वा स तत्रैव भार्यां तेन व्यभूषयत् ॥

Summary AI Thieves had stolen those ornaments from the royal palace at night and hidden them there; taking them, he decorated his wife right there with that jewelry.

१०.५.२६

बबन्ध मेखलां मूर्ध्नि हारं च जघनस्थले ।
नूपुरौ करयोस्तस्याः कर्णयोरपि कङ्कणौ ॥

Summary AI He tied the girdle on her head and the necklace around her hips; he placed the anklets on her hands and the bracelets on her ears.

१०.५.२७

हसद्भिः ख्यापितं लोकैर्बुद्ध्वा राजा जहार तत् ।
तस्मात्स्वाभरणं तं तु पशुप्रायं मुमोच सः ॥

Summary AI Learning of the matter from the laughing people, the King seized the ornaments. However, he released that beast-like man since the ornaments were the King's own recovered property.

१०.५.२८

उक्तो ऽलंकरणो देव शृणु वच्म्यथ तूलिकम् ।
मूर्खः कश्चित्पुमांस्तूलविक्रयायापणं ययौ ॥

Summary AI O Lord, the story of the ornaments is told; now I shall tell the story of the cotton. Listen. A certain foolish man went to the market to sell cotton.

१०.५.२९

अशुद्धमिति तत्तस्य न जग्राहात्र कश्चन ।
तावद्ददर्श तत्राग्नौ हेम निष्टप्तशोधितम् ॥

Summary AI No one there would buy it, claiming it was impure. Just then, he saw gold being purified by heating it in fire.

१०.५.३०

स्वर्णकारेण विक्रीतं गृहीतं ग्राहकेण च ।
तद्दृष्ट्वापि स तत्तूलमिच्छञ्शोधयितुं जडः ॥

Summary AI The gold was sold by the goldsmith and purchased by a customer. Seeing this, that fool, wishing to purify his cotton likewise...

१०.५.३१

अग्नौ चिक्षेप दग्धे च तस्मिंल्लोको जहास तम् ।
श्रुतो ऽयं तूलिको देवखर्जूरीछेदकं शृणु ॥

Summary AI ...threw it into the fire. When it was burnt, the people laughed at him. O Lord, this story of the cotton is heard; now listen to the tale of the cutting of the date trees.

१०.५.३२

केचिन्मूर्खाः समाहूय न्ययोज्यन्ताधिकारिभिः ।
ग्राम्या राजकुलादिष्टं खर्जूरानयनं प्रति ॥

Summary AI Certain foolish villagers were summoned and appointed by officials to fetch dates as ordered by the royal palace.

१०.५.३३

ते दृष्ट्वैका सुखग्राह्यां खर्जूरपतितां स्वतः ।
खर्जूरीं तत्र खर्जूरीः सर्वा ग्रामे स्वके ऽच्छिनन् ॥

Summary AI Seeing one date tree where the fruit had fallen by itself and was easy to gather, they cut down all the date trees in their own village.

१०.५.३४

पतितास्ताश्च कलिताशेषखर्जूरसंचयाः ।
उत्थाप्यारोपयामासुर्न चैषां सिद्ध्यति स्म तत् ॥

Summary AI Once the trees had fallen, they gathered all the dates and then tried to set the trees back up to replant them, but they did not succeed.

१०.५.३५

ततश्चानीतखर्जूरा आदृतारोपणेन ते ।
खर्जूरीछेदनं बुद्ध्वा राज्ञा प्रत्युत दण्डिताः ॥

Summary AI Consequently, having brought the dates but also having attempted the replanting, they were instead punished by the King when he discovered they had cut down the trees.

१०.५.३६

उक्तः खर्जूरहासो ऽयं निध्यालोकनमुच्यते ।
निधानदर्शी केनापि को ऽप्याजह्रे महीभुजा ॥

Summary AI This laughable story of the dates is told; now the story of looking for treasure is recounted. A certain treasure-seer was summoned by a king.

१०.५.३७

मा गात्क्वापि पलाय्यायमिति राजकुमन्त्रिणा ।
नेत्रे तस्योदपाट्येतां निधानस्थानदर्शिनः ॥

Summary AI Fearing that the man might flee somewhere, the King's minister had the eyes of that treasure-seer plucked out.

१०.५.३८

भूलक्षणान्यपश्यन्तं गतावप्यगतौ समम् ।
अन्धं दृष्ट्वा च तं मन्त्री स जडो जहसे जनैः ॥

Summary AI Seeing the man blind and unable to discern the signs of the earth, making his presence as useless as his absence, that foolish minister was laughed at by the people.

१०.५.३९

निधानालोकनं श्रुत्वा श्रूयतां लवणाशनम् ।
बभूव गह्वरो ग्रामवासी कोऽपि जडः पुमान् ॥

Summary AI Having heard of the treasure-seeking, now listen to the story of eating salt. There was a certain dull-witted man living in a remote village.

१०.५.४०

स मित्रेण गृहं जातु नीतो नगरवासिना ।
भोजितो लवणस्वादून्यन्नानि व्यञ्जनानि च ॥

Summary AI He was once taken to the house of a friend living in the city and was served grains and side-dishes flavored with salt.

१०.५.४१

केनेयं स्वादुतान्नादेरित्यपृच्छत्स गह्वरः ।
प्राधान्याल्लवणेनेति तेनोचे सुहृदा तदा ॥

Summary AI Gahvara asked what makes food delicious, to which his friend replied that it is primarily due to salt.

१०.५.४२

तदेव तर्हि भोक्तव्यमित्युक्त्वा लवणस्य सः ।
पिष्टस्य मुष्टिमादाय प्रक्षिप्याभक्षयन्मुखे ॥

Summary AI Thinking he should eat only that, the fool took a handful of powdered salt and threw it into his mouth to eat.

१०.५.४३

तच्चूर्णं तस्य दुर्बुद्धेरोष्ठौ श्मश्रूणि चालिपत् ।
हसतस्तु जनस्यात्र मुखं धवलतां ययौ ॥

Summary AI The salt powder smeared the fool's lips and beard. Seeing his ridiculous state, the faces of the people watching became white with laughter.

१०.५.४४

लवणाशी श्रुतो देव त्वया गोदोहकं शृणु ।
ग्राम्यः कश्चिदभून्मुग्धो गौरेका तस्य चाभवत् ॥

Summary AI Gomukha said, 'O King, you have heard of the salt-eater; now hear about the cow-milker. There was once a foolish villager who owned a cow.'

१०.५.४५

सा च तस्यास्न्वहं धेनुः पयः पलशतं ददौ ।
कदाचिच्चाभवत्तस्य प्रत्यासन्नः किलोत्सवः ॥

Summary AI That cow yielded a hundred palas of milk daily for him. Once, a festival of his was drawing near.

१०.५.४६

एकवारं ग्रहीष्यामि पयो ऽस्याः प्राज्यमुत्सवे ।
इति मूर्खः स नैवैतां मसमात्रं दुदोह गाम् ॥

Summary AI Thinking he would collect a large quantity of milk all at once for the festival, the fool did not milk the cow for an entire month.

१०.५.४७

प्राप्तोत्सवश्च यावत्तां दोग्धि तावत्पयो ऽखिलम् ।
तत्तस्याश्छिन्नमच्छिन्नं लोकस्य हसितं त्वभूत् ॥

Summary AI When the festival arrived and he tried to milk her, the milk had dried up completely, making him a continuous object of public ridicule.

१०.५.४८

श्रुतो गोदोहको मूर्खः श्रूयतामपराविमौ ।
खलतिस्ताम्रकुम्भाभशिराः कश्चित्पुमानभूत् ॥

Summary AI 'Having heard of the foolish milker, hear of these other two. There was a bald man whose head resembled a copper pot.'

१०.५.४९

वृक्षमूलोपविष्टं तं तरुणः कश्चिदैक्षत ।
आगतो ऽत्र कपित्थानि गृहीत्वा क्षुधितः पथा ॥

Summary AI A hungry youth traveling along the road with wood-apples (kapittha) saw the bald man sitting at the foot of a tree.

Other texts to read

कादम्बरीसंग्रहः कृष्णमाचार्यः

नीलकण्ठविजयचम्पूः नीलकण्ठदीक्षितः

About

Resources

Connect