कथासरित्सागरः — चतुर्विंशस्तरङ्गः

चतुर्विंशस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो गत्वा पुनस्तस्मात्स राजा शिंशपातरोः ।
तं त्रिविक्रमसेनो ऽंसे वीरो वेतालमग्रहीत् ॥

Summary AI Then, returning to that śiṃśapā tree, the heroic King Trivikramasena once again seized the Vetāla and placed him upon his shoulder.

१२.२४.२

प्रस्थितं च ततस्तं स वेतालः स्कन्धतो ऽब्रवीत् ।
राजञ्श्रमविनोदाय शृण्वेतां वच्मि ते कथाम् ॥

Summary AI As the king set out, the Vetāla spoke to him from his shoulder, saying, "O King, to divert your fatigue, listen as I relate a story to you."

१२.२४.३

अखण्डधर्ममर्यादं गङ्गाकूले कृतास्पदम् ।
कलेरगम्यं कनकपुरं नाम्नाभवत्पुरम् ॥

Summary AI On the banks of the Gaṅgā, there was a city named Kanakapura, a bastion of unbroken righteous conduct and a place inaccessible to the influence of the Kali age.

१२.२४.४

तस्मिन्यशोधनाख्यो ऽभूदन्वर्थो वसुधाधिपः ।
ररक्ष विप्लवाम्भोधेर्यो वेलाद्रिरिव क्षितिम् ॥

Summary AI In that city reigned a king named Yaśodhana, whose name truly reflected his character; he protected the earth like a coastal mountain against the ocean of calamity.

१२.२४.५

जगादाह्लादकश्चण्डप्रतापो ऽखण्डमण्डलः ।
विधिना यश्च चन्द्रार्कावेकीकृत्येव निर्ममे ॥

Summary AI He delighted the world, possessed fierce valor, and ruled a complete realm, appearing as if the Creator had fashioned him by uniting the qualities of both the moon and the sun.

१२.२४.६

मौर्ख्यं परपरीवादे न शास्त्रार्थे दरिद्रता ।
दोषे न कोषदण्डाभ्यां यस्यासीच्च महीपतेः ॥

Summary AI That king was foolish only regarding the censure of others, never lacked scriptural knowledge, and found fault only within himself, never in his treasury or army.

१२.२४.७

पापभीरुर्यशोलुब्धः षण्ढः परपुरंध्रिषु ।
यः शौर्यौदार्यशृङ्गारमयो जनतया जगे ॥

Summary AI He was fearful of sin, greedy for fame, and indifferent toward the wives of others; the people praised him as the very embodiment of heroism, generosity, and love.

१२.२४.८

तस्य राज्ञः पुरे तस्मिन्नभूदेको महावणिक् ।
उन्मादिनीति ख्याता च कन्या तस्याभवत्सुता ॥

Summary AI In that king's city lived a great merchant who had a daughter famously known by the name Unmādinī.

१२.२४.९

यो यस्तां हि ददर्शात्र स स तद्रूपसंपदा ।
उन्माद्यति स्म मदनस्यापि मोहनशक्तया ॥

Summary AI Whoever beheld her was driven to madness by the excellence of her beauty, which possessed a power of enchantment capable of affecting even Madana himself.

१२.२४.१०

तस्यां च यौवनस्थायां स गत्वा तत्पिता वणिक् ।
यशोधनं तं राजानं नीतिवेदी व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI When she reached the prime of her youth, her father, a merchant skilled in ethics, approached King Yaśodhana and made a formal representation.

१२.२४.११

त्रैलोक्यरत्नभूता मे प्रदेयास्ति सुता प्रभो ।
तामनावेद्य देवस्य नान्यस्मै दातुमुत्सहे ॥

Summary AI "O Lord, I have a daughter who is a jewel of the three worlds and is ready for marriage. I do not venture to give her to anyone else without first informing Your Majesty."

१२.२४.१२

देवो ऽपि सर्वरत्नानां प्रभुः कृत्स्ने ऽपि भूतले ।
तत्स्वीकृत्यानुगृह्णातु देवस्तां प्रतिमुच्य वा ॥

Summary AI "Since Your Majesty is the master of all treasures upon the entire earth, may you favor me by either accepting her or permitting her to be given elsewhere."

१२.२४.१३

इत्याकर्ण्य वणिग्वाक्यं स राजा ब्राह्मणान्निजान् ।
सादरं व्यसृजत्तस्याः सौलक्षण्यमवेक्षितुम् ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing the merchant's words, the king respectfully dispatched his Brāhmaṇas to examine her for auspicious physical marks.

१२.२४.१४

ते गत्वा ब्राह्मणा दृष्ट्वा तां त्रैलोक्यैकसुन्दरीम् ।
सद्यः क्षोभं ययुः क्षिप्राल्लब्ध्वा धैर्यमचिन्तयन् ॥

Summary AI Those Brāhmaṇas went and beheld her, the unparalleled beauty of the three worlds; they were instantly agitated, but quickly regaining their composure, they began to reflect.

१२.२४.१५

इमां प्राप्नोति चेद्राजा तद्राष्ट्रमवसीदति ।
एतन्मोहितचित्तो हि किं स राज्यमवेक्षते ॥

Summary AI "If the king obtains her, his kingdom will surely perish. For with his heart infatuated by her beauty, how will he ever attend to the affairs of the state?"

१२.२४.१६

तस्मात्सुलक्षणेत्येषा नाख्येया क्षितिपाय नः ।
इत्येव मन्त्रं संमन्त्र्य राज्ञस्ते जग्मुरन्तिकम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, we must not disclose to the king that she possesses auspicious marks." Having thus conspired, they returned to the presence of the monarch.

१२.२४.१७

कुलक्षणा सा देवेति तमूचुश्चात्र ते मृषा ।
तेन राजा स नैवैतां स्वीचकार वणिक्सुताम् ॥

Summary AI They falsely reported to him, "Your Majesty, she has inauspicious marks." Consequently, the king did not accept the merchant's daughter.

१२.२४.१८

ततस्तदाज्ञया तां स कन्यामुन्मादिनीं पिता ।
वणिग्बलधराख्याय तत्सेनापतये ददौ ॥

Summary AI Then, by the king's order, the merchant father gave his daughter Unmādinī in marriage to the general named Baladhara.

१२.२४.१९

अथ सा तद्गृहे तस्थौ भर्त्रा तेन समं सुखम् ।
कुलक्षणेत्यहं रज्ञा त्यक्तेत्यात्तविमानना ॥

Summary AI She then lived in her husband's house, though she felt insulted by the thought that the king had rejected her for having inauspicious marks.

१२.२४.२०

याति काले च जात्वत्र हत्वा हेमन्तहस्तिनम् ।
फुल्लकुन्दलतादन्तं मथिताम्बुजिनीवनम् ॥

Summary AI As time passed, the Hemanta season arrived like an elephant, destroying the lotus beds and displaying teeth made of blossoming Kunda vines.

१२.२४.२१

आजगाम लसत्पुष्पमञ्जरीकेसरावलिः ।
चूताङ्कुरनखः क्रीदन्कानने मधुकेसरी ॥

Summary AI The lion of Spring (Madhu-kesarī), possessing claws in the form of mango sprouts and a mane made of clusters of shining flower filaments, arrived playing in the forest.

१२.२४.२२

तत्कालं चात्र नगरे तं वसन्तमहोत्सवम् ।
स राजा निर्ययौ द्रष्टुं गजारूढो यशोधनः ॥

Summary AI At that time, in that city, King Yaśodhana set out, mounted on an elephant, to witness the great Spring festival.

१२.२४.२३

तद्रूपालोकसंभाव्यविप्लवाः कुलयोषितः ।
अपसारयितुं दत्तं तदा चोद्घोषडिण्डिमम् ॥

Summary AI Then, the drum of proclamation was sounded to warn the noblewomen to withdraw, as their virtue might be endangered by the sight of the King's extraordinary beauty.

१२.२४.२४

सा श्रुत्वोन्मादिनी तस्मै राज्ञे स्वगृहहर्म्यतः ।
आत्मानं दर्शयामास परित्यागावमानतः ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, Unmādinī, out of the resentment caused by her rejection, showed herself to the King from the terrace of her own house.

१२.२४.२५

स च तां चक्षुभे दृष्ट्वा राजा ज्वालामिवोद्गताम् ।
संधुक्षितस्य कामाग्नेर्मधुना मलयानिलैः ॥

Summary AI Seeing her, the King was agitated, as if she were a rising flame of the fire of love, fanned by the Spring and the Malaya breezes.

१२.२४.२६

निर्वर्णयंश्च तद्रूपं जैत्रमस्त्रं मनोभुवः ।
गाढं प्रविष्टं हृदये क्षणान्मोहमुपाययौ ॥

Summary AI Gazing at her beauty, which was the victorious weapon of the mind-born god Kāma, it entered deep into his heart, and he fell into a swoon in a moment.

१२.२४.२७

भृत्यैराश्वासितश्चात्र राजधानीं प्रविश्य सः ।
पृष्टेभ्यो बुबुधे तेभ्यस्तां प्रागुपनतोज्झिताम् ॥

Summary AI Restored by his attendants and having entered the capital, he learned from those he questioned that she was the maiden who had previously been offered to him and rejected.

१२.२४.२८

ततो निर्वास्य देशात्तांस्तत्कुलक्षणवादिनः ।
विप्राननुदिनं दध्यौ तामेवोत्कः स भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI After banishing from the country those Brāhmaṇas who had spoken of her inauspicious marks, the longing King brooded upon her alone day after day.

१२.२४.२९

अहो जडात्मा निर्लज्जश्चन्द्रो नित्यमुदेति यत् ।
जगन्नेत्रोत्सवे तस्या निःकलङ्के मुखे सति ॥

Summary AI Oh! How shameless and dull-witted is the moon, which rises daily even though her stainless face, a festival for the eyes of the world, exists.

१२.२४.३०

कठोरौ हेमकलशौ गजकुम्भौ च कर्कशौ ।
लभेते नोपमामस्याः स्तनयोः पीनतुङ्गयोः ॥

Summary AI Neither the hard golden jars nor the rough frontal globes of an elephant can bear comparison with her full and lofty breasts.

१२.२४.३१

काञ्चीनक्षत्रमालाङ्कं तत्तस्या जघनस्थलम् ।
कं न कंदर्पमातङ्गमस्तकाभं विलोभयेत् ॥

Summary AI Who would not be enticed by her hips, marked by a girdle like a string of stars, resembling the forehead of the elephant of Kandarpa?

१२.२४.३२

इति तां चिन्तयन्नन्तः क्षीयते स्म दिने दिने ।
कामाग्निपुटपाकेन पच्यमानः स भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI Thus, thinking of her inwardly and being cooked by the intense heat of the fire of love, the King wasted away day by day.

१२.२४.३३

ह्रिया निगूहमानश्च पृच्छद्भ्यो बाह्यलक्षणैः ।
कृच्छ्राच्छशंस चाप्तेभ्यः स्वपीडाकारणं स तत् ॥

Summary AI Concealing it out of shame, he finally revealed the cause of his suffering with great difficulty to his trusted friends who questioned him based on external signs.

१२.२४.३४

अलं संतप्य भजसे स्वाधीनां तर्हि किं न ताम् ।
इत्युक्तस्तैश्च नैवैतदनुमेने स धार्मिकः ॥

Summary AI When told by them, "Cease grieving; why do you not enjoy her who is within your power?", that righteous King would not agree to it.

१२.२४.३५

ततो बलधरो बुद्ध्वा स सेनापतिरेत्य तम् ।
प्रभुमभ्यर्थयामास सद्भक्तश्चरणानतः ॥

Summary AI Then the loyal general Baladhara, having understood the situation, approached the King, bowed at his feet, and made a request.

१२.२४.३६

दासस्त्री तव दास्येव सा देव न पराङ्गना ।
स्वयं चाहं प्रयच्छामि तद्भार्यां स्वीकुरुष्व मे ॥

Summary AI "O King, she is the wife of your servant and thus like your own slave, not another's woman. I give her to you myself; therefore, please accept my wife."

१२.२४.३७

अथवा तां त्यजामीह देव देवकुले ततः ।
न दोषो ग्रहणे तस्यास्तव देवकुलस्त्रियः ॥

Summary AI "Or, O King, I shall abandon her in a temple; then there will be no sin for you in taking her, as she will be a woman belonging to the temple."

१२.२४.३८

इति स्वसेनापतिना निर्बन्धेन स पार्थिवः ।
तेनानुनाथ्यमानो ऽपि सान्तःकोपमुवाच तम् ॥

Summary AI Though thus entreated with persistence by his general, the King spoke to him with internal anger.

१२.२४.३९

राजा भूत्वा कथं कुर्यामधर्ममहमीदृशम् ।
मय्युल्लङ्घितमर्यादे को हि तिष्ठेत्स्ववर्त्मनि ॥

Summary AI "Being a King, how could I commit such an unrighteous act? If I myself transgress the bounds of morality, who else will remain on the right path?"

१२.२४.४०

भक्तो ऽपि च भवान्पापे नियोजयति मां कथम् ।
परलोकमहादुःखहेतौ क्षणसुखावहे ॥

Summary AI "Even though you are my devotee, why do you urge me toward a sin that brings momentary pleasure but causes great suffering in the next world?"

१२.२४.४१

न क्षमिष्ये च ते धर्म्यान्दारान्यदि विहास्यसि ।
सहते मादृशः को हि तादृशं धर्मविप्लवम् ॥

Summary AI The king’s father-in-law warns that if the king abandons his lawful wife, he will not be forgiven, as no righteous individual can tolerate such a flagrant violation of dharma.

१२.२४.४२

तद्वरं मृत्युरित्युक्त्वा स राजा निषिषेध तम् ।
त्यजन्त्युत्तमसत्त्वा हि प्राणानपि न सत्पथम् ॥

Summary AI Declaring death to be preferable to such an act, the king refused the general's offer. Truly, noble-souled individuals are willing to sacrifice their lives rather than abandon the path of righteousness.

१२.२४.४३

तथैवार्थयमानांश्च पौरजानपदानपि ।
मिलितान्स निराचक्रे राजा सुदृढनिश्चयः ॥

Summary AI The king, firm in his resolve, likewise rejected the gathered citizens and rural subjects who had come together to plead with him to accept the woman.

१२.२४.४४

ततः क्रमेण तेनैव स्मरज्वरभरोष्मणा ।
प्रक्षीणदेहः प्रययौ स यशःशेषतां नृपः ॥

Summary AI Gradually, his body wasting away from the intense heat of the fever of love, the king passed away, leaving behind nothing but the remnant of his fame.

१२.२४.४५

सेनापतिश्चासहिष्णुस्तं तथा प्रमयं प्रभोः ।
सो ऽग्निं विवेश भक्तानामनिर्वाच्यं हि चेष्टितम् ॥

Summary AI Unable to endure his master’s death, the general entered the fire; indeed, the depth of devotion shown by the faithful is beyond description.

१२.२४.४६

इत्याख्यातकथाश्चर्यो वेतालो ऽंसस्थितस्तदा ।
स त्रिविक्रमसेनं तं भूयः पप्रच्छ पार्थिवम् ॥

Summary AI Having narrated this wondrous tale, the Vetāla, perched on the king's shoulder, once again questioned King Trivikramasena.

१२.२४.४७

तदेतयोः को नृपतेः सेनापतिमहीभृतोः ।
सत्त्वेनाभ्यधिको ब्रूहि पूर्वोक्तः समयश्च ते ॥

Summary AI "O King, tell me, of these two—the general and the monarch—who is superior in courage and character? Remember your previous vow as you answer."

१२.२४.४८

इति वेतालतः श्रुत्वा मुक्तमौनः स तं नृपः ।
प्रत्युवाच द्वयोर्राजा सत्त्ववानधिकस्तयोः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this from the Vetāla, the king broke his silence and replied that, between the two of them, the king was the one who possessed greater courage.

१२.२४.४९

तदाकर्ण्यैव वेतालः साक्षेपस्तमभाषत ।
सेनापतिः कथं नात्र राजन्नभ्यधिको वद ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing this, the Vetāla spoke reproachfully, asking, "O King, tell me why the general should not be considered superior in this matter?"

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