कथासरित्सागरः — नवमस्तरङ्गः

नवमस्तरङ्गः ।

अथान्येद्युः पुनरिमां निशि प्राग्वद्विनोदयन् ।
नरवाहनदत्ताय गोमुखो ऽकथयत्कथाम् ॥

Summary AI Then, on another day at night, Gomukha, entertaining Naravāhanadatta as before, told him this story.

बभूव नगरे क्वापि बोधिसत्त्वांशसंभवः ।
कस्याप्याढ्यस्य वणिजस्तनयो मृतमामृकः ॥

Summary AI In a certain city, there lived a merchant's son named Mṛtamāmṛka, a wealthy youth who was an incarnation of a portion of a Bodhisattva.

१०.९.३

अन्यजायाप्रसक्तेन पित्रा तत्प्रेरितेन सः ।
निरस्तो वनवासाय सभार्यो निरगाद्गृहात् ॥

Summary AI Expelled for forest exile by his father, who was influenced by an attachment to another woman, he departed from his home along with his wife.

१०.९.४

स्वानुजं तु सहायान्तं तद्वत्पित्रा निराकृतम् ।
अशान्तचित्तमुत्सृज्य सो ऽन्येनैव पथा ययौ ॥

Summary AI Leaving behind his younger brother, who was also expelled by their father and had come to help but possessed a restless mind, he traveled by a different path.

१०.९.५

प्रक्रामंश्च क्रमात्प्राप निस्तोयतृणपादपाम् ।
पाथेयहीनश्चण्डांशुतप्तां मरुमहाटवीम् ॥

Summary AI Advancing gradually without any provisions, he reached a vast desert forest, devoid of water, grass, and trees, and scorched by the fierce rays of the sun.

१०.९.६

तस्यां व्रजन्स सप्ताहं भार्यां क्लान्तां क्षुधा तृषा ।
अजीवयत्स्वमांसास्रः पापा तान्याहरच्च सा ॥

Summary AI While wandering there for seven days, he kept his wife, who was exhausted by hunger and thirst, alive with his own flesh and blood, which that wicked woman consumed.

१०.९.७

अष्टमे ऽह्नि सरिद्वीचिवाचालं गिरिकाननम् ।
प्राप सत्फलसच्छायपादपं स्निग्धशाद्वलम् ॥

Summary AI On the eighth day, he reached a mountain forest filled with lush grass and shady trees bearing good fruit, which was made resonant by the ripples of a river.

१०.९.८

तत्र संभाव्य भार्यां तां क्लान्तां मूलफलाम्बुभिः ।
अवातरद्गिरिनदीं स्नातुं कल्लोलमालिनीम् ॥

Summary AI There, having refreshed his exhausted wife with roots, fruits, and water, he descended into the wave-garlanded mountain river to bathe.

१०.९.९

तस्यां ददर्श च च्छिन्नहस्तपादचतुष्टयम् ।
ह्रियमाणं जलौघेन पुरुषं त्राणकाङ्क्षिणम् ॥

Summary AI In that river, he saw a man whose four limbs—hands and feet—had been severed, being carried away by the current and seeking rescue.

१०.९.१०

बहूपवासक्लान्तो ऽपि तां विगाह्य नदीं ततः ।
उज्जहार कृपालुस्तं महासत्त्वः स पूरुषम् ॥

Summary AI Though exhausted by many fasts, that noble-hearted and compassionate man plunged into the river and rescued that person.

१०.९.११

केनेदं ते कृतं भ्रातरिति कारुणिकेन च ।
तेनारोप्य स्थलं पृष्टः स रुण्डः पुरुषो ऽभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI Placed on the shore and asked by the compassionate man, "Brother, who did this to you?", that trunk-like man replied.

१०.९.१२

निकृत्तहस्तचरणो नद्यां क्षिप्तो ऽस्मि शत्रुभिः ।
दित्सुभिः क्लेशमरणं त्वयाहं तूद्धृतस्ततः ॥

Summary AI "With my hands and feet cut off, I was thrown into the river by enemies wishing me a painful death; however, I have been rescued from it by you."

१०.९.१३

एवमुक्तवतस्तस्य स बुद्ध्वा व्रणपट्टिकाम् ।
दत्त्वाहारं महासत्त्वः स्नानादि व्यधितात्मनः ॥

Summary AI After that man had spoken thus, the noble-hearted one, attending to his wounds with bandages and giving him food, performed his own bath and other rites.

१०.९.१४

ततो मूलफलाहारो भार्यायुक्तो ऽत्र कानने ।
स तस्थौ बोधिसत्त्वांशो वणिक्पुत्रस्तपश्चरन् ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, that merchant's son, an incarnation of a portion of a Bodhisattva, remained in that forest practicing austerities with his wife, subsisting on roots and fruits.

१०.९.१५

एकदा फलमूलार्थं गते तस्मिन्स्मरातुरा ।
तद्भार्या तेन रुण्डेन रेमे रूढव्रणेन सा ॥

Summary AI Once, while he was away seeking fruits and roots, his wife, afflicted by lust, took pleasure with that trunk-like man whose wounds had healed.

१०.९.१६

तत्सस्क्ता तेन संमन्त्र्य भर्तुस्तस्य वधैषिणी ।
युक्त्या चकार सान्येद्युर्मान्द्यं दुश्चारिणी मृषा ॥

Summary AI Infatuated with him and conspiring to bring about her husband's death, that wicked woman one day craftily feigned illness.

१०.९.१७

श्वभ्रे दुरवतारे ऽथ स्थितां दुस्तरनिम्नगे ।
दर्शयित्वौषधिं पापा पतिं सा तमभाषत ॥

Summary AI Then, the sinful woman, pointing out a medicinal herb located in a chasm that was difficult to descend near an impassable river, spoke to her husband.

१०.९.१८

जीवाम्यहं त्वयैषा चेन्ममानीता महौषधिः ।
जाने ह्येतामिहस्थां मे स्वप्ने वक्ति स्म देवता ॥

Summary AI "If this great medicine is brought to me by you, I shall live; for I know it is here because a deity told me so in a dream."

१०.९.१९

तच्छ्रुत्वा स तथेत्येव श्वभ्रे तत्रौषधेः कृते ।
तृणवेष्टितया रज्ज्वावातरत्तरुबद्धया ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, he agreed and descended into that chasm for the sake of the medicine, using a rope made of twisted grass tied to a tree.

१०.९.२०

अवतीर्णस्य रज्जुं तां चिक्षेपोन्मुच्य तस्य सा ।
ततः स पतितो नद्यां तया जह्रे महौघया ॥

Summary AI When he had descended, she untied and threw away his rope; consequently, he fell into the river and was carried away by its mighty flood.

१०.९.२१

दूराद्दवीयो नीत्वा च तया सुकृतरक्षितः ।
नद्या कस्यापि नगरस्यासन्ने सो ऽर्पितस्तटे ॥

Summary AI Protected by his past merits, the merchant's son was carried far away by the river and eventually deposited on the bank near a certain city.

१०.९.२२

ततः स स्थलमारुह्य चिन्तयन्स्त्रीविचेष्टितम् ।
जलावगाहनक्लान्तो विशश्राम तरोस्तले ॥

Summary AI After reaching dry land, he reflected on the fickle behavior of women and, exhausted from his ordeal in the water, rested beneath a tree.

१०.९.२३

तस्मिन्काले च नगरे राजा तत्र मृतो ऽभवत् ।
मृते राजनि चानादिर्देशे तत्रेदृशी स्थितिः ॥

Summary AI At that time, the king of that city passed away. It was an ancient custom in that country that when a king died without an heir, a special ritual was followed.

१०.९.२४

यन्मङ्गलगजः पौरैर्भ्राम्यमाणः करेण यम् ।
आरोपयति पृष्ठे स्वे सो ऽत्र राज्ये ऽभिषिच्यते ॥

Summary AI A ceremonial state elephant would be led through the city by the people, and whomever it chose to lift onto its back with its trunk would be consecrated as the king.

१०.९.२५

स धैर्यतुष्टो धातेव भ्रमन्प्राप्तो ऽन्तिकं गजः ।
उत्क्षिप्यारोपयामास स्वपृष्ठे तं वणिक्सुतम् ॥

Summary AI The elephant, pleased by the young man's fortitude and guided as if by Dhātṛ, approached him, lifted the merchant's son, and placed him upon its back.

१०.९.२६

ततः स नगरं नीत्वा राज्ये प्रकृतिभिः क्षणात् ।
वणिक्सुतो ऽभिषिक्तो ऽभूद्बोधिसत्त्वांशसंभवः ॥

Summary AI The merchant's son, a partial incarnation of a Bodhisattva, was then taken to the city and immediately anointed as king by the subjects.

१०.९.२७

स राज्यं प्राप्य करुणामुदिताक्षान्तिभिः सह ।
अरंस्त न तु पापाभिः स्त्रीभिश्चपलवृत्तिभिः ॥

Summary AI Upon attaining the kingdom, he found joy in compassion, benevolence, and patience, rather than in the company of sinful and fickle-minded women.

१०.९.२८

तद्भार्या सापि निःशङ्का मत्वा तं च नदीहृतम् ।
बभ्रामेतस्ततो जारं रुण्डं पृष्ठे ऽधिरोप्य तम् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, his wife, believing him drowned, wandered about without fear, carrying her maimed lover (the trunk) upon her back.

१०.९.२९

वैरिकृत्ताङ्घ्रिहस्तो ऽयं भर्ता मे ऽहं पतिव्रता ।
भिक्षित्वा जीवयाम्येतं तद्भिक्षां मे प्रयच्छत ॥

Summary AI She begged for alms, claiming, "This is my husband whose limbs were severed by enemies; I, a devoted Pativratā, beg so that I may keep him alive."

१०.९.३०

इति सा भिक्षमाणा च ग्रामे ग्रामे पुरे पुरे ।
राज्यस्थस्यात्मनो भर्तुर्नगरं प्राप तस्य तत् ॥

Summary AI Begging in this manner from village to village and city to city, she eventually arrived at the very city where her husband reigned as king.

१०.९.३१

तथैव भिक्षमाणात्र राज्ञस्तस्य क्रमेण सा ।
पतिव्रतेत्यर्च्यमाना पौरैः श्रुतिपथं ययौ ॥

Summary AI While begging there, she was honored by the citizens as a faithful Pativratā, and news of her devotion eventually reached the ears of the king.

१०.९.३२

आनाययत्स राजा च तां पृष्ठारूढरुण्डिकाम् ।
का सा पतिव्रतेत्यारात्परिज्ञाय च पृष्टवान् ॥

Summary AI The king summoned the woman who carried the maimed man on her back. Recognizing her from a distance, he asked, "Who is this so-called Pativratā?"

१०.९.३३

साहं पतिव्रता देवेत्यपरिज्ञाय सापि तम् ।
भर्तारमब्रवीत्पापा राजश्रीतेजसा वृतम् ॥

Summary AI The sinful woman, failing to recognize her husband because he was surrounded by the brilliance of royal majesty, replied, "O King, I am that Pativratā."

१०.९.३४

ततः स बोधिसत्त्वांशो हसन्राजा जगाद ताम् ।
दृष्टं पतिव्रतात्वं ते फलेनेदं मयैव च ॥

Summary AI The king, an incarnation of a Bodhisattva, laughed and said to her, "I have personally seen the 'fruit' of your devotion."

१०.९.३५

स्वरक्तमांसं दत्त्वापि स्वीकर्तुं शङ्किता न या ।
स्वेनाविलुप्तहस्तेन भर्त्रा मानुषराक्षसी ॥

Summary AI He remarked that this human ogress had hesitated to accept her husband even when he was whole and had offered his own blood and flesh for her sake.

१०.९.३६

सा सदा रक्तमांसानि हरन्ती बत मे कथम् ।
रुण्डेन विकलेनापि स्वीकृत्य वहनीकृता ॥

Summary AI He wondered how she, who had always drained his own lifeblood and flesh, had now accepted and made a burden of this maimed, wretched trunk.

१०.९.३७

किंस्विदूढः स भर्ता यो नद्यां क्षिप्तस्त्वयानघः ।
कर्मणा तेन वहसे रुण्डमेतं बिभर्षि च ॥

Summary AI "Where is that innocent husband whom you threw into the river? As a result of that very deed, you now carry and support this trunk."

१०.९.३८

इत्युद्घाटितवृत्तं तं परिज्ञाय पतिं ततः ।
भयात्सा मूर्च्छितेवाभूल्लिखितेव मृतेव च ॥

Summary AI Upon recognizing him as her husband and realizing her secret was revealed, she became as if paralyzed by fear—fainting, like a still painting, or like one dead.

१०.९.३९

किमेतद्ब्रूहि देवेति सो ऽथ राजा सकौतुकैः ।
पृष्टो ऽमात्यैर्यथावृत्तं तेभ्यः सर्वमवर्णयत् ॥

Summary AI When the curious ministers asked, "O King, what is this?", the king recounted the entire sequence of events to them as they had happened.

१०.९.४०

ततो भर्तृगृहं बुद्ध्वा छित्त्वा तां कर्णनासिकम् ।
कृत्वाङ्कं मन्त्रिणो देशात्सरुण्डां निरवासयन् ॥

Summary AI Understanding her treachery toward her husband, the ministers cut off her ears and nose, branded her, and banished her from the country along with the maimed trunk.

१०.९.४१

छिन्ननासिकया रुण्डं बोधिसत्त्वं नृपश्रिया ।
युक्तं सदृशसंयोगं तदा विधिरदर्शयत् ॥

१०.९.४२

एवं दुरवधार्यैव गतिश्चित्तस्य योषिताम् ।
दैवस्येवाविचारस्य नीचैकाभिमुखस्य च ॥

१०.९.४३

एवं चात्यक्तशीलानां ससत्त्वानां जितक्रुधाम् ।
तुष्ट्वेवाचिन्तिता एव स्वयमायान्ति संपदः ॥

१०.९.४४

इत्याख्याय कथां मन्त्री गोमुखः पुनरेव सः ।
नरवाहनदत्ताय कथामेतामवर्णयत् ॥

१०.९.४५

को ऽप्यासीद्बोधिसत्त्वांशो वने क्वापि कृतोटजः ।
करुणैकाग्रहृदयो महासत्त्वस्तपश्चरन् ॥

१०.९.४६

स तत्र जन्तूनापन्नान्पिशाचांश्च समुद्धरन् ।
अपरांश्च जलैरन्नैः स्वप्रभावादतर्पयत् ॥