कथासरित्सागरः — दशमस्तरङ्गः

दशमस्तरङ्गः ।

अथ भूयो ऽपि वेतालमानेतुं नृपसत्तमः ।
स त्रिविक्रमसेनस्तमुपागाच्छिंशपातरुम् ॥

Summary AI Then, that best of kings, Trivikramasena, again approached the Śiṃśapā tree to fetch the Vetāla.

तत्रस्थमेतं संप्राप्य मृतदेहगतं पुनः ।
स्कन्धे गृहीत्वैवागन्तुं तूष्णीं प्रववृते ततः ॥

Summary AI After finding the Vetāla back in the corpse, the king placed him on his shoulder and began walking back in silence.

१२.१०.३

प्रयान्तं च तमाह स्म स वेतालो ऽस्य पृष्ठगः ।
चित्रं नोद्विजसे राजन्निशि कुर्वन्गमागमम् ॥

Summary AI The Vetāla, hanging on his back, said to the walking king, 'O King, it is amazing that you do not feel weary despite this constant back-and-forth in the night.'

१२.१०.४

तदखेदाय भूयस्ते वर्णयामि कथां शृणु ।
अस्ति पाटलिपुत्राख्यं ख्यातं भूमण्डले पुरम् ॥

Summary AI 'To relieve your exhaustion, I shall narrate another story; listen. There is a famous city on this earth called Pāṭaliputra.'

१२.१०.५

तत्रासीन्नृपतिः पूर्वं नाम्ना विक्रमकेसरी ।
गुणानामिव रत्नानामाश्रयं यं व्यधाद्विधिः ॥

Summary AI Formerly, there lived a king named Vikramakesarī, whom fate had made a repository of virtues, just as the ocean is a repository of jewels.

१२.१०.६

तत्र शापावतीर्णो ऽभूद्दिव्यविज्ञानवाञ्शुकः ।
विदग्धचूदमणिरित्याख्यया सर्वशास्त्रवित् ॥

Summary AI In that place, there was a parrot named Vidagdhacūḍāmaṇi, who was divinely wise and learned in all sciences, having been born there due to a curse.

१२.१०.७

तेनोपदिष्टां सदृशीं राजपुत्रीं नृपात्मजः ।
मागधीमुपयेमे स भार्यां चन्द्रप्रभाभिधाम् ॥

Summary AI Following the parrot's advice, the king's son married the suitable Magadhan princess named Candraprabhā as his wife.

१२.१०.८

तस्या अपि तथाभूता सर्वविज्ञानशालिनी ।
शारिका सोमिका नाम राजपुत्र्याः किलाभवत् ॥

Summary AI That princess also possessed a female starling named Somikā, who was similarly endowed with all types of divine knowledge.

१२.१०.९

ते चैकपञ्जरस्थे द्वे तत्रास्तां शुकशारिके ।
सेवमाने स्वविञ्जानैर्दंपती तौ निजप्रभू ॥

Summary AI The parrot and the starling lived there together in a single cage, serving their masters, the royal couple, with their wisdom.

१२.१०.१०

एकदा साभिलाषस्तां शारिकां सो ऽब्रवीच्छुकः ।
एकशय्यासनाहारं सुभगे भज मामिति ॥

Summary AI One day, filled with desire, the parrot said to the starling, 'O beautiful one, join me in sharing the same bed, seat, and food.'

१२.१०.११

नाहं पुरुषसंसर्गमिच्छामि पुरुषा यतः ।
दुष्टाः कृतघ्ना इति सा सारिका प्रत्युवाच तम् ॥

Summary AI The starling replied to him, 'I do not desire the company of males because men are wicked and ungrateful.'

१२.१०.१२

न दुष्टाः पुरुषा दुष्टा नृशंसहृदयाः स्त्रियः ।
इति भूयः शुकेनोक्ते विवादो ऽत्रालगत्तयोः ॥

Summary AI 'Men are not wicked; it is women who are cruel-hearted and wicked,' the parrot countered, and thus a dispute broke out between them.

१२.१०.१३

कृतदासत्वभार्यात्वपणौ तौ शकुनी मिथः ।
निश्चयायाथ सभ्यं तं राजपुत्रमुपेयतुः ॥

Summary AI The two birds, having wagered slavery and marriage against each other, approached the prince in the assembly to settle their dispute.

१२.१०.१४

स विवादपदं श्रुत्वा तयोरास्थानगः पितुः ।
कथं कृतघ्नाः पुरुषा ब्रूहीत्याह स्म शारिकाम् ॥

Summary AI The prince, seated in his father's court, heard the subject of their dispute and asked the starling, 'Tell me, how are men ungrateful?'

१२.१०.१५

ततः सा शृणुतेत्युक्त्वा निजपक्षप्रसिद्धये ।
पुंदोषाख्यायिनीमेतां शारिकाकथयत्कथाम् ॥

Summary AI Then, saying 'Listen,' the starling narrated the following story describing the faults of men to prove her point.

१२.१०.१६

अस्ति कामन्दिका नाम या महानगरी भुवि ।
अर्थदत्ताभिधानो ऽस्ति वणिक्तस्यां महाधनः ॥

Summary AI In the great city on earth called Kāmandikā, there lived a very wealthy merchant named Arthadatta.

१२.१०.१७

धनदत्ताभिधानश्च पुत्रस्तस्योदपद्यत ।
पितर्युपरते सो ऽपि बभूवोच्छृङ्खलो युवा ॥

Summary AI A son named Dhanadatta was born to him. After his father's death, he became a reckless and wayward youth.

१२.१०.१८

द्यूतादिसङ्गे दूर्ताश्च मिलित्वा तमपातयन् ।
कामं व्यसनवृक्षस्य मूलं दुर्जनसंगतिः ॥

Summary AI Rogues gathered around him and led him into the vice of gambling and other habits. Truly, the company of wicked people is the root of the tree of vice.

१२.१०.१९

अचिराद्व्यसनक्षीणधनो दौर्गत्यलज्जया ।
सो ऽथ त्यक्त्वा स्वदेशं तं भ्रान्तुं देशान्तराण्यगात् ॥

Summary AI Soon, his wealth exhausted by his vices, and feeling ashamed of his poverty, he left his own country to wander through other lands.

१२.१०.२०

गच्छंश्च चन्दनपुरं नाम स्थानमवाप्य सः ।
विवेश भोजनार्थी सन्नेकस्य वणिजो गृहम् ॥

Summary AI While travelling, he reached a place called Candanapura and, seeking food, entered the house of a merchant.

१२.१०.२१

स वणिक्सुकुमारं तं दृष्ट्वा पृष्ट्वान्वयादिकम् ।
ज्ञात्वा कुलीनं सत्कृत्य स्वीचक्रे दैवयोगतः ॥

Summary AI Observing the delicate youth and inquiring about his lineage, the merchant, discovering him to be of noble birth, honored him and accepted him through a stroke of fate.

१२.१०.२२

ददौ च सधनां तस्मै नाम्ना रत्नावलीं सुताम् ।
ततः स धनदत्तो ऽत्र तस्थौ श्वशुरवेश्मनि ॥

Summary AI He gave his wealthy daughter named Ratnāvalī to him in marriage. Subsequently, that Dhanadatta resided there in the house of his father-in-law.

१२.१०.२३

दिनेष्वेव च यातेषु सुखविस्मृतदुर्गतिः ।
स्वदेशं गन्तुकामो ऽभूत्प्राप्तार्थो व्यसनोन्मुखः ॥

Summary AI As days passed, his past misfortunes forgotten through comfort and having acquired wealth, he became inclined toward vices and desired to return to his own country.

१२.१०.२४

ततो ऽनुमान्य कथमप्यवशं श्वशुरं शठः ।
तं दुहित्रेकसंतानं गृहीत्वा तामलंकृताम् ॥

Summary AI Then that deceitful man, somehow persuading his reluctant father-in-law for whom she was the only child, took the adorned woman and departed.

१२.१०.२५

भार्यां रत्नावलीं युक्तामेकया वृद्धया स्त्रिया ।
स आत्मना तृतीयः सन्देशात्प्रस्थितवांस्ततः ॥

Summary AI Taking his wife Ratnāvalī, accompanied by an elderly woman, he set out from that land, being the third person in the party himself.

१२.१०.२६

क्रमात्प्राप्याटवीं दूरामुक्त्वा तस्करजां भियम् ।
गृहीत्वाभरणं तस्या भार्यायाः स्वीचकार सः ॥

Summary AI Gradually reaching a remote forest, he spoke of the fear of thieves and took his wife's jewelry, claiming it for himself.

१२.१०.२७

दृश्यतां द्यूतवेश्यादिकष्टव्यसनसङ्गिनाम् ।
हृदयं हा कृतघ्नानां पुंसां निस्त्रिंशकर्कशम् ॥

Summary AI Alas! Behold the hearts of ungrateful men addicted to the miserable vices of gambling and prostitutes; they are as cruel and sharp as a sword.

१२.१०.२८

सो ऽथ पापो ऽर्थहेतोस्तां भार्यां गुणवतीमपि ।
हन्तुं श्वभ्रे निचिक्षेप तया वृद्धस्त्रिया युताम् ॥

Summary AI Then that sinful man, for the sake of wealth, threw his virtuous wife along with the elderly woman into a chasm to kill them.

१२.१०.२९

क्षिप्त्वैव च गते तस्मिन्साथ वृद्धा व्यपद्यत ।
तद्भार्या तु लतागुल्मविग्नया न व्यपादि सा ॥

Summary AI As soon as he threw them and left, the elderly woman died; however, his wife did not perish because she was caught by vines and bushes.

१२.१०.३०

उत्तस्थौ च ततः श्वभ्रात्क्रोशन्ती करुणं शणैः ।
आलम्ब्य तृणगुल्मादि सशेषत्वात्किलायुषः ॥

Summary AI Because some of her lifespan yet remained, she slowly climbed out of the chasm by clinging to grass and bushes, while weeping piteously.

१२.१०.३१

आययौ विक्षताङ्गी च पृष्ट्वा मार्गं पदे पदे ।
यथागतेनैव पथा कृच्छ्रात्तत्सदनं पितुः ॥

Summary AI With her body wounded, asking the way at every step, she painfully returned to her father’s house by the same path she had come.

१२.१०.३२

तत्राकस्मात्तथाभूता प्राप्ता पृष्टा ससंभ्रमम् ।
मात्रा पित्रा च रुदती साध्वी सैवमभाषत ॥

Summary AI Arriving there unexpectedly in such a state, the virtuous woman, questioned anxiously by her mother and father, spoke thus while weeping.

१२.१०.३३

मुषिताः स्म पथि स्तेनैर्नीतो बद्ध्वा च मत्पतिः ।
वृद्धा मृता निपत्यापि श्वभ्रे नाहं मृता पुनः ॥

Summary AI "We were robbed by thieves on the road, and my husband was tied and taken away. The old woman died, but although I was thrown into a chasm, I did not die."

१२.१०.३४

अथागतेन केनापि पथिकेन कृपालुना ।
उद्धृताहं ततः श्वभ्रात्प्राप्तास्मीह च दैवतः ॥

Summary AI "Then, I was rescued from that chasm by some compassionate traveler who happened to pass by, and by providence, I have reached here."

१२.१०.३५

एवमुक्तवती मात्रा पित्रा चाश्वासिता ततः ।
भर्तृचित्तैव सा तस्थौ तत्र रत्नावली सती ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus and being consoled by her mother and father, the virtuous Ratnāvalī remained there, her heart still devoted to her husband.

१२.१०.३६

याति काले च तद्भर्ता स स्वदेशगतः पुनः ।
द्यूतक्षपिततद्वित्तो दनदत्तो व्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI As time passed, her husband Dhanadatta, having returned to his own country and wasted all that wealth on gambling, reflected on his situation.

१२.१०.३७

आनयामि पुनर्गत्वा मार्गित्वा श्वशुराद्धनम् ।
गृहे स्थिता मे त्वत्पुत्रीत्यभिधास्ये च तत्र तम् ॥

Summary AI "I will go again, ask my father-in-law for money, and bring it back. I shall tell him there, 'Your daughter is staying at my house.'"

१२.१०.३८

एवं स हृदये ध्यात्वा प्रायाच्छ्वशुरवेश्म तत् ।
प्राप्तं च तत्र तं दूरात्स्वभार्या पश्यति स्म सा ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus in his heart, he set out for his father-in-law's house. His own wife saw him approaching from a distance.

१२.१०.३९

धावित्वा चापतत्तस्य सा पापस्यापि पादयोः ।
दुष्टे ऽपि पत्यौ साध्वीनां नान्यथावृत्तिमानसम् ॥

Summary AI Running toward him, she fell at the feet of even that sinful man. Even when a husband is wicked, the minds of virtuous women do not change.

१२.१०.४०

भीताय च ततस्तस्मै तदशेषं न्यवेदयत् ।
यन्मृषा चौरपातादि पित्रोः प्राग्वर्णितं तया ॥

Summary AI She then told everything to her terrified husband—the false story about the attack of thieves and other events she had previously described to her parents.

१२.१०.४१

ततस्तया समं तत्र निर्भयः श्वाशुरे गृहे ।
प्रविष्टः श्वशुराभ्यां स हर्षाद्दृष्ट्वाभ्यनन्द्यत ॥

Summary AI Then, entering his father-in-law's house fearlessly with her, he was joyfully welcomed by his parents-in-law upon seeing him.

१२.१०.४२

दिष्ट्या जीवन्नयं मुक्तश्चौरैरिति महोत्सवः ।
तेन तच्छ्वशुरेणाथ चक्रे मिलितबन्धुना ॥

Summary AI Then his father-in-law, gathering all the relatives, held a great celebration, rejoicing that he had fortunately escaped the thieves alive.

१२.१०.४३

ततः स धनदत्तो ऽत्र भुञ्जानः श्वशुरश्रियम् ।
रत्नावल्या तया साकमासीत्पत्न्या यथासुखम् ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, enjoying the wealth and prosperity of his father-in-law's house, Dhanadatta lived there happily with his wife Ratnāvalī.

१२.१०.४४

एकदा तत्र रात्रौ च स नृशंसश्चकार यत् ।
कथोपरोधतः शान्तमवाच्यमपि कथ्यते ॥

Summary AI One night, the cruel man committed a deed so wicked that, although it interrupts the story and is unspeakable, it must be recounted.

१२.१०.४५

हत्वाङ्कसुप्तां भार्यां तां तदाभरणसंचयम् ।
अपहृत्य ततः प्रायात्स स्वदेशमलक्षितः ॥

Summary AI Killing his wife while she lay asleep in his lap, he stole her collection of ornaments and then fled unnoticed to his own country.

१२.१०.४६

ईदृशाः पुरुषाः पापा इति शारिकयोदिते ।
त्वमिदानीं वदेत्याह राजपुत्रस्तदा शुकम् ॥

Summary AI When the Śārikā bird concluded that men are thus sinful, the prince then said to the parrot, "Now it is your turn to speak."

१२.१०.४७

ततो जगाद स शुको देव दुःसहसाहसाः ।
स्त्रियो दुश्चरिताः पापास्तथा च श्रूयतां कथा ॥

Summary AI Then the parrot spoke, "O King, women are also prone to sinful conduct and unbearable rashness; hear a story illustrating this."

१२.१०.४८

अस्ति हर्षवती नाम नगरी तत्र चाभवत् ।
अग्रणीर्धर्मदत्ताख्यो बहुकोटीश्वरो वणिक् ॥

Summary AI There is a city named Harṣavatī, where lived a pre-eminent merchant named Dharmadatta, who was a master of many millions.

१२.१०.४९

वसुदत्ताभिधाना च रूपे ऽनन्यसमा सुता ।
बभूव तस्य वणिजः प्राणेभ्यो ऽप्यधिकप्रिया ॥

Summary AI That merchant had a daughter named Vasudattā, whose beauty was incomparable and who was dearer to him than his own life.

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