कथासरित्सागरः — द्वादशस्तरङ्गः

द्वादशस्तरङ्गः ।

ततस्तस्य पुनर्गत्वा शिंशपाशाखिनो ऽन्तिकम् ।
तथैवोल्लम्बमानं तं दृष्ट्वा नरशरीरगम् ॥

Summary AI Then, after returning to the śiṃśapā tree and seeing the vetāla hanging there just as before, inhabiting a human corpse.

१२.१२.२

वेतालमवतार्यैव कृत्वास्मै बहु वैकृतम् ।
स त्रिविक्रमसेनो द्राग्गन्तुं प्रववृते ततः ॥

Summary AI Having brought down the vetāla and performed various rites for him, King Trivikramasena quickly prepared to depart.

१२.१२.३

आगच्छन्तं च तं तूष्णीं वेतालः पूर्ववत्पथि ।
रात्रौ महाश्मशाने ऽत्र स्कन्धस्थो व्याजहार सः ॥

Summary AI As the King walked silently along the path in the great cremation ground at night, the vetāla seated on his shoulder addressed him as before.

१२.१२.४

राजन्नभिनिविष्टो ऽसि कष्टे ऽत्यन्तप्रियो ऽसि च ।
तत्ते चेतोविनोदाय वर्णयामि कथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI O King, you are persistent in this hardship and are very dear to me. Therefore, to entertain your mind, I shall narrate a story; listen.

१२.१२.५

उज्जयिन्यामभूद्विप्रः पुण्यसेनस्य भूपतेः ।
अनुजीवी प्रियो ऽमात्यो हरिस्वामीति सद्गुणः ॥

Summary AI In Ujjayinī, there lived a virtuous brāhmaṇa named Harisvāmī, who was a beloved minister and dependent of King Puṇyasena.

१२.१२.६

तस्यात्मनो ऽनुरूपायां भार्यायां गृहमेधिनः ।
गुणवान्सदृशः पुत्रो देवस्वामीत्यजायत ॥

Summary AI To that householder and his suitable wife was born a virtuous and worthy son named Devasvāmī.

१२.१२.७

तद्वच्चानन्य सामान्य रूपलावण्य विश्रुता ।
कन्या सोमप्रभा नाम तस्यान्वर्थोदपद्यत ॥

Summary AI Similarly, a daughter named Somaprabhā was born to him, whose name was meaningful, as she was famed for her extraordinary beauty and charm.

१२.१२.८

सा प्रदेया सती कन्या रूपोत्कर्षाभिमानिनी ।
मातुर्मुखेन पितरं भ्रातरं च जगाद तम् ॥

Summary AI When that maiden reached marriageable age, being proud of her superior beauty, she informed her father and brother through her mother's words.

१२.१२.९

शूरस्य ज्ञानिनो वाहं देया विज्ञानिनो ऽपि वा ।
अन्यस्मै नास्मि दातव्या कार्यं मज्जीवितेन चेत् ॥

Summary AI I should be given to a hero, a man of wisdom, or a man of science. If you value my life, I must not be given to anyone else.

१२.१२.१०

तच्छ्रुत्वा तादृशं तस्याश्चिन्वन्नेकतमं वरम् ।
तत्पिता स हरिस्वामी यावच्चिन्तां वहत्यलम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing her resolve, her father Harisvāmī was filled with great concern as he sought a bridegroom possessing one of those qualities.

१२.१२.११

तावद्व्यसर्जी रज्ञा स पुण्यसेनेन दूत्यया ।
संध्यर्थं विग्रहायात दाक्षिणात्यनृपान्तिकम् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, King Puṇyasena sent him as an envoy to the southern king, who had come for war, in order to negotiate peace.

१२.१२.१२

कृतकार्यश्च तत्रासावेकेनाभ्येत्य तां सुताम् ।
याचितो ऽभूद्द्विजाग्र्येण श्रुततद्रूपसंपदा ॥

Summary AI Having completed his task there, he was approached by an excellent brāhmaṇa who had heard of his daughter's beauty and requested her hand.

१२.१२.१३

विज्ञानिनो ज्ञानिनो वा शूराद्वा नापरं पतिम् ।
मत्पुत्रीच्छति तत्तेषां मध्यात्कथय को भवान् ॥

Summary AI My daughter desires no husband other than a man of science, a man of wisdom, or a hero; therefore, tell me, which of these are you?

१२.१२.१४

इत्युक्तस्तेन भार्यार्थः स हरिस्वामिना द्विजः ।
अहं जानामि विज्ञानमिति तं प्रत्यभाषत ॥

Summary AI When addressed thus for the sake of a wife by Harisvāmī, that brāhmaṇa replied to him, 'I possess scientific knowledge.'

१२.१२.१५

तर्हि तद्दर्शयस्वेति पुन उक्तश्च तेन सः ।
विज्ञानी कल्पयामास स्वशक्त्या द्युचरं रथम् ॥

Summary AI When asked again by him to demonstrate it, the man of science constructed an aerial chariot through his own power.

१२.१२.१६

मायायन्त्ररथे तत्र तं हरिस्वामिनं क्षणात् ।
आरोप्य नीत्वा स्वर्गादीं लोकांस्तस्मा अदर्शयत् ॥

Summary AI Instantly placing Harisvāmī in that magical mechanical chariot, he took him up and showed him the celestial realms and other worlds.

१२.१२.१७

आनिनाय च तुष्टं तं तत्रैव कटकं पुनः ।
दाक्षिणात्यस्य नृपतेर्यत्रायातः स कार्यतः ॥

Summary AI He then brought the satisfied Harisvāmī back to the camp of the southern king, where he had come for his official mission.

१२.१२.१८

ततः सो ऽस्मै हरिस्वामी प्रतिशुश्राव तां सुताम् ।
विज्ञानिने विवाहं च निश्चिकायाह्नि सप्तमे ॥

Summary AI Then Harisvāmī promised his daughter to that man of science and fixed the wedding for the seventh day.

१२.१२.१९

तत्कालमुज्जयिन्यामप्यन्येनैत्य द्विजन्मना ।
देवस्वामी स तत्पुत्रः स्वसारं तामयाच्यत ॥

Summary AI At the same time in Ujjayinī, his son Devasvāmī was asked for his sister's hand by another brāhmaṇa who had approached him.

१२.१२.२०

ज्ञानिविज्ञानिशूरेभ्यो नान्यमिच्छति सा पतिम् ।
इति तेनापि सो ऽप्युक्तः शूरमात्मानमभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI When told by him as well that she desired no husband other than a man of wisdom, a man of science, or a hero, he declared himself to be a hero.

१२.१२.२१

ततो दर्शितशस्त्रास्त्रश्रिये तस्मै द्विजो ऽनुजाम् ।
देवस्वामी स शूराय दातुं तां प्रत्यपद्यत ॥

Summary AI Then the brāhmaṇa Devasvāmī agreed to give his younger sister to that hero who had displayed his splendor through the mastery of weapons and missiles.

१२.१२.२२

सप्तमे ऽह्नि च तत्रैव विवाहं गणकोक्तितः ।
तस्यापि सो ऽभ्यधान्मातुः परोक्षं कृतनिश्चयः ॥

Summary AI Having made the decision in the absence of the mother, he also promised the suitor that the wedding would occur on the seventh day at that very place, according to the astrologer's prediction.

१२.१२.२३

तन्मातापि हरिस्वामिभार्या तत्कलमेव सा ।
केनाप्येत्य तृतीयेन सुतां तां याचिता पृथक् ॥

Summary AI At that very time, the girl's mother, who was Harisvāmī's wife, was also separately approached by a third person who requested the daughter's hand.

१२.१२.२४

ज्ञानी शूरो ऽथ विज्ञानी भर्तास्मद्दुहितुर्मतः ।
इत्युक्तश्च तया मातरहं ज्ञानीति सो ऽभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI When she stated that a man of knowledge, a hero, or a man of science was desired as her daughter's husband, the suitor replied, "O mother, I am a man of knowledge."

१२.१२.२५

पृष्ट्वा भूतं भविष्यच्च तस्मै तां ज्ञानिने सुताम् ।
प्रतिजज्ञे प्रदातुं साप्यह्नि तत्रैव सप्तमे ॥

Summary AI After questioning him about the past and the future, she too promised to give her daughter to that man of knowledge on the very same seventh day.

१२.१२.२६

अन्येद्युश्चागतः सो ऽत्र हरिस्वामी यथा कृतम् ।
पत्न्यैः पुत्राय चाचख्यौ तं कन्यादाननिश्चयम् ॥

Summary AI On the following day, Harisvāmī returned and informed his wife and son of the decision he had made regarding the daughter's marriage.

१२.१२.२७

तौ च तं स्वकृतं तस्मै भिन्नं भिन्नमवोचताम् ।
सो ऽपि तेनाकुलो जज्ञे वरत्रयनिमन्त्रणात् ॥

Summary AI They both told him of their own different arrangements, and he became distressed because three separate grooms had been invited for the same wedding.

१२.१२.२८

अथोद्वाहदिने तस्मिन्हरिस्वामिगृहे वराः ।
आययुर्ज्ञानिविज्ञानिशूरास्तत्र त्रयो ऽपि ते ॥

Summary AI Then, on the wedding day, those three suitors—the man of knowledge, the man of science, and the hero—all arrived at Harisvāmī's house.

१२.१२.२९

तत्कालं चात्र सा चित्रं कन्या सोमप्रभा वधुः ।
अशङ्कितं गता क्वापि न विचित्याप्यलभ्यत ॥

Summary AI At that moment, strangely, the bride Somaprabhā had unexpectedly vanished; despite a thorough search, she could not be found anywhere.

१२.१२.३०

ततो ऽब्रवीद्धरिस्वामी ज्ञानिनं तं ससंभ्रमः ।
ज्ञानिन्निदानीं ब्रूह्याशु दुहिता मे क्व सा गता ॥

Summary AI Then, Harisvāmī, filled with agitation, said to the man of knowledge, "O wise one, tell me quickly where my daughter has gone!"

१२.१२.३१

तच्छ्रुत्वा सो ऽवदज्ज्ञानी राक्षसेनापहृत्य सा ।
नीता विन्ध्याटवीं धूमशिखेन वसतिं निजाम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the man of knowledge revealed that she had been abducted by a rākṣasa named Dhūmaśikha and taken to his own dwelling in the Vindhya forest.

१२.१२.३२

इत्युक्तो ज्ञानिना भीतो हरिस्वामी जगाद सः ।
हा धिक्कथं सा प्रप्येत विवाहश्चापि हा कथम् ॥

Summary AI Told this by the wise man, the frightened Harisvāmī cried out, "Alas! How can she be recovered, and how indeed can the marriage take place?"

१२.१२.३३

श्रुत्वैतत्प्राह विज्ञानी धीरो भव नयामि वः ।
तत्राधुनैव यत्रैषो ज्ञानी वदति तां स्थिताम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the man of science said, "Have courage; I will take you all right now to the place where this wise man says she is located."

१२.१२.३४

इत्युक्त्वा तत्क्षणं कृत्वा रथं सर्वास्त्रसंयुतम् ।
तत्रारोप्य हरिस्वामिज्ञानिशूरान्खगामिनि ॥

Summary AI After saying this, he immediately constructed a sky-going chariot equipped with all weapons and placed Harisvāmī, the man of knowledge, and the hero upon it.

१२.१२.३५

तान्स संप्रापयामास क्षणाद्विन्ध्याटवीभुवि ।
ज्ञानिना तां समाख्यातां वसतिं तत्र रक्षसः ॥

Summary AI Within a moment, he transported them to the Vindhya forest, reaching the rākṣasa's dwelling that the man of knowledge had described.

१२.१२.३६

तत्र तं राक्षसं क्रुद्धं ज्ञातवृत्तान्तनिर्गतम् ।
शूरो ऽथ योधयामास हरिस्वामिपुरस्कृतः ॥

Summary AI Then the hero, with Harisvāmī leading them, engaged in battle with the angry rākṣasa, who had come out after learning of their presence.

१२.१२.३७

तदाश्चर्यमभूद्युद्धं तयोर्मानुषरक्षसोः ।
चित्रास्त्रयोधिनोः स्त्र्यर्थं रामरावणयोरिव ॥

Summary AI A marvelous battle then ensued between the human hero and the rākṣasa, both fighting with extraordinary weapons for the sake of the woman, like Rāma and Rāvaṇa.

१२.१२.३८

क्षणेन च स सङ्ग्रामदुर्मदस्यापि रक्षसः ।
अर्धचन्द्रेण बाणेन शूरस्तस्याच्छिनच्छिरः ॥

Summary AI In an instant, the hero decapitated the rākṣasa—who was otherwise invincible in battle—using a crescent-shaped arrow.

१२.१२.३९

हते रक्षसि तां सोमप्रभामाप्तां तदास्पदात् ।
आदाय विज्ञानिरथेनाजग्मुस्ते ततो ऽखिलाः ॥

Summary AI Once the rākṣasa was killed, they all took the rescued Somaprabhā from his abode and returned home in the man of science's chariot.

१२.१२.४०

हरिस्वामिगृहं प्राप्य तेषां लग्ने ऽप्युपस्थिते ।
ज्ञानिविज्ञानिशूराणां विवाद उदभून्महान् ॥

Summary AI Upon reaching Harisvāmī's house, just as the auspicious hour for the wedding arrived, a great dispute broke out among the man of knowledge, the man of science, and the hero.

१२.१२.४१

ज्ञानी जगाद नाहं चेज्जानीयां तदियं कथम् ।
प्राप्येत कन्या गूढस्था देया मह्यमसावितः ॥

Summary AI The Jñānī said, "If I did not know her location, how would this hidden maiden have been found? Therefore, she should be given to me."

१२.१२.४२

विज्ञानी त्ववदन्नाहं कुर्यां चेद्व्योमगं रथम् ।
गमागमौ कथं स्यातां देवानामिव वः क्षणात् ॥

Summary AI The Vijñānī argued, "If I had not constructed the sky-going chariot, how could your travel have occurred in an instant, like that of the gods?"

१२.१२.४३

कथं स्याच्चारथं युद्धं रथिना रक्षसा सह ।
तस्मान्मह्यमियं देया लग्नो ह्येष मयाजितः ॥

Summary AI "How could a battle be fought against a chariot-borne Rākṣasa without a chariot? Therefore, she must be given to me, for this success was won through my means."

१२.१२.४४

शूरो ऽप्युवाच हन्यां चेन्नाहं तं राक्षसं रणे ।
तद्युवाभ्यां कृते यत्ने ऽप्येतां कन्यां क आनयेत् ॥

Summary AI The Śūra then said, "If I had not slain that Rākṣasa in battle, who would have brought back this maiden, despite the efforts made by you two?"

१२.१२.४५

तन्मह्यमेषा दातव्येत्येवं तेषु विवादिषु ।
हरिस्वामी क्षणं तूष्णीमासीदुद्भ्रान्तमानसः ॥

Summary AI As they disputed, each claiming she should be given to him, Harisvāmin remained silent for a moment with a bewildered mind.

१२.१२.४६

तत्कस्मै सात्र देयेति राजन्वदतु मे भवान् ।
न वदिष्यसि जानंश्चेत्तत्ते मूर्धा स्फुटिष्यति ॥

Summary AI The Vetāla asked, "O King, tell me, to whom should she be given? If you know the answer but do not speak, your head shall shatter into pieces."

१२.१२.४७

इति वेतालतस्तस्माच्छ्रुत्वा मौनं विहाय च ।
स त्रिविक्रमसेनस्तमुवाचैवं महीपतिः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this from the Vetāla, King Trivikramasena abandoned his silence and replied to him in this manner.

१२.१२.४८

शूराय सा प्रदातव्या येन प्राणपणोद्यमात् ।
अर्जिता बहुवीर्येण हत्वा तं युधि राक्षसम् ॥

Summary AI "She must be given to the hero, who, risking his own life and exhibiting great valor, slew the Rākṣasa in battle and won her back."

१२.१२.४९

ज्ञानिविज्ञानिनौ त्वस्य धात्रा कर्मकरौ कृतौ ।
सदा गणकतक्षाणौ परोपकरणे न किम् ॥

Summary AI "The knower and the mechanic were merely his instruments created by Providence; are not an astrologer and a carpenter always intended to serve others?"

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