कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

नमताशेषविघ्नौघवारणं वारणाननम् ।
कारणं सर्वसिद्धीनां दुरितार्णवतारणम् ॥

Summary AI Bow down to the elephant-faced deity, the destroyer of all obstacles, the cause of all successes, and the savior from the ocean of sins.

११.१.२

एवं स शक्तियशसं प्राप्यान्याः प्रथमाश्च ताः ।
रत्नप्रभाद्या देवीं च मुख्यां मदनमञ्चुकाम् ॥

Summary AI Having obtained Śaktiyaśas, his other initial wives such as Ratnaprabhā, and his principal queen Madanamañcukā,

११.१.३

अतिष्ठद्विहरन्वत्सयुवराजः सुहृद्युतः ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽथ कौशाम्ब्यां पितृपार्श्वगः ॥

Summary AI the crown prince of the Vatsas, Naravāhanadatta, resided in Kauśāmbī near his father, spending his time in various pastimes with his friends.

११.१.४

एकदा च तमुद्यानगतं देशान्तरागतौ ।
भ्रातरौ राजपुत्रौ द्वावकस्मादभ्युपेयतुः ॥

Summary AI Once, while he was in the garden, two princes who were brothers arrived unexpectedly from another country.

११.१.५

कृतातिथ्यप्रणतयोस्तयोरेको ऽब्रवीच्च तम् ।
वैशाख्याख्ये पुरे राज्ञः पुत्रावावां द्विमातृकौ ॥

Summary AI After they were welcomed and had bowed, one of them said to him, "We are the two sons of a king in the city named Vaiśākhī, born of different mothers."

११.१.६

नाम्ना रुचिरदेवो ऽहं द्वितीयश्चैष पोतकः ।
जविनी हस्तिनी मे ऽस्ति तुरगौ द्वावमुष्य च ॥

Summary AI "I am named Ruciradeva, and this second one is Potaka. I possess a swift female elephant, and he has two horses."

११.१.७

तन्निमित्तं समुत्पन्नो विवादश्चावयोर्द्वयोः ।
अहं जवाधिकां वच्मि हस्तिनीं तुरगावयम् ॥

Summary AI "Because of them, a dispute has arisen between the two of us; I claim the elephant is swifter, while he says the same of the two horses."

११.१.८

अहं यदि जितस्तन्मे पणः सैव करेणुका ।
अयं यदि जितो वा स्यात्तदश्वावेव तौ पणौ ॥

Summary AI "If I am defeated, that female elephant shall be my stake; if he is defeated, then those two horses shall be the stake."

११.१.९

तेषां जवान्तरं ज्ञातुं क्षमो नास्त्यस्त्वया विना ।
तदस्मद्गृहमागत्य तत्परीक्षां कुरु प्रभो ॥

Summary AI "No one but you is capable of judging the difference in their speed; therefore, O Lord, come to our home and conduct that test."

११.१.१०

प्रसीद त्वं हि सर्वार्थप्रार्थनाकल्पपादपः ।
आवां चाभ्यागतौ दूरादेतदर्थं तवार्थिनौ ॥

Summary AI "Be gracious, for you are indeed the wish-fulfilling tree for all requests; we have come from afar as petitioners for this very purpose."

११.१.११

एवं रुचिरदेवेन सो ऽर्थितो ऽश्ववशारसात् ।
अनुरोधाच्च वत्सेशसूनुस्तत्प्रत्यपद्यत ॥

Summary AI Thus entreated by Ruciradeva, the son of the King of Vatsas agreed to it, out of both curiosity for the horses and elephant, and courtesy.

११.१.१२

तदुपानीतवाताश्वरथारूढस्तदैव सः ।
प्रतस्थे प्राप वैशाखपुरं ताभ्यां समं च तत् ॥

Summary AI Immediately mounting the chariot drawn by wind-swift horses brought by them, he set out and reached that city of Vaiśākhapura along with them.

११.१.१३

को ऽयं स्यात्किंस्विदप्राप्तरतिः कामो नवोद्भवः ।
किं वा द्वितीयश्चन्द्रो ऽयमकलङ्को दिवाचरः ॥

Summary AI "Who could this be? Is he a newly manifest Kāma who has not yet found Rati? Or is he a second, spotless moon wandering by day?"

११.१.१४

उत वा पुरुषाकारो धात्रा कामस्य निर्मितः ।
तरुणीहृदयाकाण्डसमूलोन्मूलनः शरः ॥

Summary AI "Or perhaps the Creator has fashioned a human-shaped arrow of Kāma, capable of suddenly uprooting the hearts of young women."

११.१.१५

इत्युन्मदाकुलोत्पक्ष्मलोचनाभिर्विलोक्य सः ।
वर्ण्यमानः पुरस्त्रीभिस्तद्विवेश पुरोत्तमम् ॥

Summary AI Thus observed and described by the city women with eyes wide with excitement and upturned lashes, he entered that excellent city.

११.१.१६

शृङ्गारैकमयं तत्र युवराजो ददर्श सः ।
पूर्वैः कृतप्रतिष्ठस्य कामदेवस्य मन्दिरम् ॥

Summary AI There, the crown prince saw a temple of Kāmadeva, established by ancestors, which seemed composed entirely of the sentiment of love.

११.१.१७

तस्मिन्रतिप्रीतिपदे प्रविश्य प्रणिपत्य तम् ।
कामदेवं स विश्रम्य क्षणमध्वश्रमं जहौ ॥

Summary AI Entering that abode of Rati and Prīti and bowing to Kāmadeva, he rested for a moment and shed the exhaustion of the journey.

११.१.१८

ततस्तद्देवसदनाभ्यर्णवर्ति विवेश च ।
प्रीत्या रुचिरदेवस्य मन्दिरं तत्पुरस्कृतः ॥

Summary AI Then, being led forward by Ruciradeva, he gladly entered the latter's palace, which was situated near that temple of the god.

११.१.१९

वरवाजिगजाकीर्णं तदागमनसोत्सवम् ।
ऊर्जितश्रि स तत्पश्यन्रेमे वत्सेश्वरात्मजः ॥

Summary AI Seeing that palace filled with excellent horses and elephants, festive because of his arrival, and possessing great splendor, the son of the King of Vatsas was delighted.

११.१.२०

तैस्तै रुचिरदेवेन सत्कारैः सत्कृतो ऽथ सः ।
तत्र तद्भगिनीं कन्यां ददर्शात्यद्भुताकृतिम् ॥

Summary AI Then, honored by Ruciradeva with various hospitality rites, he saw there Ruciradeva's sister, a maiden of most wonderful beauty.

११.१.२१

तद्रूपशोभाकृष्टेन चक्षुषा मानसेन च ।
न सो ऽपश्यत्प्रवासं वा विरहं स्वजनेन वा ॥

Summary AI With his eyes and mind captivated by the beauty of her form, he did not notice his travels or the separation from his own people.

११.१.२२

सापि दृष्ट्येव नीलाब्जमालयेव प्रफुल्लया ।
प्रेमनिक्षिप्तया तस्य चकारेव स्वयंवरम् ॥

Summary AI She too, with her gaze that was full of love and like a blossoming garland of blue lotuses cast upon him, seemed to choose him in a svayaṃvara.

११.१.२३

ततो जयेन्द्रसेनाख्यां तां स दध्यौ यथा तथा ।
आसतां निशि नार्यो ऽन्या न निद्रापि जहार तम् ॥

Summary AI Then, he meditated on her, named Jayendrasenā, in such a way that during the night, let alone other women, even sleep did not take hold of him.

११.१.२४

अन्येद्युः पोतकानीतमपिवातसमं जवे ।
तदश्वरत्नयुगलं वाहविद्यारहस्यवित् ॥

Summary AI The next day, he, an expert in the secret science of horsemanship, observed that pair of excellent horses brought by ship, which were equal to the wind in speed.

११.१.२५

स्वयं रुचिरदेवी यां तामारुह्य करेणुकाम् ।
तद्वेगेन जिगायैव जवाधानबलेन सः ॥

Summary AI He indeed surpassed, by the force of his application of speed, the velocity of that female elephant which Ruciradevī herself was riding.

११.१.२६

ततो रुचिरदेवेन वाजिरत्नयुगे जिते ।
यावत्स वत्सेशसुतो विशत्यभ्यन्तरं ततः ॥

Summary AI Then, after the pair of excellent horses was won from Ruciradeva, just as the son of the King of Vatsa, Naravāhanadatta, was entering the interior...

११.१.२७

तावत्तस्य पितुः पार्श्वाद्दूतो ऽन्तिकमुपाययौ ।
स दृष्ट्वा पादयोर्दूतस्तं प्रणम्याब्रवीदिदम् ॥

Summary AI ...at that moment, a messenger arrived near him from his father's side. Seeing him, the messenger bowed at his feet and spoke as follows.

११.१.२८

इह प्रयातं बुद्ध्वा त्वां परिवारात्पिता तव ।
राजा मां प्राहिणोत्त्वां प्रत्येवमादिशति स्म च ॥

Summary AI "Your father the King, having learned that you had traveled here away from your retinue, sent me and commands you thus:"

११.१.२९

इयद्दूरमनावेद्य यातो ऽस्युद्यानतः कथम् ।
अधृतिर्नस्तदायाहि मुक्तव्यासङ्गसत्वरम् ॥

Summary AI "'How have you gone so far from the garden without informing us? We are anxious; therefore, having abandoned your attachments, return quickly.'"

११.१.३०

इति शृण्वन्पितुर्दूतात्प्रियाप्राप्तिं च चिन्तयन् ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽभूत्स दोलारूढमानसः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this from his father's messenger while thinking about obtaining his beloved, Naravāhanadatta became possessed of a mind mounted on a swing, torn by indecision.

११.१.३१

तावत्क्षणाच्च तत्रैकः सार्थवाहो ऽतिहर्षलः ।
दूरादेव नमन्नेत्य युवराजमुवाच तम् ॥

Summary AI At that very moment, a joyful merchant leader approached, bowing from afar, and spoke to the prince.

११.१.३२

जय वीर जयापुष्पकोदण्डकुसुमायुध ।
भाविविद्याधराधीश चक्रवर्तिञ्जय प्रभो ॥

Summary AI "Victory, O hero! Victory, O flower-bowed Kāmadeva! Victory, O future sovereign of the Vidyādharas, the Emperor and Lord!"

११.१.३३

बालो न किं मनोहारी वर्धमानो न किं द्विषाम् ।
वित्रासकारी दृष्टो ऽसि देव तस्मादसंशयम् ॥

Summary AI "O Lord, are you not charming as a boy? Are you not terrifying to enemies as you grow? Therefore, you have certainly been recognized."

११.१.३४

अचिरादच्युतगुणं त्वां द्रक्ष्यन्त्येव खेचराः ।
आक्रामन्तं क्रमेण द्यां कुर्वन्तं बलिनिर्जयम् ॥

Summary AI "Soon the sky-goers will surely see you, endowed with the qualities of Acyuta, gradually traversing the heavens and achieving the defeat of the powerful Bali."

११.१.३५

इत्यादि स्तुतवांस्तेन युवराजेन सत्कृतः ।
पृष्टश्चाकथयत्तस्मै स्ववृत्तान्तं महावणिक् ॥

Summary AI Having praised him thus, the great merchant, honored and questioned by the prince, related his own story to him.

११.१.३६

अस्ति लम्पेति नगरी पृथिवीमौलिमालिका ।
तस्यां कुसुमसाराख्यो वणिगाढ्यो महानभूत् ॥

Summary AI "There is a city called Lampā, the crest-garland of the earth. In it, there was a great and wealthy merchant named Kusumasāra."

११.१.३७

तस्य धर्मैकवसतेः शंकराराधनार्जितः ।
एको ऽहं चन्द्रसाराख्यः पुत्रो वत्सेशनन्दन ॥

Summary AI "O son of the Lord of Vatsa, I am his only son named Candrasāra, obtained through the worship of Śaṅkara by that man who was the sole abode of righteousness."

११.१.३८

सो ऽहं मित्त्रैः समं जातु देवयात्रामवेक्षितुम् ।
गतस्तत्रापरानाढ्यानद्राक्षं ददतो ऽर्थिषु ॥

Summary AI "Once, having gone with friends to see a religious procession, I saw other wealthy people giving gifts to supplicants."

११.१.३९

ततो धनार्जनेच्छा मे प्रदानश्रद्धयोदभूत् ।
असंतुष्टस्य बह्व्यापि पित्रुपार्जितया श्रिया ॥

Summary AI "Then, though unsatisfied by the great wealth acquired by my father, a desire to earn money arose in me out of a faith in giving charity."

११.१.४०

तेन द्वीपान्तरं गन्तुमहमम्बुधिवर्त्मना ।
अरूढवान्प्रवहणं नानारत्नप्रपूरितम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, in order to go to another island by way of the sea, I boarded a ship filled with various jewels."

११.१.४१

दैवेनेवानुकूलेन वायुना प्रेरितं च तत् ।
अल्पैरेव दिनैः प्राप तं द्वीपं वहनं मम ॥

Summary AI Driven by a wind that seemed like favorable destiny, my ship reached that island in just a few days.

११.१.४२

तत्राप्रतीतमुद्रिक्तरत्नव्यवहृतिं च माम् ।
बुद्ध्वा राजार्थलोभेन बद्ध्वा कारागृहे न्यधात् ॥

Summary AI Perceiving me there as an unknown person dealing in immense riches of jewels, the king, out of greed for wealth, imprisoned me in a dungeon.

११.१.४३

तस्मिन्गृहे दुष्कृतिभिः क्रन्दद्भिः क्षुत्तृडर्दितैः ।
प्रेतैरिव स्थितो यावदहं निरयसंनिभे ॥

Summary AI I remained in that prison, which resembled hell, surrounded by evil-doers who were wailing and afflicted by hunger and thirst like ghosts.

११.१.४४

तावदस्मत्कुलाभिज्ञस्तन्निवासी महावणिक् ।
महीधराख्यो राजानं मत्कृते तं व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI Just then, a great merchant named Mahīdhara, a resident of that place who knew my family, made a representation to the king on my behalf.

११.१.४५

लम्पानिवासिनो देव पुत्र एष वणिक्पतेः ।
निर्दोषस्य तदेतस्य बन्धनाद्ययशस्करम् ॥

Summary AI "O King! This man is the son of a merchant chief residing in Lampa. Therefore, the imprisonment of this innocent person brings only dishonor."

११.१.४६

इत्यादि बोधितस्तेन स मामुन्मोच्य बन्धनात् ।
आनाय्य चान्तिकं राजा सादरं सममानयत् ॥

Summary AI Thus informed by him, the king released me from prison, summoned me to his presence, and treated me with great respect.

११.१.४७

ततो राजप्रसादेन तन्मित्त्रोपाश्रयेण च ।
तत्रासं महतः कुर्वन्व्यवहारानहं सुखी ॥

Summary AI Thenceforth, through the king's favor and the support of that friend, I lived there happily, conducting extensive trade.

११.१.४८

एकदात्र मधूद्यानयात्रायां दृष्टवानहम् ।
वणिजः शिखराख्यस्य तनयां वरकन्यकाम् ॥

Summary AI Once, during a festival in the spring garden there, I beheld the beautiful daughter of a merchant named Śikhara.

११.१.४९

तया कंदर्पदर्पाब्धिलहर्येव हृतस्ततः ।
गत्वैव तत्पितुस्तस्मादहं याचितवांश्च ताम् ॥

Summary AI Carried away by her as if by a wave from the ocean of Kandarpa's pride, I went immediately to her father and asked for her hand.