कथासरित्सागरः — चतुर्दशस्तरङ्गः

चतुर्दशस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो गत्वा पुनः प्राप्य वेतालं शिंशपातरोः ।
स त्रिविक्रमसेनस्तं स्कन्धे जग्राह भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI Then, King Trivikramasena went back to the śiṃśapā tree, retrieved the vetāla, and placed him on his shoulder.

१२.१४.२

गृहीत्वा प्रस्थितं तं च वेतालः सो ऽब्रवीत्पथि ।
राजञ्श्रमविनोदार्थं कथामाख्यामि ते शृणु ॥

Summary AI As the King set out with him, the vetāla spoke on the way: "O King, to relieve your exhaustion, I shall tell you a story; listen."

१२.१४.३

अस्तीह ताम्रलिप्तीति पुरी पूर्वाम्बुधेस्तटे ।
चण्डसेनाभिधानश्च राजा तस्यामभूत्पुरि ॥

Summary AI On the shore of the eastern ocean lies a city named Tāmraliptī, where there once lived a king named Caṇḍasena.

१२.१४.४

पराङ्मुखः परस्त्रीषु यो न सङ्ग्रामभूमिषु ।
हर्ता च शत्रुलक्ष्मीणां न परद्रव्यसंपदाम् ॥

Summary AI He was indifferent toward the wives of others but never turned away on the battlefield; he seized the wealth of enemies but never the riches of others.

१२.१४.५

तस्यैकदा दाक्षिणात्यो राजपुत्रो जनप्रियः ।
आययौ सत्त्वशीलाख्यः सिंहद्वारे ऽत्र भूपतेः ॥

Summary AI One day, a popular prince from the south named Sattvaśīla arrived at the main gate of the King's palace.

१२.१४.६

तत्र चात्मानमावेद्य नैर्धन्यात्तं नृपं प्रति ।
कपटं पाटयामास राजपुत्रैः सहापरैः ॥

Summary AI Announcing his identity to the King due to his poverty, he took up service as a palace attendant (kārpaṭika) alongside other princes.

१२.१४.७

ततः कार्पटिको भूत्वा बहून्यब्दानि तत्र सः ।
तस्थौ कुर्वन्सदा सेवान्नैव प्राप फलं नृपात् ॥

Summary AI He remained there for many years as a kārpaṭika, serving constantly, yet he received no reward from the King.

१२.१४.८

यदि राजान्वये जन्म निर्धनत्वं किमीदृशम् ।
निर्धनत्वे ऽपि किं धात्रा कृतेयं मे महेच्छता ॥

Summary AI He thought: "If I was born in a royal lineage, why this poverty? And if I am poor, why did the Creator give me such high ambitions?"

१२.१४.९

अयं हि सेवमानं मामेवं क्लिष्टपरिच्छदम् ।
चिरं क्षुधावसीदन्तं राजा नाद्यापि वीक्षते ॥

Summary AI "Even now, this King does not notice me, though I serve him in tattered clothes and languish in hunger for so long."

१२.१४.१०

इति यावच्च स ध्यायत्यत्र कार्पटिकस्ततः ।
तावदाखेटकार्थं स निरगादेकदा नृपः ॥

Summary AI While the attendant was thus reflecting, the King once set out for a hunt.

१२.१४.११

तस्मिन्कार्पटिके धावत्यग्रे लगुडवाहिनि ।
जगाम चाश्वपादातयुतः सो ऽथ मृगाटवीम् ॥

Summary AI With that kārpaṭika running ahead carrying a staff, the King, followed by horses and foot-soldiers, went to the hunting forest.

१२.१४.१२

कृताखेटश्च तत्रारान्महान्तं मत्तसूकरम् ।
अनुधावन्क्षणात्प्रापदतिदूरं वनान्तरम् ॥

Summary AI After hunting there, the King pursued a large wild boar and soon reached a remote part of the forest, far away.

१२.१४.१३

तत्र पर्णतृणच्छन्नमार्गे हारितसूकरः ।
श्रान्तो महावने सो ऽथ राजा दिङ्मोहमाययौ ॥

Summary AI Having lost the boar on a path covered with leaves and grass in that great forest, the exhausted King became disoriented.

१२.१४.१४

एकः कार्पटिकश्चाथ स तं वाताश्वपृष्ठगम् ।
प्रानानपेक्षो ऽनुययौ पदातिः क्षुत्तृषार्दितः ॥

Summary AI The lone kārpaṭika, though a footman suffering from hunger and thirst, followed the King who was riding a swift horse, disregarding his own life.

१२.१४.१५

तं च दृष्ट्वा तथाभूतमन्वायातं स भूपतिः ।
सस्नेहमवदत्कच्चिद्वेत्सि मार्गं यथागतम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing him following in that state, the King affectionately asked: "Do you happen to know the way by which we came?"

१२.१४.१६

तदाकर्ण्याञ्जलिं बद्ध्वा स तं कार्पटिको ऽभ्यधात् ।
वेद्मि किं च क्षणं तावदिह विश्राम्यतु प्रभुः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the kārpaṭika joined his palms and said: "I know it; but let my lord rest here for a moment."

१२.१४.१७

द्युवधूमेखलामध्यमणिरेष हि संप्रति ।
देदीप्यते स्फुरद्रश्मिशिखाजालो ऽब्जिनीपतिः ॥

Summary AI "For now the sun, the lord of lotuses and the central gem in the girdle of the sky-maiden, shines intensely with a network of flaming rays."

१२.१४.१८

एतच्छ्रुत्वा स राजा तं सोपरोधमभाषत ।
तर्हि क्वापीह पानीयं भवता प्रेक्ष्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the King spoke to him urgently: "Then look for water somewhere nearby."

१२.१४.१९

तथेत्यारुह्य स ततस्तुङ्गं कार्पटिकस्तरुम् ।
नदीं दृष्ट्वावरुह्याथ नृपं तत्र निनाय तम् ॥

Summary AI Saying "so be it", the attendant climbed a tall tree, saw a river, came down, and then led the King to it.

१२.१४.२०

तद्वाहं च विपर्यानीकृतं कृतविवर्तनम् ।
दत्ताम्बुशष्पकवलं विदधे विगतश्रमम् ॥

Summary AI He unsaddled the King's horse, allowed it to roll on the ground, and provided it with water and a handful of grass, thus relieving its exhaustion.

१२.१४.२१

कृतस्नानाय राज्ञे च प्रोन्मुच्य वसनाञ्चलात् ।
प्रक्षाल्योपानयत्तस्मै हृद्यान्यामलकानि सः ॥

Summary AI After the king had finished his bath, Sattvaśīla loosened the hem of his garment, washed the delightful āmalaka fruits, and offered them to him.

१२.१४.२२

एतानि कुत इत्येतं पृच्छन्तं स च भूपतिम् ।
एवं व्यजिज्ञपज्जानुस्थितः सामलकाञ्जलिः ॥

Summary AI Kneeling with his palms full of āmalaka fruits, Sattvaśīla replied as follows to the king, who was inquiring where he had obtained them.

१२.१४.२३

एतद्वृत्तिरहं नित्यं व्यतीतदशवत्सरः ।
चराम्याराधयन्देवमनेकान्तमुनिव्रतम् ॥

Summary AI "For the past ten years, I have lived on this fare while daily worshipping the deity and observing the rigorous vow of a solitary sage."

१२.१४.२४

तच्छ्रुत्वा सत्यनामा त्वं सत्त्वशीलः किमुच्यते ।
इत्युक्त्वा स कृपाक्रान्तो ह्रीतश्चाचिन्तयन्नृपः ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the king was overcome with compassion and shame; he remarked that Sattvaśīla was truly worthy of his name and then fell into deep thought.

१२.१४.२५

धिङ्नृपान्क्लिष्टमक्लिष्टं ये भृत्येष न जानते ।
धिक्च तं परिवारं यो न ज्ञापयति तांस्तथा ॥

Summary AI Shame on those kings who do not recognize the suffering or ease of their servants, and shame on the retinue that fails to inform the king of such matters.

१२.१४.२६

इति संचिन्त्य जग्राह स राजामलकद्वयम् ।
हस्तात्कार्पटिकस्याथ कथंचिदनुबध्नतः ॥

Summary AI Reflecting thus, the king took two āmalaka fruits from the hand of the poor servant, who was offering them with persistence.

१२.१४.२७

भुक्त्वा च तन्निपीयाम्बु विशश्रामात्र स क्षणम् ।
जग्धामलकसंपीतजलकार्पटिकान्वितः ॥

Summary AI After eating the fruits and drinking water, accompanied by the servant who had also eaten and drunk, the king rested there for a moment.

१२.१४.२८

ततः सज्जीकृतं तेन वाहं कार्पटिकेन सः ।
आरुह्याग्रेसरे तस्मिन्नेव मार्गप्रदर्शिनि ॥

Summary AI Then, mounting the horse prepared by that servant, the king set out with the man leading the way as his guide.

१२.१४.२९

पश्चाद्भागमनारूढे हयस्याभ्यर्थिते ऽप्यलम् ।
ययौ स राजा स्वपुरिं पथि प्राप्तात्मसैनिकः ॥

Summary AI Though repeatedly requested, the servant did not mount behind him on the horse; the king reached his city, meeting his own soldiers on the way.

१२.१४.३०

तत्र प्रख्याप्य तद्भक्तिं वसुभिर्विषयैश्च तम् ।
अपूरयत्कार्पटिकं न चामन्यत निष्कृतिम् ॥

Summary AI There, the king proclaimed the man's devotion and enriched Sattvaśīla with wealth and lands, yet he did not consider it a sufficient repayment for his loyalty.

१२.१४.३१

ततः कृतार्थः पार्श्वे ऽस्य चण्डसिंहस्य भूपतेः ।
मुक्तकार्पटिकाचारः सत्त्वशीलः स तस्थिवान् ॥

Summary AI Thus successful and having abandoned his life of poverty, Sattvaśīla remained by the side of King Caṇḍasiṃha as a trusted attendant.

१२.१४.३२

एकदा तेन राज्ञा च स सिंहलपतेः सुताम् ।
याचितुं सिंहलद्वीपमात्मार्थं प्रेषितो ऽभवत् ॥

Summary AI Once, the king dispatched him to the island of Siṃhala to request the daughter of the King of Siṃhala in marriage for the monarch himself.

१२.१४.३३

तत्राब्धिवर्त्मना गच्छन्नर्चिताभीष्टदेवतः ।
आरुरोह प्रवहणं राजादिष्टैः सह द्विजैः ॥

Summary AI Traveling by the sea route after worshipping his chosen deity, he boarded a ship along with the brāhmaṇas appointed by the king.

१२.१४.३४

गते तस्मिन्प्रवहणे मध्यभागमशङ्कितम् ।
उत्तस्थौ जलधेस्तस्माद्ध्वजो जनितविस्मयः ॥

Summary AI When the ship reached the middle of the ocean, a wondrous banner suddenly rose out of the water, causing great amazement among those on board.

१२.१४.३५

अभ्रम्लिहाग्रः सुमहाञ्जाम्बूनदविनिर्मितः ।
विचित्रवर्णविचलद्वैजयन्तीविराजितः ॥

Summary AI The top of the banner touched the clouds; it was massive, made of gold, and adorned with fluttering, multicolored flags of various hues.

१२.१४.३६

तत्कालं चात्र सहसा समुन्नम्य घनावली ।
भृशं वर्षितुमारेभे ववौ तीव्रश्च मारुतः ॥

Summary AI At that very moment, a mass of clouds suddenly rose and began to rain heavily, while a fierce wind started to blow across the sea.

१२.१४.३७

तैर्वर्षवातैः स बलादाकृष्याधोरनैरिव ।
आसज्यत ध्वजस्तम्भे तस्मिन्प्रवहणद्विपः ॥

Summary AI Driven by the force of the rain and wind as if by mahouts, the ship—resembling an elephant—was violently thrust and caught against that banner-staff.

१२.१४.३८

तावच्च स ध्वजस्तस्मिन्वारिधौ वीचिविप्लुते ।
वहनेन समं तेन प्रावर्तत निमज्जितुम् ॥

Summary AI At that moment, the banner began to sink into the ocean, which was overwhelmed by waves, dragging the ship down along with it.

१२.१४.३९

ततो द्विजास्ते तत्रस्थाश्चण्डसिंहं स्वभूपतिम् ।
उद्दिश्योद्घोषयामासुरभ्रह्मण्यं भयाकुलाः ॥

Summary AI The terrified brāhmaṇas on board then cried out for help, invoking the protection of their king, Caṇḍasiṃha, in their moment of peril.

१२.१४.४०

तदाकर्ण्यासहिष्णुश्च स्वामिभक्तेरनुध्वजम् ।
स सत्त्वशीलो निस्त्रिंशहस्तो बद्धोत्तरीयकः ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing that, the virtuous Sattvaśīla, unable to bear the danger to his master's interests, took his sword, tied his upper garment, and leapt toward the banner.

१२.१४.४१

आत्मानमक्षिपत्तत्र निरपेक्षो महोदधौ ।
उदधेः कारणाशङ्की वीरः प्रतिविधित्सया ॥

Summary AI Suspecting the ocean to be the cause of the disaster, the hero Sattvaśīla threw himself into the sea to seek a remedy.

१२.१४.४२

मग्ने च तस्मिन्वातोर्मिदूरोत्क्षिप्तमभज्यत ।
वहनं तच्च तत्स्ताश्च निपेतुर्यादसां मुखे ॥

Summary AI After he jumped, the ship, tossed by storm winds, broke apart, and the passengers fell into the mouths of sea monsters.

१२.१४.४३

स च मग्नो ऽम्बुधौ तत्र सत्त्वशीलो निरीक्षते ।
यावत्तावद्ददर्शात्र पुरीं दिव्यां न वारिधिम् ॥

Summary AI Diving into the ocean, the virtuous Sattvaśīla looked around and suddenly saw a divine city instead of the watery deep.

१२.१४.४४

तस्मिन्मणिमयस्थम्भैर्भास्वरे हेममन्दिरे ।
सद्रत्नबद्धसोपानवापीकोद्यानशोभिनि ॥

Summary AI He beheld a place adorned with golden temples, jeweled pillars, and gardens with ponds featuring stairs of precious gems.

१२.१४.४५

नानामणिशिलाभित्तिरत्नचित्रोच्छ्रितध्वजम् ।
कात्यायनीदेवगृहं मेरुप्रोन्नतमैक्षत ॥

Summary AI He saw the temple of Goddess Kātyāyanī, towering like Mount Meru, with walls of multicolored jewels and fluttering gem-adorned banners.

१२.१४.४६

तत्र प्रणम्य देवीं तां स्तुत्याभ्यर्च्य तदग्रतः ।
इन्द्रजालं किमेतत्स्यादित्याश्चर्यादुपाविशत् ॥

Summary AI Bowing to the goddess and praising her, he sat before her in amazement, wondering if this was all a magical illusion.

१२.१४.४७

तावच्च देव्यग्रगतप्रभामण्डलकान्तरात् ।
अकस्मान्निरगात्कन्या दिव्योद्घाट्य कवाटकम् ॥

Summary AI Suddenly, a maiden emerged from a circle of light in front of the goddess, opening a divine door.

१२.१४.४८

इन्दी वराक्षी फुल्लाब्जवदना कुसुमस्मिता ।
मृणालनालमृद्वङ्गी जङ्गमेव सरोजिनी ॥

Summary AI With eyes like blue lotuses and a flowery smile, her soft limbs made her appear like a living lotus plant.

१२.१४.४९

स्त्रीसहस्रपरीवारा देवीगर्भगृहं च सा ।
विवेश सत्त्वशीलस्य हृदयं च ततः समम् ॥

Summary AI Followed by a thousand attendants, she entered the goddess's inner sanctum and Sattvaśīla's heart at the same moment.

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नीलकण्ठविजयचम्पूः नीलकण्ठदीक्षितः

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