कथासरित्सागरः — नवदशस्तरङ्गः

नवदशस्तरङ्गः ।

स त्रिविक्रमसेनो ऽथ पुनस्तं शिंशपातरुम् ।
गत्वा प्राप्य च वेतालं राजा स्कन्धे चकार तम् ॥

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

प्रतस्थे च तमादाय तूष्णीमेव स पूर्ववत् ।
ततो भूयस्तमाह स्म वेतालः सो ऽंसपृष्ठतः ॥

Summary AI Carrying the vetāla, the King set out silently as before; then the vetāla spoke to him once more from his position on the King's shoulder.

१२.१९.३

राजन्नेवमनुद्विग्नः पर्याप्तमसि मे प्रियः ।
तदेतां शृण्वखेदाय हृद्यामाख्यामि ते कथाम् ॥

Summary AI "O King, you are very dear to me because you remain so unperturbed. Listen, for your diversion I shall tell you this pleasant story."

१२.१९.४

अङ्गदेशे यशःकेतुरिति राजाभवत्पुरा ।
क्ष्मामाश्रितो ऽङ्गगुप्त्यर्थमदग्धो ऽन्य इव स्मरः ॥

Summary AI Long ago, in the land of Aṅga, there lived a king named Yaśaḥketu, who appeared like another unburnt Smara residing on earth to protect his kingdom.

१२.१९.५

बाहुवीर्यजिताशेषवैरिवर्गस्य तस्य च ।
दीर्घदर्शीत्यभून्मन्त्री शक्रस्येव बृहस्पतिः ॥

Summary AI To that king, who had conquered all his enemies through the prowess of his arms, there was a minister named Dīrghadarśin, who was like Bṛhaspati to Śakra.

१२.१९.६

तस्मिन्मन्त्रिणि विन्यस्य राज्यं स हतकण्टकम् ।
शनैः सुखैकसक्तो ऽभूद्वयोरूपमदान्नृपः ॥

Summary AI Entrusting the kingdom, now free from enemies, to that minister, the King gradually became addicted solely to pleasure due to the pride of his youth and beauty.

१२.१९.७

तस्थावन्तःपुरे शश्वन्नास्थाने प्रमदास्पदे ।
शुश्राव रक्तिमद्गीतं वचनं न हितैषिणाम् ॥

Summary AI He stayed constantly in the harem, the domain of women, rather than in the assembly hall; he listened to passionate songs instead of the advice of well-wishers.

१२.१९.८

रज्यति स्म च निश्चिन्तो जालवातायनेषु सः ।
न पुना राजकार्येषु बहुच्छिद्रेषु जात्वपि ॥

Summary AI He remained carefree, delighting at the lattice windows, but never bothered with the affairs of state, which were riddled with many loopholes.

१२.१९.९

दीर्घदर्शी तु तद्राज्यचिन्ताभारं समुद्वहन् ।
अतिष्ठत्स महामन्त्री दिवानिशमतन्द्रितः ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, the great minister Dīrghadarśin remained vigilant day and night, bearing the entire burden of concern for the kingdom.

१२.१९.१०

नाममात्रे कृतधृतिं प्रक्षिप्य व्यसने नृपम् ।
मन्त्री राज्ञः श्रियं भुङ्क्ते दीर्घदर्शीह साम्प्रतम् ॥

Summary AI A rumor arose among the people: "Presently, the minister Dīrghadarśin, having cast the King into vice while the latter remains king only in name, enjoys the royal fortune himself."

१२.१९.११

इत्युत्पन्ने महत्यत्र जनवादे ऽथ गेहिनीम् ।
स्वैरं मेधाविनीं नाम दीर्घदर्शी जगाद सः ॥

Summary AI When this great public gossip arose, Dīrghadarśin spoke privately to his wife, whose name was Medhāvinī.

१२.१९.१२

प्रिये राज्ञि सुखासक्ते तद्भारं वहतो ऽपि मे ।
राज्यं भक्षितमेतेनेत्युत्पन्नमयशो जने ॥

Summary AI "O beloved, although I bear the burden of the state while the King is addicted to pleasure, infamy has spread among the people that I have devoured the kingdom."

१२.१९.१३

लोकवादश्च मिथ्यापि महतामिह दोषकृत् ।
तत्याज किं न रामो ऽपि जनवादेन जानकीम् ॥

Summary AI "Public scandal, even if false, causes harm to the great. Did not even Rāma abandon Jānakī because of public gossip?"

१२.१९.१४

तदत्र किं मया कार्यमित्युक्ते तेन मन्त्रिणा ।
भार्या मेधाविनी धीरा सान्वर्था तमभाषत ॥

Summary AI When the minister asked what he should do, his courageous wife Medhāvinī, whose name proved meaningful, replied to him.

१२.१९.१५

तीर्थयात्रापदेशेन युक्त्यापृच्छ्य महीपतिम् ।
कंचित्कालं विदेशं ते गन्तुं युक्तं महामते ॥

Summary AI "O wise one, it is fitting for you to go abroad for some time, after skillfully taking leave of the King under the pretext of a pilgrimage."

१२.१९.१६

एवं ते निःस्पृहस्यैष जनवादो निवर्त्स्यति ।
त्वय्यस्थिते ततो राज्यमुद्वक्ष्यति नृपः स्वयम् ॥

Summary AI "In this way, the gossip will cease as you appear disinterested in power. In your absence, the King will then be forced to bear the weight of the kingdom himself."

१२.१९.१७

ततश्चास्य शनैरेतद्व्यसनं हानिमेष्यति ।
आगतस्यात्र निर्गर्हा भवित्री मन्त्रिता च ते ॥

Summary AI "Then his addiction to vice will gradually diminish. Upon your return, your conduct as a minister will be beyond reproach."

१२.१९.१८

इत्युक्तो भार्यया गत्वा दीर्घदर्शी तथेति सः ।
कथाप्रसङ्गे तं भूपं यशःकेतुं व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI Advised thus by his wife, Dīrghadarśin agreed and, approaching King Yaśaḥketu during a conversation, made a request.

१२.१९.१९

अनुजानीहि मां राजन्दिवसान्कांश्चिदप्यहम् ।
व्रजामि तीर्थयात्रायै धर्मो हि प्रेप्सितः स मे ॥

Summary AI "O King, permit me; I shall go on a pilgrimage for some days, for I desire to attain the religious merit associated with it."

१२.१९.२०

तच्छ्रुत्वा सो ऽब्रवीद्राजा मैवं तीर्थैर्विना परः ।
दानादिः किं न धर्मो ऽस्ति स्वर्ग्यस्ते स्वगृहेष्वपि ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the King said: "Do not speak so! Is there not other merit like charity, leading to heaven, available even in your own home without the need for pilgrimages?"

१२.१९.२१

अथावोचत्स मन्त्री तमर्थशुद्ध्यादि मृग्यते ।
दानादौ नित्यशुद्धानि तीर्थानि नृपते पुनः ॥

Summary AI Then the minister said to him: "O King! While purity of wealth and other such matters must be sought, holy places are naturally and eternally pure for acts like charity."

१२.१९.२२

यावच्च यौवनं राजंस्तावद्गम्यानि धीमता ।
अविश्वास्ये शरीरे हि संगमस्तैः कुतो ऽन्यदा ॥

Summary AI "O King! A wise person should visit holy places while still young. Since the body is unreliable and transitory, how could there be an opportunity to visit them at any other time?"

१२.१९.२३

इति तस्मिन्वदत्येव राज्ञि चैवं निषेधति ।
प्रविश्यात्र प्रतीहारो राजानं तं व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI While the minister was speaking thus and the King was still refusing, a door-keeper entered and made a request to the King.

१२.१९.२४

देव व्योमसरोमध्यमंशुमाली विगाहते ।
तदुत्तिष्ठत सैषा वः स्नानवेलातिवर्तते ॥

Summary AI "O Lord! The sun has reached the middle of the sky-lake. Therefore, please rise; the time for your bath is passing away."

१२.१९.२५

श्रुत्वैतत्सहसा स्नातुमुदतिष्ठन्महीपतिः ।
यात्रोन्मुखः स मन्त्री च तं प्रणम्य गृहं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the King suddenly rose to bathe. The minister, intent on his journey, bowed to him and went to his own home.

१२.१९.२६

तत्रावस्थाप्य भार्यां तामनुयात्रानिवारिताम् ।
स प्रतस्थे ततो युक्त्या स्वभृत्यैरप्यतर्कितः ॥

Summary AI Leaving his wife behind, having forbidden her from following him, he then set out secretly, unnoticed even by his own servants.

१२.१९.२७

एकाकी च भ्रमंस्तांस्तान्देशांस्तीर्थानि च व्रजन् ।
स प्राप पुण्ड्रविषयं दीर्घदर्शी सुनिश्चयः ॥

Summary AI Wandering alone through various lands and visiting holy shrines, the resolute Dīrghadarśin eventually reached the region of Puṇḍra.

१२.१९.२८

तत्र पत्तन एकस्मिन्नदूरे ऽब्धेः प्रविश्य सः ।
एकं देवकुलं शैवं तत्प्राङ्गण उपाविशत् ॥

Summary AI Entering a city near the sea, he went into a temple of Śiva and sat down in its courtyard.

१२.१९.२९

तत्रार्ककरसंतापक्लान्तं दूराध्वधूसरम् ।
ददर्श निधिदत्ताख्यो वणिग्देवार्चनागतः ॥

Summary AI There, a merchant named Nidhidatta, who had come to worship the deity, saw him exhausted by the heat of the sun and covered with dust from his long journey.

१२.१९.३०

स तं तथाविधं दृष्ट्वा सोपवीतं सुलक्षणम् ।
संभाव्य चोत्तमं विप्रमातिथेयो ऽनयद्गृहम् ॥

Summary AI Observing him in that state, and perceiving him to be a noble brāhmaṇa of auspicious marks and wearing the sacred thread, the hospitable merchant took him to his home.

१२.१९.३१

तत्र चापूजयत्स्नानभोजनाद्यैस्तमुत्तमैः ।
कः कुतस्त्वं क्व यासीति विश्रान्तं च स पृष्टवान् ॥

Summary AI There he honored him with excellent baths, food, and other comforts. Once the guest was rested, he asked: "Who are you, from where have you come, and where are you going?"

१२.१९.३२

दीर्घदर्शीति विप्रो ऽहमङ्गदेशादिहागतः ।
तीर्थयात्रार्थमित्येव गाम्भीर्यात्सो ऽप्युवाच तम् ॥

Summary AI "I am a brāhmaṇa named Dīrghadarśin, come here from the land of Aṅga for the purpose of pilgrimage," he replied with great gravity.

१२.१९.३३

ततः स निधिदत्तो ऽपि तं जगाद महावणिक् ।
सुवर्णद्वीपगमनायोद्यतो ऽहं वणिज्यया ॥

Summary AI Then that great merchant Nidhidatta said to him: "I am about to set out for Suvarṇadvīpa for the sake of trade."

१२.१९.३४

तत्त्वं तिष्ठेह मद्गेहे यावदेष्याम्यहं ततः ।
तीर्थयात्रापरिश्रान्तो विश्रान्तो ह्यथ यास्यसि ॥

Summary AI "So, stay here in my house until I return. Exhausted as you are by pilgrimage, you can depart after you have rested."

१२.१९.३५

तच्छ्रुत्वा सो ऽब्रवीद्दीर्घदर्शी तर्हि ममेह किम् ।
त्वयैव सह यास्यामि सार्थवाह यथासुखम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, Dīrghadarśin said: "Then what use is it for me to stay here? O caravan-leader! I shall happily travel along with you."

१२.१९.३६

एवमस्त्विति तेनोक्ते साधुना सो ऽथ तद्गृहे ।
चिरादवाप्तशयनो निशां मन्त्री निनाय ताम् ॥

Summary AI When the virtuous merchant agreed, saying "So be it," the minister spent that night in his house, finally obtaining a proper bed after a long time.

१२.१९.३७

अन्येद्युरथ तेनैव वणिजा सह वारिधिम् ।
गत्वारुरोह तद्भाण्डपूर्णं प्रवहणं च सः ॥

Summary AI The next day, going to the ocean with that merchant, he boarded the ship which was filled with merchandise.

१२.१९.३८

तेन गच्छन्प्रवहणेनाब्धिमद्भुतभीषणम् ।
विलोकयन्स संप्राप स्वर्णद्वीपं क्रमेण तत् ॥

Summary AI Traveling on that ship and gazing at the wondrous and terrifying ocean, he eventually reached Suvarṇadvīpa.

१२.१९.३९

क्व मन्त्रिमुख्यता चास्य क्व वाध्वोल्लङ्घिताम्बुधिः ।
अयशोभीरवः किं न कुर्वते बत साधवः ॥

Summary AI What a contrast between his high position as a chief minister and his crossing the ocean on such a journey! Alas, what will virtuous men, who fear dishonor, not do?

१२.१९.४०

तत्र द्वीपे समं तेन कंचित्कालमुवास सः ।
वणिजा निधिदत्तेन कुर्वता क्रयविक्रयौ ॥

Summary AI He stayed for some time on that island with the merchant Nidhidatta, while the latter was engaged in buying and selling.

१२.१९.४१

आगच्छंश्च ततो ऽकस्मात्तद्युक्तो वहनस्थितः ।
कल्पवृक्षं ददर्शाब्धावूर्मेः पश्चात्समुत्थितम् ॥

Summary AI Then, while returning and seated on the vessel along with him, he suddenly saw a kalpavṛkṣa (desire-granting tree) rising from the ocean behind a wave.

१२.१९.४२

प्रवालशाखासुभगैः स्कन्धैर्जाम्बूनदोज्ज्वलैः ।
फलैर्मणिमयैः कान्तैः कुसुमैश्चोपशोभितम् ॥

Summary AI The tree was adorned with branches beautiful with coral, trunks shining like gold, and decorated with gems for fruits and lovely flowers.

१२.१९.४३

तस्य स्कन्धे च सद्रत्नपर्यङ्कोत्सङ्गवर्तिनीम् ।
कन्यामत्यद्भुताकारकमनीयामवैक्षत ॥

Summary AI On its branch, he beheld a maiden of wonderful and enchanting form, seated upon a couch encrusted with splendid jewels.

१२.१९.४४

अहो किमेतदित्येवं यावद्ध्यायति स क्षणम् ।
तावत्सा वीणिनी कन्या गातुमेवं प्रचक्रमे ॥

Summary AI While he meditated for a moment in wonder, thinking "Oh, what is this?", that maiden, holding a lute (vīṇā), began to sing in this manner.

१२.१९.४५

यत्कर्मबीजमुप्तं येन पुरा निश्चितं स तद्भुङ्क्ते ।
पूर्वकृतस्य हि शक्यो विधिनापि न कर्तुमन्यथाभावः ॥

Summary AI Whatever seed of action a person has sown in the past, they certainly reap its fruit. Indeed, even Fate cannot alter the course of what has been done before.

१२.१९.४६

इत्युद्गाय क्षणात्तस्मिन्नम्भोधौ दिव्यकन्यका ।
सकल्पद्रुमपर्यङ्कशय्यात्रैव ममज्ज सा ॥

Summary AI Having sung thus, that celestial maiden instantly sank into the ocean right there, along with the desire-granting tree and her jeweled couch.

१२.१९.४७

किमप्यपूर्वमद्येदं मया दृष्टमिहाद्भुतम् ।
क्वाब्धिः क्व दृष्टनष्टो ऽत्र गायद्दिव्याङ्गनस्तरुः ॥

Summary AI He thought, "A strange and unprecedented wonder have I seen today. Where is the ocean, and where is this tree with its singing celestial maiden that appeared and vanished?"

१२.१९.४८

यदि वा वन्द्य एषो ऽब्धिराकरः शश्वदीदृशाम् ।
लक्ष्मीन्दुपारिजाताद्या नास्मात्ते ते किमुद्गताः ॥

Summary AI Or perhaps this ocean is to be revered as the eternal source of such wonders. Did not Lakṣmī, the Moon, the pārijāta tree, and others arise from it?

१२.१९.४९

इति तं चिन्तयन्तं च तत्क्षणं दीर्घदर्शिनम् ।
विलोक्य विस्मयाविष्टं कर्णधारादयो ऽब्रुवन् ॥

Summary AI Seeing Dīrghadarśin thus lost in thought and filled with amazement at that moment, the helmsman and others said to him.

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