कथासरित्सागरः — त्रयोदशस्तरङ्गः

त्रयोदशस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो गत्वा पुनस्तस्मात्प्राप्य तं शिंशपातरोः ।
वेतालं प्राग्वदादाय स्कन्धे मौनेन भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI King Trivikramasena retrieved the Vetāla from the Śiṃśapā tree once again and, placing him on his shoulder, departed in silence as he had done previously.

१२.१३.२

स त्रिविक्रमसेनो ऽत्र यावदागच्छति द्रुतम् ।
तावत्पथि स वेतालो भूयो ऽप्येवमुवाच तम् ॥

Summary AI As King Trivikramasena was returning quickly, the Vetāla spoke to him again in this manner while they were on the path.

१२.१३.३

राजन्सुधीः सुसत्त्वश्च भवांस्तेन प्रियो ऽसि मे ।
अतो विनोदिनीं वच्मि कथां प्रश्नं च मे शृणु ॥

Summary AI "O King, you are wise and courageous, which makes you dear to me; therefore, I shall tell you an entertaining story. Listen to my question."

१२.१३.४

आसीद्राजा यशःकेतुरिति ख्यातो महीतले ।
तस्य शोभावती नाम राजधान्यभवत्पुरी ॥

Summary AI There was once a king famous on earth by the name of Yaśaḥketu, and his capital city was known as Śobhāvatī.

१२.१३.५

तस्यामभून्नगर्यां च गौर्यायतनमुत्तमम् ।
तस्य दक्षिणतश्चासीद्गौरीतीर्थाभिधं सरः ॥

Summary AI In that city, there was a magnificent temple of the Goddess Gaurī, and to its south lay a lake called Gaurītīrtha.

१२.१३.६

तस्याषाढचतुर्दश्यां शुक्लायां प्रतिवत्सरम् ।
यात्रायां स्नातुमेति स्म नानादिग्भ्यो महाजनः ॥

Summary AI Every year, on the fourteenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Āṣāḍha, crowds of people came from various directions to bathe there during the festival.

१२.१३.७

एकदा च तिथौ तस्यां स्नातुमत्राययौ युवा ।
रजको धवलो नाम ग्रामाद्ब्रह्मस्थलाभिधात् ॥

Summary AI One year, on that very date, a young washerman named Dhavala from a village called Brahmasthala arrived there to bathe.

१२.१३.८

सो ऽपश्यद्रजकस्यात्र तीर्थे स्नानागतां सुताम् ।
कन्यां शुद्धपटाख्यस्य नाम्ना मदनसुन्दरीम् ॥

Summary AI At the holy site, he beheld a maiden named Madanasundarī, the daughter of a washerman named Śuddhapaṭa, who had also come to bathe.

१२.१३.९

इन्दोर्लावण्यहारिण्या तया स हृतमानसः ।
अन्विष्य तन्नामकुले कामार्तो ऽथ गृहं ययौ ॥

Summary AI His heart was stolen by the girl, whose beauty surpassed that of the moon; having discovered her name and lineage, he returned home tormented by love.

१२.१३.१०

तत्रानवस्थितस्तिष्ठन्निराहारस्तया विना ।
पृष्ठो मात्रार्तया तस्यै तच्छशंस मनोगतम् ॥

Summary AI Staying at home restlessly without food, he eventually revealed his heart's desire to his distressed mother when she questioned him.

१२.१३.११

सा गत्वा विमलाख्याय तत्स्वभर्त्रे न्यवेदयत् ।
सो ऽप्यागत्य तथावस्थं दृष्ट्वा तं सुतमभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI The mother informed her husband, named Vimala, of the matter. He came to see his son in that state and spoke to him.

१२.१३.१२

किं विषीदसि पुत्रैवमदुष्प्राप्ये ऽपि वाञ्छिते ।
स हि मद्याचितः शुद्धपटो दास्यति ते सुताम् ॥

Summary AI "Son, why do you despair over a wish that is not hard to fulfill? When requested by me, Śuddhapaṭa will surely give you his daughter."

१२.१३.१३

अन्यूना हि वयं तस्मात्कुलेनार्थेन कर्मणा ।
तं वेद्म्यहं स मां वेत्ति तेनैतन्मे न दुःकरम् ॥

Summary AI "We are certainly not inferior to him in lineage, wealth, or profession. I know him and he knows me; therefore, this task is not difficult for me."

१२.१३.१४

इत्याश्वास्य स तं पुत्रमाहारादौ प्रवर्त्य च ।
तद्युक्तो विमलो ऽन्येद्युर्ययौ शुद्धपटास्पदम् ॥

Summary AI Having consoled his son and encouraged him to eat, Vimala went with him the next day to the house of Śuddhapaṭa.

१२.१३.१५

ययाचे चात्र पुत्रस्य तस्यार्थे धवलस्य सः ।
कन्यां तस्मात्स चास्मै तां प्रतिशुश्राव सादरम् ॥

Summary AI There, Vimala requested the maiden for his son Dhavala, and Śuddhapaṭa respectfully promised her to him.

१२.१३.१६

लग्नं निश्चित्य चान्येद्युस्तां स शुद्धपटः सुताम् ।
धवलाय ददौ तस्मै तुल्यां मदनसुन्दरीम् ॥

Summary AI After fixing an auspicious time, Śuddhapaṭa gave his daughter Madanasundarī, a perfect match, to Dhavala on the following day.

१२.१३.१७

कृतोद्वाहश्च स तया साकं दर्शनसक्तया ।
भार्यया स्वपितुर्गेहं जगाम धवलः कृती ॥

Summary AI The fortunate Dhavala, having completed the marriage rites, returned to his father's house with his wife, who was devotedly attached to him.

१२.१३.१८

सुखस्थितस्य तस्याथ कदाचिच्छ्वशुरात्मजः ।
तस्या मदनसुन्दर्या भ्राता तत्रागतो ऽभवत् ॥

Summary AI One day, while Dhavala was living happily, his brother-in-law, the son of his father-in-law and brother of Madanasundarī, arrived there.

१२.१३.१९

स कृतप्रश्रयः सर्वैः स्वस्राश्लिष्याभिनन्दितः ।
संबन्धिपृष्टकुशलो विश्रान्तश्च जगाद तान् ॥

Summary AI Welcomed with respect by everyone and embraced by his sister, he rested and inquired about his relatives' welfare before addressing them.

१२.१३.२०

अहं मदनसुन्दर्या जामातुश्च निमन्त्रणे ।
तातेन प्रेषितो यस्माद्देवीपूजोत्सवो ऽस्ति नः ॥

Summary AI "I have been sent by my father to invite Madanasundarī and my brother-in-law, for we are celebrating a festival in honor of the Goddess."

१२.१३.२१

श्रद्धाय चैतत्तद्वाक्यं यथार्हैः पानभोजनैः ।
ते संबन्ध्यादयः सर्वे तदहस्तमुपाचरन् ॥

Summary AI Trusting his words, all the relatives and others honored Dhavala that day with appropriate food and drink.

१२.१३.२२

प्रातर्मदनसुन्दर्या स्वशुर्येण च तेन सः ।
सहितो धवलः प्रायाद्गृहं तच्छ्वाशुरं प्रति ॥

Summary AI In the morning, Dhavala set out toward his father-in-law's house, accompanied by Madanasundarī and his brother-in-law.

१२.१३.२३

प्राप्य शोभावतीं तां च पुरीमात्मतृतीयकः ।
ददर्श निकटं प्राप्य स गौर्यायतनं महत् ॥

Summary AI Arriving at the city of Śobhāvatī with his two companions, Dhavala saw a great temple of Gaurī as they approached.

१२.१३.२४

निजगाद च तौ भार्याश्वशुर्यौ श्रद्धया ततः ।
एतमेतां भगवतीं पश्यामो देवतामिह ॥

Summary AI Then, with devotion, he said to his wife and brother-in-law, "Come, let us visit this divine Goddess here."

१२.१३.२५

तच्छ्रुत्वा स श्वशुर्यस्तं निषेधं प्रत्यभाषत ।
इयन्तो रिक्तहस्ताः किं पश्यामो देवतामिति ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the brother-in-law replied with an objection, asking, "Should so many of us visit the deity empty-handed?"

१२.१३.२६

अहं तावद्व्रजाम्येको युवामत्रैव तिष्ठतम् ।
इत्युक्त्वा धवलो द्रष्टुं देवीं तां स ततो ययौ ॥

Summary AI Saying, "I will go alone for now; you two stay right here," Dhavala then went to see the Goddess.

१२.१३.२७

प्रविश्यायतनं तस्याः प्रणम्य च विभाव्य च ।
तामष्टादशदोर्दण्डखण्डितोच्चण्डदानवाम् ॥

Summary AI Entering her temple, he bowed to and contemplated the Goddess, who had destroyed fierce demons with her eighteen powerful arms.

१२.१३.२८

पादपद्मतलाक्षिप्तमहिषासुरमर्दिनीम् ।
स विधिप्रेरणोत्पन्नबुद्धिरेवमचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Seeing the slayer of Mahiṣāsura, who was crushed under her lotus-like feet, his mind was spurred by fate, and he thought thus.

१२.१३.२९

जीवोपहारैर्विविधैरिमां देवीं जनो ऽर्चति ।
अहं तु सिद्ध्यै किं नैतां प्रीणाम्यात्मोपहारतः ॥

Summary AI "People worship this Goddess with various animal sacrifices. Why should I not please her with the sacrifice of my own self to attain success?"

१२.१३.३०

इति ध्यात्वैव तद्गर्भगृहादादाय निर्जनात् ।
खड्गं सांयात्रिकैः कैश्चिद्देव्याः प्राक्प्राभृतीकृतम् ॥

Summary AI Having meditated thus, he took from the deserted inner sanctum a sword that had previously been offered to the Goddess by some travelers.

१२.१३.३१

बद्ध्वा शिरोरुहैर्घण्टाशृङ्खलायां निजं शिरम् ।
चिच्छेदैतेन खड्गेन तच्छिन्नं चापतद्भुवि ॥

Summary AI Binding his own head to the chain of the bell by his hair, he cut it off with that sword, and the severed head fell to the ground.

१२.१३.३२

चिरं यावत्स नायाति तावद्गत्वा तमीक्षितुम् ।
तत्रैव देवीभवने तच्छ्वशुर्यो विवेश सः ॥

Summary AI When Dhavala did not return for a long time, his brother-in-law went to look for him and entered that very temple of the Goddess.

१२.१३.३३

सो ऽपि दृष्ट्वा तमुत्कृत्तमूर्धानं भगिनीपतिम् ।
व्यामोहितस्तथैव स्वं शिरस्तेनासिनाच्छिनत् ॥

Summary AI He too, seeing his brother-in-law with his head cut off, became bewildered and likewise severed his own head with that same sword.

१२.१३.३४

सो ऽपि यावच्च नायाति तावदुद्भ्रान्तमानसा ।
तद्देवीभवनं सापि ययौ मदनसुन्दरी ॥

Summary AI When her brother also did not return, Madanasundarī, her mind distressed, also went to that temple of the Goddess.

१२.१३.३५

प्रविश्य दृष्ट्वैव पतिं भ्रातरं च तथागतौ ।
हा किमेतद्धतास्मीति विलपन्त्यपतद्भुवि ॥

Summary AI Entering and seeing both her husband and brother in such a state, she cried out, "Alas! What is this? I am ruined!" and fell to the ground wailing.

१२.१३.३६

क्षणाच्चोत्थाय शोचन्ती तावकाण्डहतावुभौ ।
किं ममाप्यधुनानेन जीवितेनेत्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Rising after a moment and grieving for both of them, who were killed unexpectedly, she thought, "What is the use of my life now?"

१२.१३.३७

व्यजिज्ञपच्च देवीं तां देहत्यागोन्मुखी सती ।
देवि सौभाग्यचारित्रविधानैकाधिदेवते ॥

Summary AI Ready to abandon her body, she addressed the Goddess: "O Goddess, the sole presiding deity of good fortune and character!"

१२.१३.३८

अध्यासितशरीरार्धे भर्तुर्माररिपोरपि ।
अशेषललनालोकशरण्ये दुःखहारिणि ॥

Summary AI "O You who occupy half the body of your husband, the enemy of Māra (Śiva), the refuge of all women, and the remover of sorrow!"

१२.१३.३९

हृतावेकपदे कस्माद्भर्ता भ्राता च मे त्वया ।
न युक्तमेतन्मयि ते नित्यभक्ता ह्यहं त्वयि ॥

Summary AI "Why have you taken away both my husband and my brother at once? This is not right of you toward me, for I am your eternal devotee."

१२.१३.४०

तन्मे श्रितायाः शरणं शृण्वेकं कृपणं वचः ।
एतां तावत्त्यजाम्यत्र दौर्भाग्योपहतां तनुम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, hear this one pitiful word of mine, who has sought refuge in you: I shall now abandon this body of mine, which is stricken by misfortune."

१२.१३.४१

जनिष्ये देवि भूयस्तु यत्र कुत्रापि जन्मनि ।
तत्रैतावेव भूयास्तां द्वौ भर्तृभ्रातरौ मम ॥

Summary AI "O Goddess, in whatever future birth I may be born, may these two alone be my husband and brother."

१२.१३.४२

इति संस्तुत्य विज्ञप्य देवीं नत्वा च तां पुनः ।
पाशं विरचयामास लतयाशोकपादपे ॥

Summary AI After praising and entreating the Goddess in this way and bowing to Her again, she fashioned a noose from a vine on an aśoka tree.

१२.१३.४३

तत्रार्पयति यावच्च पाशे कण्ठं वितत्य सा ।
तावत्तत्रोच्चचारैवं भारती गगनाङ्गणात् ॥

Summary AI Just as she extended her neck to place it in the noose, a voice from the courtyard of the sky rang out in this manner.

१२.१३.४४

मा कृथाः साहसं पुत्रि बालाया अपि ते ऽमुना ।
सत्त्वोत्कर्षेण तुष्टास्मि पाशमेतं परित्यज ॥

Summary AI "O daughter, do not commit this rash act! I am pleased with this excellence of courage in you, though you are but a girl; abandon this noose."

१२.१३.४५

संश्लेषय शिरः स्वं स्वं भर्तृभ्रातृकबन्धयोः ।
उत्तिष्ठतां ते जीवन्तावेतौ द्वावपि मद्वरात् ॥

Summary AI "Attach the respective heads to the trunks of the husband and brother; by my grace, let both of them rise up alive for you."

१२.१३.४६

एतच्छ्रुत्वैव संत्यज्य पाशं हर्षादुपेत्य सा ।
अविभाव्यातिरभसाद्भ्रान्ता मदनसुन्दरी ॥

Summary AI Hearing this and casting aside the noose, the confused Madanasundarī approached with great haste and joy, without discerning carefully.

१२.१३.४७

बाला भर्तृशिरो भ्रातृदेहेन समयोजयत् ।
भर्तृदेहेन च भ्रातृशिरो विधिनियोगतः ॥

Summary AI The young woman joined the husband's head with the brother's body, and the brother's head with the husband's body, as ordained by fate.

१२.१३.४८

ततो ऽक्षताङ्गौ जीवन्तावुभावुत्तस्थतुश्च तौ ।
शिरोविनिमयाज्जातसंकरौ काययोर्मिथः ॥

Summary AI Then both of them rose up alive with uninjured limbs, though their bodies were interchanged due to the swapping of heads.

१२.१३.४९

अथान्योन्योदितस्वस्वयथावृत्तान्ततोषिणः ।
प्रणम्य देवीं शर्वानीं यथेष्टं ते ययुस्त्रयः ॥

Summary AI Then, pleased by the accounts of what had happened to each as shared with one another, those three bowed to Goddess Śarvāṇī and went as they pleased.

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