कथासरित्सागरः — विंशस्तरङ्गः

विंशस्तरङ्गः ।

अथ गत्वा पुनः प्राप्य शिंशपातस्ततो नृपः ।
स त्रिविक्रमसेनस्तं स्कन्धे वेतालमाददे ॥

Summary AI Then King Trivikramasena went back, reached the śiṃśapā tree once again, took the vetāla, and placed him on his shoulder.

१२.२०.२

आयान्तं च स वेतालो भूयस्तं नृपमब्रवीत् ।
राजञ्शृणु कथामेकां संक्षिप्तां वर्णयामि ते ॥

Summary AI As the King was walking, the vetāla spoke to him again, saying, "O King, listen! I shall tell you a brief story."

१२.२०.३

अस्ति वाराणसी नाम पुरी हरनिवासभूः ।
देवस्वामीति तत्रासीन्मान्यो नरपतेर्द्विजः ॥

Summary AI There is a city named Vārāṇasī, the abode of Hara. There lived a brāhmaṇa named Devasvāmin, who was highly respected by the king.

१२.२०.४

महाधनस्य तस्यैको हरिस्वामीत्यभूत्सुतः ।
तस्य भार्या च लावण्यवतीत्यत्युत्तमाभवत् ॥

Summary AI That wealthy man had a son named Harisvāmin, whose wife, Lāvaṇyavatī, was exceptionally beautiful.

१२.२०.५

तिलोत्तमादिनाकस्त्रीनिर्माणे प्राप्तकौशलः ।
अनर्घरूपलावण्यां मन्ये यां निर्ममे विधिः ॥

Summary AI I believe the creator, having gained skill in creating celestial nymphs like Tilottamā, crafted her with priceless form and grace.

१२.२०.६

तया स कान्तया साकं हरिस्वामी कदाचन ।
रतिश्रान्तो ययौ निद्रां हर्म्ये चन्द्रांशुशीतले ॥

Summary AI Once, Harisvāmin fell asleep with his beloved wife in a mansion cooled by moonbeams, being exhausted from lovemaking.

१२.२०.७

तत्कालं तेन मार्गेण कामचारी विहायसा ।
आगान्मदनवेगाख्यो विद्याधरकुमारकः ॥

Summary AI At that time, a young vidyādhara named Madanavega, who could travel at will, arrived there through the sky.

१२.२०.८

स तत्र लावण्यवतीं पत्युः पार्श्वे ददर्श ताम् ।
सुप्तां रतिक्लमस्रस्तवस्त्रव्यक्ताङ्गसौष्ठवाम् ॥

Summary AI There he saw Lāvaṇyavatī sleeping beside her husband, her physical beauty revealed by her garments loosened from the fatigue of love.

१२.२०.९

तद्रूपहृतचित्तः सन्मदनान्धः स तत्क्षणम् ।
सुप्तामेव निपत्यैतां गृहीत्वा नभसा ययौ ॥

Summary AI Blinded by lust and his heart stolen by her beauty, he immediately descended, seized the sleeping woman, and fled through the sky.

१२.२०.१०

क्षणात्प्रबुद्धो ऽथ युवा हरिस्वामी स तत्पतिः ।
प्राणेश्वरीमपश्यंस्तामुदतिष्ठत्ससंभ्रमः ॥

Summary AI A moment later, the young husband Harisvāmin woke up; not seeing the lady of his life, he rose in great agitation.

१२.२०.११

अहो किमेतत्क्व गता कुपिता सा नु किं मयि ।
छन्ना जिज्ञासितुं किं मे चित्तं परिहसत्युत ॥

Summary AI "Oh! What is this? Where has she gone? Is she angry with me? Is she hiding to test my heart, or is she just joking?"

१२.२०.१२

इत्यनेकविकल्पौघव्याकुलस्तामितस्ततः ।
हर्म्यप्रासादवलभीष्वन्विष्यन्सो ऽभ्रमन्निशि ॥

Summary AI Distressed by such various thoughts, he wandered through the night, searching for her everywhere in the mansions, palaces, and turrets.

१२.२०.१३

अगृहोद्यानतश्चिन्वन्यन्न प्राप कुतो ऽपि ताम् ।
तत्स शोकाग्निसंतप्तो विललापाश्रुगद्गदम् ॥

Summary AI When he could not find her anywhere even after searching the gardens, he, scorched by the fire of grief, lamented with a voice choked with tears.

१२.२०.१४

हा चन्द्रबिम्बवदने हा ज्योत्स्नागौरि हा प्रिये ।
रात्र्या तुल्यगुणद्वेषात्किं नु सोढासि नानया ॥

Summary AI "O moon-faced one! O fair as moonlight! O beloved! Could it be that this night, out of envy for your similar qualities, could not tolerate you?"

१२.२०.१५

त्वया कान्त्या जितो बिभ्यदिव चन्दनशीतलैः ।
करैरसुखयद्यो मां सो ऽयमिन्दुस्त्वया विना ॥

Summary AI "This moon, which once pleased me with rays as cool as sandalwood—seeming fearful because it was surpassed by your beauty—now, without you..."

१२.२०.१६

लब्धान्तर इवेदानीं तैरेव तुदति प्रिये ।
प्रज्वलद्भिरिवाङ्गारैर्विषदिग्धैरिवाशुगैः ॥

Summary AI "...finding an opportunity now, O beloved, pierces me with those very rays as if they were blazing coals or arrows dipped in poison."

१२.२०.१७

इत्यादि क्रन्दतस्तस्य सा हरिस्वामिनस्तदा ।
कृच्छ्राद्व्यतीयाय निशा न पुनर्विरहव्यथा ॥

Summary AI While Harisvāmin was thus crying out, that night passed away with great difficulty, but the pain of separation did not.

१२.२०.१८

प्रातर्बिभेद विश्वस्य करैः संतमसं रविः ।
भेत्तुं न चक्षमे तस्य मोहान्धतमसं पुनः ॥

Summary AI In the morning, the sun dispelled the deep darkness of the world with its rays, but it could not pierce the blinding darkness of his delusion.

१२.२०.१९

विलब्ध इव चक्राह्वैस्तस्य तीर्णनिशैस्तदा ।
भेजे शतगुनीभावं करुणाक्रन्दितध्वनिः ॥

Summary AI Then, as if mocked by the cakravāka birds who had passed the night together, his sound of piteous wailing increased a hundredfold.

१२.२०.२०

स्वजनैः सान्त्व्यमानो ऽपि वियोगानलदीपितः ।
न च लेभे द्विजयुवा धृतिं तां प्रेयसीं विना ॥

Summary AI Though being consoled by his relatives, the young brāhmaṇa, inflamed by the fire of separation, found no peace without his beloved.

१२.२०.२१

इह स्थितमिह स्नातं कृतमत्र प्रसाधनम् ।
विहृतं च तयात्रेति ययौ त्वित इतो रुदन् ॥

Summary AI He wandered here and there weeping, saying: "She stayed here, she bathed here, she adorned herself here, and she strolled here."

१२.२०.२२

मृता तावन्न सा तत्किमात्मैवं हन्यते त्वया ।
अवश्यं तामवाप्तासि जीवञ्जातु कुतश्चन ॥

Summary AI She is certainly not dead; therefore, why do you torment yourself so? As long as you remain alive, you will surely find her somewhere or other.

१२.२०.२३

तद्धैर्यमवलम्बस्व तां गवेषय च प्रियाम् ।
अप्राप्यं नाम नेहास्ति धीरस्य व्यवसायिनः ॥

Summary AI Therefore, take courage and search for your beloved; for there is nothing unattainable in this world for a resolute and industrious person.

१२.२०.२४

इति बन्धुसुहृद्वाक्यैर्बोधितः सो ऽथ कृच्छ्रतः ।
दिनैः कैश्चिद्धरिस्वामी बबन्ध धृतिमास्थया ॥

Summary AI Thus consoled by the words of his relatives and friends, Kṛṣṇa eventually composed himself with effort and hope after several days.

१२.२०.२५

अचिन्तयच्च सर्वस्वं कृत्वा ब्राह्मणसादहम् ।
भ्रमामि तावत्तीर्थानि क्षपयाम्यघसंचयम् ॥

Summary AI He thought: "Having bestowed all my possessions upon the Brāhmaṇas, I will wander among the holy places and wash away my accumulation of sins."

१२.२०.२६

पापक्षयाद्धि तां जातु प्रियां भ्राम्यन्नवाप्नुयाम् ।
इत्यालोच्य यथावस्थं स्नानाद्युत्थाय सो ऽकरोत् ॥

Summary AI "For by the destruction of my sins, I may eventually find my beloved while wandering." Thinking thus, he rose and performed his ablutions and other duties as usual.

१२.२०.२७

अन्येद्युश्च विचित्रान्नपानं सत्त्रे द्विजन्मनाम् ।
चकारावारितं किं च ददौ धनमशेषतः ॥

Summary AI On the following day, he provided an unrestricted feast of various foods and drinks at an almshouse for Brāhmaṇas and gave away his entire wealth.

१२.२०.२८

ब्राह्मण्यमात्रवित्तस्य निर्गत्यैव स्वदेशतः ।
प्रियाप्राप्तीच्छया सो ऽथ तीर्थानि भ्रमितुं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Then, possessing nothing but his status as a Brāhmaṇa, he left his country and set out to wander among holy places, desiring to find his beloved.

१२.२०.२९

भ्राम्यतश्च जगामास्य भीमो ग्रीष्मर्तुकेसरी ।
प्रचण्डादित्यवदनो दीप्ततद्रश्मिकेसरः ॥

Summary AI As he wandered, the fierce lion of the summer season approached, having the scorching sun for its mouth and the blazing rays for its mane.

१२.२०.३०

प्रियाविरहसंतप्तपान्थनिःश्वासमारुतैः ।
न्यस्तोष्माण इवात्युष्णा वान्ति स्म च समीरणाः ॥

Summary AI Extremely hot winds blew, as if they had been heated by the sighs of travelers suffering from the pain of separation from their beloveds.

१२.२०.३१

शुष्यद्विदीर्णपङ्काश्च हृदयैः स्फुटितैरिव ।
जलाशया ददृशिरे घर्मलुप्ताम्बुसंपदः ॥

Summary AI The reservoirs of water, whose liquid wealth was stolen by the heat, appeared with dried and cracked mud as if their hearts had shattered.

१२.२०.३२

चीरीचीत्कारमुखरास्तापम्लानदलाधराः ।
मधुश्रीविरहान्मार्गेष्वरुदन्निव पादपाः ॥

Summary AI Along the roads, the trees, noisy with the chirping of crickets and with leaves withered like lips by the heat, seemed to weep over their separation from the beauty of spring.

१२.२०.३३

तस्मिन्काले ऽर्कतापेन वियोगेन क्षुधा तृषा ।
नित्याध्वना च स क्लान्तो विरूक्षक्षामधूसरः ॥

Summary AI At that time, exhausted by the sun's heat, the pain of separation, hunger, thirst, and constant travel, he became rough, emaciated, and covered in dust.

१२.२०.३४

भोजनार्थि हरिस्वामी प्राप ग्रामं क्वचिद्भ्रमन् ।
पद्मनाभाभिधानस्य गृहं विप्रस्य सत्त्रिणः ॥

Summary AI Seeking food, the wandering Harisvāmī arrived at the house of a Brāhmaṇa named Padmanābha, who was known for maintaining an almshouse.

१२.२०.३५

तत्र दृष्ट्वा स भुञ्जानान्विप्रानभ्यन्तरे बहून् ।
द्वारशाखां समालम्ब्य तस्थौ निःशब्दनिश्चलः ॥

Summary AI Seeing many Brāhmaṇas eating inside, he leaned against the doorpost and stood there silent and motionless.

१२.२०.३६

तथास्थितं तमालोक्य सत्त्रिणस्तस्य गेहिनी ।
पद्मनाभस्य संजातदया साध्वी व्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Seeing him standing in that state, the virtuous wife of that householder Padmanābha felt compassion and thought to herself.

१२.२०.३७

अहो क्षुन्नाम गुर्व्येषा न कुर्यात्कस्य लाघवम् ।
यदेवमयमन्नार्थी को ऽप्यास्ते द्वार्यधोमुखः ॥

Summary AI "Oh, hunger is a heavy burden! To whom does it not bring degradation? For this unknown man, seeking food, stands at the door with his head bowed."

१२.२०.३८

दूराध्वाभ्यागतः स्नातस्तावत्क्षीणेन्द्रियः क्षुधा ।
तदेषश्चान्नदानस्य पात्रमित्यवधार्य सा ॥

Summary AI Realizing that he had come from a long distance, had bathed, and was weakened by hunger, she determined that he was a worthy recipient of a gift of food.

१२.२०.३९

परमान्नभृतं साध्वी तस्मै सघृतशर्करम् ।
पात्रमुत्क्षिप्य पाणिभ्यामानीय प्रश्रिता ददौ ॥

Summary AI The virtuous woman lifted with both hands a bowl filled with excellent rice-pudding mixed with ghee and sugar, brought it out, and humbly gave it to him.

१२.२०.४०

जगाद चैतं भुङ्क्ष्वैतद्गत्वा वापीतटे क्वचित् ।
इदं स्थानं समुच्छिष्टं भुञ्जानैर्ब्राह्मनैर्वृतम् ॥

Summary AI She said to him: "Go to the bank of some pond and eat this; for this place is crowded with eating Brāhmaṇas and is full of food scraps."

१२.२०.४१

तथेति सो ऽन्नपात्रं तद्गृहीत्वा नातिदूरतः ।
गत्वा स्थापितवान्वाप्यास्तटे वटतरोरधः ॥

Summary AI Saying "so be it," Harisvāmī took the bowl of food and, walking a short distance, placed it beneath a banyan tree on the bank of a stepped well.

१२.२०.४२

प्रक्षाल्य पाणिपादं च वाप्यामाचम्य चात्र सः ।
यावद्भक्षयितुं तुष्टः परमान्नमुपैति तत् ॥

Summary AI After washing his hands and feet and performing ācamana in the well, just as he happily approached the rice pudding to eat it...

१२.२०.४३

तावद्गृहीत्वा कृष्णाहिं चञ्च्वा पादयुगेन च ।
श्येनः कुतश्चिदागत्य तरौ तस्मिन्नुपाविशत् ॥

Summary AI ...at that moment, a hawk arrived from somewhere, clutching a black snake in its beak and talons, and perched upon that very tree.

१२.२०.४४

तेन तस्योह्यमानस्य सर्पस्याक्रम्य पक्षिणा ।
उत्क्रान्तजीवितस्यास्याद्विषलाला विनिर्ययौ ॥

Summary AI As the hawk gripped and carried the snake, whose life was departing, poisonous saliva flowed from the serpent's mouth.

१२.२०.४५

सा तत्राधःस्थिते तस्मिन्नन्नपात्रे ऽपतत्तदा ।
तच्चादृष्ट्वा हरिस्वामी स एत्यान्नमभुङ्क्त तत् ॥

Summary AI That venom fell into the bowl of food placed below. Unaware of this, Harisvāmī approached and ate the food.

१२.२०.४६

क्षुधार्तस्य तदा तस्य मृष्टान्नं तत्क्षणेन तत् ।
कृत्स्नं भुक्तवतस्तीव्रा प्रोदभूद्विषवेदना ॥

Summary AI As the hungry man finished eating the delicious food in an instant, an intense pain from the poison arose within him.

१२.२०.४७

अहो विधौ विपर्यस्ते न विपर्यस्यतीह किम् ।
यद्विषीभूतमन्नं मे सक्षीरघृटशर्करम् ॥

Summary AI "Alas! When fate is adverse, what does not go wrong? Even this food, mixed with milk, ghee, and sugar, has turned into poison for me!"

१२.२०.४८

इति जल्पन्विषार्तः स हरिस्वामी परिस्खलन् ।
गत्वा तां सत्त्रिणस्तस्य विप्रस्योवाच गेहिनीम् ॥

Summary AI Lamenting thus, tormented by poison and stumbling, Harisvāmī went and spoke to the wife of that brāhmaṇa who had provided the meal.

१२.२०.४९

त्वद्दत्ताद्विषमन्नान्मे जातं तद्विषमन्त्रिणम् ।
कंचिन्ममानय क्षिप्रं ब्रह्महत्यान्यथास्ति ते ॥

Summary AI "I have been poisoned by the food you gave me! Quickly, bring me a physician skilled in treating poison, otherwise, you will be guilty of murdering a brāhmaṇa."

Other texts to read

पञ्चतन्त्रम् विष्णुशर्मा

कादम्बरीसंग्रहः कृष्णमाचार्यः

About

Resources

Connect