कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

अव्याद्वो विघ्नविध्वंसकीर्तिस्तम्भमिवोत्क्षिपन् ।
करं गणपतिः क्रीडालीनभृङ्गाक्षरावलिम् ॥

Summary AI May Gaṇapati protect you, raising his trunk which appears like a pillar of glory for the destruction of obstacles, bearing a row of bees that resemble letters clinging to it in sport.

१२.१.२

अरागमपिरागाढ्यरचनाचतुरं परम् ।
हरं नवनवाश्चर्यसर्गचित्रकरं नुमः ॥

Summary AI We bow to Lord Hara, who, though devoid of passion (arāga), is exceedingly clever in creating compositions rich in passion (rāga), and who is the marvelous painter of ever-new and wondrous creations.

१२.१.३

जितं स्मरशरैर्येषु पौष्पेष्वपि पतत्स्विह ।
वज्रादीन्यपि जायन्ते कुण्ठितान्येव तद्भृताम् ॥

Summary AI Victory belongs to the flower-arrows of Smara; for when they fall, even the thunderbolts and other weapons of those who wield them become completely blunted.

१२.१.४

एवं वत्सेश्वरसुतस्तां तां भार्यामवाप्य सः ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽत्र कौशाम्ब्यामथ तस्थिवान् ॥

Summary AI Thus, having obtained his various wives, Naravāhanadatta, the son of the King of Vatsa, resided there in Kauśāmbī.

१२.१.५

बहुभार्यो ऽपि तामाद्यां दैवीं मदनमञ्चुकाम् ।
प्राणेभ्यो ऽप्यधिकां मेने रुक्मिणीमिव माधवः ॥

Summary AI Although he had many wives, he regarded his first divine wife, Madana-mañcukā, as dearer than his own life, just as Mādhava regarded Rukmiṇī.

१२.१.६

एकदा च निशि स्वप्ने नभसागत्य दिव्यया ।
कयापि कन्ययात्मानं ह्रियमाणं ददर्श सः ॥

Summary AI Once, in a dream at night, he saw himself being carried away through the sky by some divine maiden who had arrived there.

१२.१.७

प्रबुद्धश्च महाशैलसानौ सच्छायपादपे ।
अपश्यत्स्थितमात्मानं तार्क्ष्यरत्नशिलातले ॥

Summary AI Upon waking up, he found himself situated on a slab of emerald stone, shaded by beautiful trees, on the peak of a great mountain.

१२.१.८

तां च कन्यां स्वपार्श्वस्था निशि द्योतितकाननाम् ।
ईक्षते स्म स्मरस्येव विश्वसंमोहनौषधिम् ॥

Summary AI He beheld that maiden standing by his side, illuminating the forest in the night like a universal enchanting herb belonging to Smara.

१२.१.९

अनयाहमिहानीत इति मत्वा च वीक्ष्य च ।
लज्जाविलम्बितेच्छां तां कृत्वा चालीकसुप्तकम् ॥

Summary AI Thinking, "I have been brought here by her," and observing her desire restrained by modesty, he pretended to be fast asleep.

१२.१.१०

प्रलपन्निव जिज्ञासुरेवं धूर्तो ऽथ सो ऽब्रवीत् ।
क्व त्वमालिङ्ग मामेहि प्रिये मदनमञ्चुके ॥

Summary AI Then that clever prince, wishing to test her, spoke thus as if talking in his sleep: "O dear Madana-mañcukā, where are you? Come, embrace me!"

१२.१.११

तच्छ्रुत्वेव तदुद्धातास्मृत्वा निर्व्रीडयन्त्रणम् ।
रूपं तद्दयितायाः सा तस्याः कृत्वालिलिङ्ग तम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, and forgetting her modest restraint due to that sudden impulse, she assumed the form of his beloved wife and embraced him.

१२.१.१२

ततः स नेत्रे उन्मील्य दृष्ट्वा तां स्वप्रियाकृतिम् ।
अहो विज्ञानमित्युक्त्वा कण्ठे जग्राह सस्मितः ॥

Summary AI Then opening his eyes and seeing her in the form of his beloved, he said with a smile, "Oh, what a clever skill!" and clasped her by the neck.

१२.१.१३

साथ हित्वा त्रपां रूपं स्वं प्रदर्श्य जगाद तम् ।
आर्यपुत्र गृहाणेमां मामिदानीं स्वयंवराम् ॥

Summary AI Then, casting aside her bashfulness and revealing her true form, she said to him: "O noble son, accept me now as one who has chosen you herself."

१२.१.१४

एवमुक्तवतीं तां च परिणिन्ये स कन्यकाम् ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽत्र गान्धर्वविधिना तदा ॥

Summary AI Then Naravāhanadatta married that maiden, who had spoken thus, according to the Gāndharva rite.

१२.१.१५

नीत्वाथ तत्र तां रात्रिं यथावत्स तया सह ।
प्रातस्तां दयितां युक्त्या कुलजिज्ञासयाभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI After spending that night with her in the proper manner, he spoke to his beloved in the morning with a clever device, desiring to know her lineage.

१२.१.१६

प्रिये शृणु कथामेतामपूर्वां कथयामि ते ।
ब्रह्मसिद्धिरिति क्वापि मुनिरासीत्तपोवने ॥

Summary AI "O dear one, listen; I shall tell you an unprecedented story. In a certain penance-grove, there lived a sage named Brahmasiddhi."

१२.१.१७

तस्याश्रमसमीपे च योगसिद्धस्य सन्मुनेः ।
अभूच्छृगाली जरती गुहायां विहितास्पदा ॥

Summary AI Near the hermitage of that noble sage, who was accomplished in yoga, there lived an aged female jackal who had made her home in a cave.

१२.१.१८

तां दुर्दिने निराहारां भक्ष्यार्थं जातु निर्गताम् ।
वशाविश्लेषसोन्मादो हन्तुमागाद्वनद्विपः ॥

Summary AI Once, when she had come out in search of food on a rainy day after fasting, a wild elephant, maddened by separation from his mate, rushed to kill her.

१२.१.१९

तद्दृष्ट्वा स मुनिर्ज्ञास्नी कृपालुस्तां शृगालिकाम् ।
परेण करिणीं चक्रे ऽनुग्रहायैतयोर्द्वयोः ॥

Summary AI Seeing this, the wise and compassionate sage, in order to favor them both, instantly transformed that female jackal into a female elephant.

१२.१.२०

ततः स हस्ती तां दृष्ट्वा करेणुं शान्तवैकृतः ।
अनुरक्तो ऽभवत्तस्यां सापि मृत्योरमुच्यत ॥

Summary AI Then that elephant, seeing her as a female elephant, was calmed from his fury and became enamored with her, and she, too, was saved from death.

१२.१.२१

ततो भ्रमंस्तया साकं स गजो जातु तत्कृते ।
प्राविशत्पद्ममानेतुं शरत्पङ्काकुलं सरः ॥

Summary AI Wandering with the female jackal, the elephant once entered a lake filled with autumn mud to retrieve a lotus for her sake.

१२.१.२२

ममज्ज तत्र पङ्कान्तर्न शशाक विचेष्टितुम् ।
तस्थौ कुलिशनिर्लूनपक्षो भ्रष्ट इवाचलः ॥

Summary AI He sank deep into the mud and was unable to move. He stood there like a mountain fallen from the sky, its wings clipped by Indra's thunderbolt.

१२.१.२३

दृष्ट्वा तथावसन्नं तं सा शृगालीकरेणुका ।
तदैवान्यं समाश्रित्य वारणं क्वाप्यगात्ततः ॥

Summary AI Seeing him thus distressed, the jackal-cow-elephant immediately sought another elephant and went away somewhere else.

१२.१.२४

तावच्च पूर्वविश्लिष्टा करिणी तस्य सा निजा ।
अन्विष्यन्ती गजस्यागात्तं प्रदेशं विधेर्वशात् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, his own original mate, the female elephant from whom he had previously separated, arrived at that place by destiny while searching for him.

१२.१.२५

सा भद्रजातिर्दृष्ट्वैव ग्रस्तं पङ्केन तं पतिम् ।
अनुसर्तुं सरःपङ्कं तमेव प्रविशत्तदा ॥

Summary AI That noble female elephant, upon seeing her husband trapped in the mud, immediately entered the same lake mud to follow and stay by him.

१२.१.२६

तत्काले स मुनिर्ब्रह्मसिद्धिस्तेनागतः पथा ।
शिष्ययुक्तस्तदालोक्य बभूव करुणान्वितः ॥

Summary AI At that moment, the sage Brahmasiddhi, accompanied by his disciples, happened to pass by that path. Seeing their plight, he was filled with compassion.

१२.१.२७

उद्धारयामास च तौ वशानागौ महातपाः ।
शिष्यैर्वरोद्भूतबलैः सरः पङ्कान्तरात्ततः ॥

Summary AI Then the great ascetic, using his disciples who possessed extraordinary strength granted by boons, rescued both the female and the male elephant from the depths of the lake's mud.

१२.१.२८

ततस्तस्मिन्मुनौ याते दंपती तौ वशागजौ ।
मृत्योर्वियोगाच्चोत्तीर्णौ यथाकामं विजह्रतुः ॥

Summary AI After the sage departed, the elephant couple, having escaped death and separation, roamed together as they pleased.

१२.१.२९

एवमुत्तमजन्मानस्तिर्यञ्चो ऽप्यापदि प्रिये ।
प्रभुं नोज्झन्ति मित्त्रं वा तारयन्ति ततः पुनः ॥

Summary AI "O dear one, thus even animals of noble birth do not abandon their lord or friend in times of distress, but rather rescue them."

१२.१.३०

हीनजात्युद्भवा ये तु तेषां स्पृशति नाशयम् ।
कदाचिदपि सत्त्वं वा स्नेहो वा चञ्चलात्मनाम् ॥

Summary AI However, those born of low origin are fickle-minded; neither courage nor true affection ever touches their hearts.

१२.१.३१

एतद्वत्सेश्वरसुताच्छ्रुत्वा सा दिव्यकन्यका ।
तमुवाचैवमेवैतत्संशयो नात्र विद्यते ॥

Summary AI Hearing this from the son of the King of Vatsa (Naravāhanadatta), the celestial maiden said to him, "It is exactly as you say; there is no doubt about this."

१२.१.३२

अभिप्रायश्च विज्ञातो मयैवंवादिनस्तव ।
तदिमामपिमत्तस्त्वमार्यपुत्र कथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI "I have understood the implication behind your words. Therefore, O noble prince, listen to this story from me as well."

१२.१.३३

शूरदत्ताभिधानो ऽभूत्कान्यकुब्जे द्विजोत्तमः ।
महीपतेर्बाहुशक्तेर्मान्यो ग्रामशतेश्वरः ॥

Summary AI In Kānyakubja, there was an excellent brāhmaṇa named Śūradatta, the lord of a hundred villages and highly respected by King Bāhuśakti.

१२.१.३४

भार्या वसुमती नाम तस्यासीत्पतिदेवता ।
तस्यां स वामदत्ताख्यं भव्यं पुत्रमजीजनत् ॥

Summary AI He had a devoted wife named Vasumatī, through whom he begot a handsome son named Vāmadatta.

१२.१.३५

स वामदत्तो नचिरात्सर्वविद्यासु शिक्षितः ।
भार्यां शशिप्रभां नाम परिणिन्ये पितृप्रियः ॥

Summary AI The dear son Vāmadatta soon became learned in all sciences and married a wife named Śaśiprabhā.

१२.१.३६

कालेन पितरि स्वर्गं भार्ययानुगते गते ।
प्रावर्तत च गार्हस्थ्ये स तया भार्यया सह ॥

Summary AI In time, after his father had gone to heaven followed by his wife, Vāmadatta continued his householder life with his own wife.

१२.१.३७

सा च तस्याभवद्भार्या स्वेच्छाचारिण्यजानतः ।
दैवात्कुतश्चित्संप्राप्तशाकिनीसिद्धिसंवरा ॥

Summary AI Unbeknownst to him, his wife was wanton and had somehow acquired the secret powers and rituals of a Śākinī.

१२.१.३८

एकदा राजसेवार्थं स्थितस्तत्कटके च सः ।
गृहादेत्य पितृव्येन निजेन जगदे रहः ॥

Summary AI Once, while he was stationed in the royal camp for service, his uncle came from home and spoke to him in private.

१२.१.३९

नष्टमस्मत्कुलं पुत्र यतो भार्या मया तव ।
दृष्टा महिषपालेन त्वदीयेनैव संगता ॥

Summary AI "O son, our family's honor is destroyed, for I have seen your wife in a tryst with your own buffalo-herder."

१२.१.४०

एतत्पितृव्यादाकर्ण्य कटके तं निवेश्य च ।
स वामदत्तः खड्गैकसखः स्वगृहमाययौ ॥

Summary AI Hearing this from his uncle and leaving him in the camp, Vāmadatta returned to his home, accompanied only by his sword.

१२.१.४१

तत्र गुप्तं स्थितो यावत्पुष्पारामे प्रविश्य सः ।
नक्तमागात्स तत्रैव तावन्महिषपालकः ॥

Summary AI While Vāmadatta remained hidden after entering a flower garden, the buffalo-herder arrived at that very spot during the night.

१२.१.४२

क्षणाच्च तमुपागात्सा तत्रोपपतिमुत्सुका ।
तद्भार्या विविधाहारहस्ता महिषपालकम् ॥

Summary AI Soon, Vāmadatta's wife arrived eagerly, carrying various kinds of food in her hands to meet her paramour, the buffalo-herder.

१२.१.४३

ततो भुक्तवता तेन साकं सा शस्यनं ययौ ।
तद्दृष्ट्वा वामदत्तो ऽसौ सो ऽभ्यधावदुदायुधः ॥

Summary AI After the herder had finished eating, she went to bed with him. Seeing this, Vāmadatta rushed toward them with his weapon raised.

१२.१.४४

आः पापौ गच्छथः क्वेति वदतस्तस्य गेहिनी ।
सा दृष्ट्वोत्थाय धिग्जाल्मेत्युक्त्वा धूलिं मुखे न्यधात् ॥

Summary AI As Vāmadatta shouted, "O sinners, where are you going?", his wife saw him, stood up, and crying "Shame on you, wretch!", threw enchanted dust into his face.

१२.१.४५

तदा स मानुषो ऽप्याशु महिषः समपद्यत ।
वामदत्तः स्मृतिस्त्वस्य तद्भावे न व्यलुप्यत ॥

Summary AI Instantly, though a human, he turned into a buffalo. However, even in that animal state, his memory of his true identity did not vanish.

१२.१.४६

ततो महिषमध्ये सा निक्षिप्य लगुडैः शठा ।
भार्या महिषपालेन ताडयामास तेन तम् ॥

Summary AI Then that deceitful woman threw him among the herd of buffaloes and had the herder beat him with wooden sticks.

१२.१.४७

तदैव तं च कस्यापि वणिजो महिषार्थिनः ।
विक्रीणीते स्म सा क्रूरा तिर्यक्त्वविवशीकृतम् ॥

Summary AI Immediately, that cruel woman sold him, rendered helpless by his animal form, to a merchant who was looking to buy buffaloes.

१२.१.४८

तेनारोपितभारो ऽथ महिषीभावपीडितः ।
स वामदत्तो नीतो ऽभूद्ग्रामं गङ्गासमीपगम् ॥

Summary AI Then, burdened with loads and suffering in his buffalo form, Vāmadatta was led away to a village located near the banks of the Gaṅgā.

१२.१.४९

विश्वस्तस्य गृहे भार्या सुदुर्वृत्ताप्यतर्किता ।
कक्षान्तरप्रविष्टेव भुजगी कस्य शर्मणे ॥

Summary AI How can a wicked wife, entering the house of a trusting man like a hidden serpent in one's room, ever lead to happiness?

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