कथासरित्सागरः — अष्टमस्तरङ्गः

अष्टमस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो ऽन्येद्युः पुनर्नक्तं निजवासगृहे स्थितम् ।
नरवाहनदत्तं तं दयिताप्राप्तिसोत्सुकम् ॥

Summary AI Then, on another night, Naravāhanadatta remained in his private quarters, yearning for the company of his beloved.

१०.८.२

वत्सेश्वरसुतं मन्त्री तन्नियोगात्स गोमुखः ।
विनोदयन्कथास्तस्य क्रमादेवमवर्णयत् ॥

Summary AI At the prince's command, his minister Gomukha began to narrate stories in order to entertain and distract him.

१०.८.३

बभूव देवशर्माख्यो ब्राह्मणो नगरे क्व चित् ।
तस्याभूद्देवदत्तेति गेहिनी सदृशान्वया ॥

Summary AI In a certain city lived a Brāhmaṇa named Devaśarman. He had a wife named Devadattā, who was of a family equal to his own.

१०.८.४

धृतगर्भा च सा तस्य कालेन सुषुवे सुतम् ।
दरिद्रो ऽपि स तं मेने निधिं लब्धमिव द्विजः ॥

Summary AI She became pregnant and in due time gave birth to a son. Although poor, the Brāhmaṇa cherished the child as if he had found a great treasure.

१०.८.५

सूतकान्ते च सा तस्य भार्या स्नातुमगान्नदीम् ।
देवशर्मा स तस्थौ तु गृहे रक्षन्सुतं शिशुम् ॥

Summary AI When the period of postnatal impurity ended, his wife went to the river to bathe, while Devaśarman stayed home to guard their infant son.

१०.८.६

तावदाह्वायिका तस्य राजान्तःपुरतो द्रुतम् ।
चेटिका ब्राह्मणस्यागात्स्वस्तिवाचनजीविनः ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, a maidservant arrived from the royal palace to summon the Brāhmaṇa, who earned his living by reciting auspicious prayers.

१०.८.७

ततः स दक्षिणालोभान्नकुलज्ं रक्षकं शिशोः ।
स्थापयित्वा ययौ गेहे चिरमाबाल्यवर्धितम् ॥

Summary AI Eager for the ritual fee, he left his pet mongoose, which he had raised since its infancy, to guard the child and departed for the palace.

१०.८.८

तस्मिन्गते ऽत्राकस्माच्च शिशोस्तस्यान्तिकागतम् ।
सर्पमालोक्य नकुलः स्वामिभक्त्या जघान तम् ॥

Summary AI After he left, a snake suddenly approached the child. Seeing this, the mongoose killed the serpent out of devotion to its master.

१०.८.९

अथ तं देवशर्माणमागतं वीक्ष्य दूरतः ।
सर्पास्रसिक्तो नकुलो हृष्टो ऽस्य निरगात्पुरः ॥

Summary AI When the mongoose saw Devaśarman returning from afar, it ran out to meet him, feeling joyful and covered in the snake's blood.

१०.८.१०

स देवशर्मा तद्रूपं तं दृष्ट्वैवाश्मनावधीत् ।
ध्रुवं स बालः पुत्रो मे हतो ऽनेनेति संभ्रमात् ॥

Summary AI Seeing the mongoose in that state, Devaśarman rashly assumed it had killed his son and instantly struck it dead with a stone.

१०.८.११

प्रविश्य चान्तर्दृष्ट्वा तं भुजगं नकुलाहतम् ।
जीवन्तं च स्थितं बालं ब्राह्मणो ऽन्तरतप्यत ॥

Summary AI Upon entering the house, the Brāhmaṇa saw the dead snake and his son alive, and he was filled with deep internal remorse.

१०.८.१२

अविचार्योपकारी स नकुलः किं हतस्त्वया ।
इत्युपालभतायाता भार्यापि तदवेत्य तम् ॥

Summary AI His wife returned, and seeing the situation, she rebuked him, saying, "Why did you kill the mongoose that helped us without consideration for itself?"

१०.८.१३

तस्मान्न बुद्धिमान्कुर्यात्सहसा देव किंचन ।
सहसा चेष्टमानो हि हन्यते लोकयोर्द्वयोः ॥

Summary AI Therefore, O King, a wise man should never do anything in haste. One who acts impulsively is ruined in both this world and the next.

१०.८.१४

कुर्वंश्चाविधिना कर्म विरोधिफलमश्नुते ।
तथा च वायुनाक्रान्तदेहः को ऽप्यभवत्पुमान् ॥

Summary AI Performing a task incorrectly yields contrary results. For instance, there was once a man whose body was afflicted by a wind-disorder.

१०.८.१५

बस्त्यर्थमौषधं दत्त्वा बभाषे जातु तं भिषक् ।
त्वं पेषयैतत्स्वगृहं गत्वा यावदुपैम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI A physician gave him medicine for an enema and instructed him to go home and grind it until he arrived.

१०.८.१६

एवमुक्त्वा गतो वैद्यो यावच्चिरयति क्षणम् ।
तावत्तदौषधं पिष्ट्वा मूर्खो ऽसौ वारिणापिबत् ॥

Summary AI After the doctor left, the fool ground the medicine and drank it with water while the physician was delayed for a moment.

१०.८.१७

उत्पन्नव्यपदं तेन तमागत्य भिषक्ततः ।
स दत्त्वा वमनं कृच्छ्रान्मृतकल्पमजीवयत् ॥

Summary AI The physician arrived to find him in a disastrous state; he administered an emetic and, with great difficulty, revived the near-dead man.

१०.८.१८

बस्त्यौषधं गुदे मूर्ख दीयते न तु पीयते ।
अहं प्रतीक्षितः किं नेत्युपालभ्यत तेन सः ॥

Summary AI The physician scolded him, "You fool! Enema medicine is administered through the rectum, not drunk. Why did you not wait for me?"

१०.८.१९

इतीष्टमप्यनिष्टाय जायते ऽविधिना कृतम् ।
तस्मान्न विधिमुत्सृज्य प्राज्ञः कुर्वीत किंचन ॥

Summary AI Thus, even a desired act leads to misfortune if done improperly. Therefore, a wise person should never act by disregarding the proper method.

१०.८.२०

अप्रेक्षापूर्वकारी च निन्द्यते ऽवद्यकृत्क्षणात् ।
तथा च कुत्रचित्कश्चिज्जडबुद्धिरभूत्पुमान् ॥

Summary AI One who acts without foresight and performs blameworthy deeds is instantly condemned. In this regard, there was once a certain dull-witted man.

१०.८.२१

तस्य देशान्तरं जातु गच्छतो ऽन्वागतः सुतः ।
अटव्यां वासिते चार्थे विवेश विहरन्वनम् ॥

Summary AI Once, the son of a man traveling to another country followed him. While they were encamped in a forest, the boy entered the woods for recreation.

१०.८.२२

पाटितो मर्कटैः सो ऽत्र कृच्छ्राज्जीवन्नुपेत्य तम् ।
ऋक्षानभिज्ञः पितरं पृच्छन्तमवदज्जडः ॥

Summary AI Having been torn by monkeys there, the foolish boy barely escaped alive. Unaware of what bears were, he approached his questioning father and spoke.

१०.८.२३

वने ऽस्मि पाटितः कैश्चिल्लोमशैः फलभक्षिभिः ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा क्रोधकृष्टासिस्तत्पिता तद्वनं ययौ ॥

Summary AI "I was attacked in this forest by some hairy fruit-eaters," he said. Hearing this, his father drew his sword in anger and went into that forest.

१०.८.२४

दृष्ट्वा फलान्याददानाञ्जटिलांस्तत्र तापसान् ।
सो ऽभ्यधावत्क्षतो ऽमीभिः सुतो मे लोमशैरिति ॥

Summary AI Seeing ascetic sages with matted hair gathering fruits there, he thought, "My son was wounded by these hairy ones," and rushed towards them.

१०.८.२५

ऋक्षैस्ते पाटितः पुत्रो मद्दृष्टैर्मा वधीर्मुनीन् ।
इत्यवार्यत पान्थेन तद्वधात्सो ऽथ केनचित् ॥

Summary AI "Your son was torn by bears that I saw; do not kill the sages," a certain traveler said, stopping him from murdering them.

१०.८.२६

ततः स दैवादुत्तीर्णः पातकात्सार्थमागतः ।
तन्न जातुचिदप्रेक्षापूर्वकारी भवेद्बुधः ॥

Summary AI Thus, by chance, he escaped the sin and returned to the caravan. Therefore, a wise person should never act without prior observation or reflection.

१०.८.२७

किमन्यत्सर्वदा भाव्यं जन्तुना कृतबुद्धिना ।
लोकोपहसिताः शश्वत्सीदन्त्येव ह्यबुद्धयः ॥

Summary AI What else is there to say? A living being should always be discerning. For the witless are constantly ridiculed by the world and inevitably come to grief.

१०.८.२८

तथा च निर्धनः कश्चित्प्राप्तवानध्वनि व्रजन् ।
सार्थवाहस्य कस्यापि च्युतां हेमभृतां दृतिम् ॥

Summary AI Similarly, a certain poor man, while walking on a road, found a leather bag filled with gold that had fallen from a merchant.

१०.८.२९

स मूढस्तां गृहीत्वैव न जगामान्यतो ऽपि च ।
स्थित्वा तत्रैव संख्यातुमारेभे हेम तच्च तत् ॥

Summary AI That fool, having picked it up, did not even go elsewhere. Instead, staying right there, he began to count that gold one by one.

१०.८.३०

तावत्स्मृत्वा हयारूढः प्रत्यागत्य स सत्वरम् ।
सार्थवाहो ऽस्य हृष्टस्य हेमभस्त्रां जहार ताम् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, the merchant, remembering his loss, returned quickly on horseback and snatched that bag of gold from the delighted man.

१०.८.३१

ततः स दृष्टनष्टार्थः शोचन्प्रायादधोमुखः ।
प्राप्तो ऽप्यर्थः क्षणादेव हार्यते मन्दबुद्धिना ॥

Summary AI Then, having seen his wealth lost, he went away grieving with a downcast face. Indeed, even wealth that is obtained is lost in a moment by a dull-witted person.

१०.८.३२

कश्चिच्च पार्वणं चन्द्रं दिदृक्षुः केनचिज्जडः ।
अङ्गुल्यभिमुखं पश्येत्यूचे दृष्टनवेन्दुना ॥

Summary AI A certain fool, wishing to see the full moon, was told by someone who had spotted the new moon, "Look in the direction of my finger."

१०.८.३३

स हित्वा गगनं तस्यैवाङ्गुलिं तां विलोकयस्न् ।
तस्थौ न चेन्दुमद्राक्षीदद्राक्षीद्धसतो जनान् ॥

Summary AI Abandoning the sky and looking only at that person’s finger, he stood there; he did not see the moon, but he did see people laughing.

१०.८.३४

प्रज्ञया साध्यते ऽसाध्यं तथा च श्रूयतास्ं कथा ।
काचिद्ग्रामान्तरं नारी गन्तुं प्रावर्ततैकका ॥

Summary AI Through wisdom, even the impossible is accomplished; hear a story illustrating this. A certain woman set out alone to go to another village.

१०.८.३५

पथि सा च जिघृक्षन्तमकस्मादेत्य वानरम् ।
वञ्चयन्ती मुहुर्वृक्षं संश्रिता पर्यवर्तत ॥

Summary AI On the way, she encountered a monkey who suddenly tried to seize her; repeatedly deceiving him, she moved around a tree for protection.

१०.८.३६

स तं तस्यास्तरुं मूढो भुजाभ्यां कपिरावृणोत् ।
साप्यस्य बाहू हस्ताभ्यां तत्रैवापीडयत्तरौ ॥

Summary AI That foolish monkey threw his arms around the tree to catch her. She, in turn, pinned his arms against that very tree with her hands.

१०.८.३७

तावच्च तस्मिन्निःस्पन्दे जातक्रोधे च वानरे ।
पथा तेनागतं कंचिदाभीरं स्त्री जगाद सा ॥

Summary AI While the monkey remained motionless and enraged, that woman spoke to a certain Ābhīra who came along that path.

१०.८.३८

महाभाग गृहाणेमं क्षणं बाह्वोः प्लवंगमम् ।
यावद्वस्त्रं च वेणीं च विस्रस्तां संवृणोम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI "O noble one, hold this monkey by his arms for a moment while I arrange my loosened garment and braid."

१०.८.३९

एवं करोमि भजसे यदि मामिति तेन सा ।
उक्तानुमेने तावत्तत्सो ऽथ तं कपिमग्रहीत् ॥

Summary AI "I will do so if you submit to me," he said. She agreed for the time being, and then he took hold of the monkey.

१०.८.४०

ततो ऽस्य क्षुरिकां कृष्ट्वा सा स्त्री हत्वा च तं कपिम् ।
एकान्तमेहीत्युक्त्वा तमाभीरं दूरमानयत् ॥

Summary AI Then, having drawn the Ābhīra’s knife and killed the monkey, the woman said, "Come to a secluded spot," and led him far away.

१०.८.४१

मिलितेष्वथ सार्थेषु तं विहायैव तैः सह ।
सा जगामेप्सितग्रामं प्रज्ञारक्षितविप्लवा ॥

Summary AI When the caravans met, she, whose safety was preserved by her wisdom, left him behind and went with them to her desired village.

१०.८.४२

इत्थं प्रज्ञैव नामेह प्रधानं लोकवर्तनम् ।
जीवत्यर्थदरिद्रो ऽपि धीदरिद्रो न जीवति ॥

Summary AI Thus, wisdom is the primary means of conduct in this world. Even a person poor in wealth lives, but one poor in intellect does not truly live.

१०.८.४३

इदानीं शृणु देवैतां विचित्रामद्भुतां कथाम् ।
घटकर्परनामानौ चौरावास्तां पुरे क्व चित् ॥

Summary AI O King, now listen to this strange and wonderful story. In a certain city, there lived two thieves named Ghaṭa and Karpara.

१०.८.४४

तयोः स कर्परो जातु बहिर्न्यस्य घटं निशि ।
संधिं दत्त्वा नृपसुतावासवेश्म प्रविष्टवान् ॥

Summary AI Among them, Karpara once left Ghaṭa outside at night, broke through a wall, and entered the dwelling of the princess.

१०.८.४५

तत्र कोठस्थितं तं सा विनिद्रा राजकन्यका ।
दृष्ट्वैव सद्यः संजातकामा स्वैरमुपाह्वयत् ॥

Summary AI Seeing him standing in the room, the sleepless princess immediately fell in love and called him to her of her own accord.

१०.८.४६

रन्त्वा च तेन साकं सा दत्त्वा चार्थं तमब्रवीत् ।
दास्याम्यन्यत्प्रभूतं ते पुनरेष्यसि चेदिति ॥

Summary AI After sporting with him and giving him wealth, she said, "If you return, I will give you much more."

१०.८.४७

ततो निर्गत्य वृत्तान्तमाख्यायार्थं समर्प्य च ।
व्यसृजत्प्राप्य राजार्थं घटं गेहं स कर्परः ॥

Summary AI After coming out, Karpara told the news, handed over the wealth, and having obtained the royal treasure, sent Ghaṭa home.

१०.८.४८

स्वयं तदैवं तु पुनर्विवेशान्तःपुरं स तत् ।
आकृष्टः कामलोभाभ्यामपायं को हि पश्यति ॥

Summary AI Then he himself entered the harem again. Drawn by lust and greed, who indeed perceives danger?

१०.८.४९

तत्रैष सुरतश्रान्तः पानमत्तस्तया सह ।
राजपुत्र्या समं सुप्तो न बुबोध गतां निशाम् ॥

Summary AI Fatigued by amorous sport and intoxicated by drink, he slept with the princess and did not realize the night had passed.

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