कथासरित्सागरः — षड्विंशस्तरङ्गः

षड्विंशस्तरङ्गः ।

अथ गत्वा पुनः स्कन्धे वेतालं शिंशपाद्रुमात् ।
स त्रिविक्रमसेनस्तं गृहीत्वोदचलन्नृपः ॥

Summary AI King Trivikramasena returned to the śiṃśapā tree, seized the Vetāla, placed him on his shoulder, and departed once more.

१२.२६.२

आगच्छन्तं च तं भूयो वेतालः सो ऽभ्यभाषत ।
राजञ्शृणु कथमेकां हृद्यां ते कथयाम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI As the king was returning, the Vetāla spoke to him again, inviting him to listen to a captivating story.

१२.२६.३

अस्ति वक्रोलकं नाम पुरं सुरपुरोपमम् ।
तस्मिन्सूर्यप्रभाख्यो ऽभूद्राजा जम्भारिसंनिभः ॥

Summary AI There was a city named Vakrolaka, resembling the city of the gods, ruled by King Sūryaprabha, who was as powerful as Indra.

१२.२६.४

सौकर्योद्यतया मूर्त्या दत्तानन्दो वसुंधराम् ।
इमां हरिरिवोद्धृत्य यो बभार चिरं भुजे ॥

Summary AI Just as Lord Hari lifted the earth in His boar incarnation, this king supported the world on his arm for a long time, bestowing joy upon it.

१२.२६.५

धूमासङ्गे ऽश्रुसंपातः शृङ्गारे मारसंकथाः ।
द्वाःस्थेषु हेमदण्डाश्च राष्ट्रे यस्याभवन्प्रभोः ॥

Summary AI In his kingdom, tears resulted only from smoke, talk of killing occurred only in love poetry, and golden rods were seen only in the hands of gatekeepers.

१२.२६.६

सर्वसंपत्समृद्धस्य तस्यैकाभूदनिर्वृतिः ।
नोदपद्यत यत्पुत्रो बहुष्वन्तःपुरेष्वपि ॥

Summary AI Despite possessing every kind of wealth and prosperity, the king suffered one great sorrow: no son was born to him despite having many wives.

१२.२६.७

एतस्मिंश्च कथासंधौ ताम्रलिप्त्यां महापुरि ।
बभूव धनपालाख्यो धुर्यो धनवतां वनिक् ॥

Summary AI During this time, in the great city of Tāmraliptī, there lived a merchant named Dhanapāla, who was the leader among the wealthy.

१२.२६.८

तस्य चाजायतैकैव नाम्ना धनवती सुता ।
विद्याधरी च्युता शापात्सौन्दर्येणैव सूचिता ॥

Summary AI He had an only daughter named Dhanavatī, whose extraordinary beauty suggested she was a Vidyādharī fallen to earth due to a curse.

१२.२६.९

तस्यां च यौवनस्थायां स वणिक्पञ्चतां ययौ ।
तद्धनं राजसानाथ्यादाक्रान्तमथ गोत्रजैः ॥

Summary AI When she reached youth, the merchant died. Consequently, his kinsmen seized his wealth, aided by the king’s officials.

१२.२६.१०

ततो हिरण्यवत्याख्या वणिजस्तस्य गेहिनी ।
आदाय रत्नभरणं निजमप्रकटस्थितम् ॥

Summary AI Then, the merchant's wife, Hiraṇyavatī, took her personal, hidden collection of jewels and ornaments.

१२.२६.११

धनवत्या तया साकं स्वदुहित्रा निशामुखे ।
पलाय्य दायादभयाद्गृहाद्गुप्तं विनिर्ययौ ॥

Summary AI Fearing the greedy relatives, she fled secretly from her home at nightfall along with her daughter Dhanavatī.

१२.२६.१२

ध्वान्तेन बहिरन्तश्च सा दुःखेनान्धकारिता ।
कृच्छ्राद्बहिःपुरं प्रायात्सुताहस्तावलम्बिनी ॥

Summary AI Blinded by the darkness outside and the grief within, she managed to leave the city with difficulty, leaning on her daughter's hand for support.

१२.२६.१३

तत्र संतमसे यान्ती विधियोगादलक्षितम् ।
अंसेनाताडयच्चौरं शूलाग्रारोपितस्थितम् ॥

Summary AI While walking through the thick darkness, she accidentally struck her shoulder against a thief who was impaled on a stake.

१२.२६.१४

स सजीवस्तदंसाग्रघट्टनाधिकपीडितः ।
आः क्षते क्षारमेतन्मे क्षिप्तं केनेत्यभाषत ॥

Summary AI The thief, still alive, was greatly pained by the impact and cried out: 'Ah! Who has thrown salt upon my wound?'

१२.२६.१५

ततस्तत्रैव सा को ऽसीत्यपृच्छत्तं वणिग्वधूः ।
प्रत्युवाच ततश्चौरश्चौरो ऽहमिह सूचितः ॥

Summary AI The merchant's wife then asked him who he was. The thief replied that he was a criminal condemned to the stake.

१२.२६.१६

शूले पापस्य चाद्यापि नोत्क्रामन्ति ममासवः ।
तदार्ये त्वं मम ब्रूहि कासिक्वैवं प्रयासि च ॥

Summary AI He said that although he was a sinner on a stake, his life had not yet departed. He then asked the noble lady who she was and where she was going.

१२.२६.१७

तच्छ्रुत्वा तं वणिग्भार्या यावत्स्वोदन्तमाह सा ।
तावत्तिलकितं प्राच्या मुखमुद्भासितेन्दुना ॥

Summary AI As the merchant's wife shared her story, the moon rose, adorning the face of the eastern quarter like a tilaka.

१२.२६.१८

ततो दिक्षु प्रकाशासु स चौरस्तां वणिक्सुताम् ।
दृष्ट्वा धनवतीं कन्यां तन्मातरमुवाच ताम् ॥

Summary AI When the light spread, the thief saw the beautiful Dhanavatī and spoke to her mother.

१२.२६.१९

शृणु मे प्रार्थनामेकां सहस्रं काञ्चनस्य ते ।
ददामि तदिमां मह्यं स्वसुतां देहि कन्यकाम् ॥

Summary AI He pleaded, 'Listen to my request: I will give you a thousand pieces of gold if you give me your daughter in marriage.'

१२.२६.२०

किमेतया तवेत्युक्तो हसन्त्याथ तयात्र सः ।
पुनश्चौरो ऽब्रवीन्नास्ति पुत्रो मम गतायुषः ॥

Summary AI When she laughingly asked what use a wife would be to him, the dying thief replied that he had no son.

१२.२६.२१

न चापुत्रो ऽश्नते लोकांस्तदेषा यं मदाज्ञया ।
कुत्रचिज्जनयेत्पुत्रं क्षेत्रजः स भवेन्मम ॥

Summary AI A sonless man cannot enjoy the higher worlds; therefore, by my command, let this woman bear a son by anyone she chooses, and he shall be my kṣetraja son.

१२.२६.२२

इत्येतां प्रार्थये त्वं तु तद्विधत्स्व ममेप्सितम् ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा सा वणिग्योषिल्लोभात्तत्प्रत्यपद्यत ॥

Summary AI I request this of her; you must fulfill my desire. Upon hearing this, the merchant's wife accepted the proposal out of greed.

१२.२६.२३

आनीय च कुतो ऽप्यम्बु पाणौ चौरस्य तस्य सा ।
एषा सुता मया तुभ्यं कन्या दत्तेत्यपातयत् ॥

Summary AI Fetching water from somewhere, she poured it into the thief's hand, declaring, "This daughter is given by me to you as a bride."

१२.२६.२४

सो ऽपि तद्दुहितुर्दत्तयथोक्ताज्ञो जगाद ताम् ।
गच्छामुष्य वटस्याधः खात्वा स्वर्णं गृहाण तत् ॥

Summary AI Having given the aforementioned instructions regarding his daughter-wife, he told her to dig beneath that banyan tree and take the gold.

१२.२६.२५

गतासोर्दाहयित्वा मे देहं युक्त्या विसृज्य च ।
अस्थीनि तीर्थे ससुता गच्छेर्वक्रोलकं पुरम् ॥

Summary AI After I have breathed my last, cremate my body properly, scatter the bones in a holy place, and go with your daughter to the city of Vakrolaka.

१२.२६.२६

तत्र सूर्यप्रभे राज्ञि सौराज्यसुखिते जने ।
निरुपद्रवनिश्चिन्ता स्थास्यसि त्वं यथेच्छसि ॥

Summary AI There, under the rule of King Sūryaprabha, where people are happy with good governance, you shall live free from trouble and anxiety as you please.

१२.२६.२७

इत्युक्त्वा तृषितः पीत्वा तयैवोपहृतं जलम् ।
शूलव्यधव्यथोत्क्रान्तजीवश्चौरो बभूव सः ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus, the thirsty thief drank the water brought by her and died from the intense agony caused by the impalement.

१२.२६.२८

ततो गत्वा वणिक्स्त्री सा स्वर्णं वटतरोस्तलात् ।
गृहीत्वा ससुता गुप्तमगाद्भर्तृसुहृद्गृहम् ॥

Summary AI Then the merchant's wife, taking the gold from beneath the banyan tree, went secretly with her daughter to the house of her husband's friend.

१२.२६.२९

तत्र स्थित्वा च युक्त्या तद्दाहयित्वा कलेवरम् ।
चौरस्य तस्य तीर्थे ऽस्थिक्षेपादिकमकारयत् ॥

Summary AI Staying there, she skillfully arranged for the cremation of the thief's body and performed the rites of scattering his bones in a holy place.

१२.२६.३०

अन्येद्युश्चात्तगुप्तार्था ततो निर्गत्य सात्मजा ।
प्रयान्ती क्रमशः प्राप सा तद्वक्रोलकं पुरम् ॥

Summary AI One day, taking the hidden wealth and departing with her daughter, she traveled and eventually reached the city of Vakrolaka.

१२.२६.३१

तत्रैकं वसुदत्ताख्याद्गृहं क्रीत्वा वणिग्वरात् ।
तस्मिन्नुवास सुतया धनवत्या तया सह ॥

Summary AI There, she bought a house from an excellent merchant named Vasudatta and lived in it with her daughter Dhanavatī.

१२.२६.३२

तदा च तत्रोपाध्यायो विष्णुस्वामीत्यभूत्पुरे ।
मनःस्वामीति तस्यासीच्छिष्यो विप्रो ऽतिरूपवान् ॥

Summary AI At that time, there was a teacher named Viṣṇusvāmin in that city; his disciple was an exceedingly handsome Brāhmaṇa named Manaḥsvāmin.

१२.२६.३३

विध्याभिजनयुक्तो ऽपि स यौवनवशीकृतः ।
तत्र हंसावलीं नाम वाञ्छति स्म विलासिनीम् ॥

Summary AI Though endowed with learning and high birth, he was enslaved by youth and desired a courtesan there named Haṃsāvalī.

१२.२६.३४

सा च सौवर्णदीनारशतपञ्चकमग्रहीत् ।
भाटिं तस्य च तन्नाभूद्व्यषीदत्तेन सो ऽन्वहम् ॥

Summary AI She demanded five hundred gold dīnāras as her fee; since he did not possess that amount, he grieved daily because of it.

१२.२६.३५

एकदा च तमद्राक्षीत्तादृशं सा वणिक्सुता ।
क्षामाभिरामवपुषं धनवत्यत्र हर्म्यतः ॥

Summary AI Once, the merchant's daughter Dhanavatī saw him from her terrace in that state, his body emaciated yet beautiful.

१२.२६.३६

तद्रूपहृतचित्ता च भर्तुश्चौरस्य तस्य सा ।
स्मृत्वानुज्ञां समीपस्थां युक्त्यावोचत्स्वमातरम् ॥

Summary AI Her heart stolen by his beauty, and remembering the command of her husband the thief, she skillfully spoke to her mother standing nearby.

१२.२६.३७

अम्ब विप्रसुतस्यास्य पश्यैते रूपयौवने ।
कीदृशे बत विश्वस्य नयनामृतवर्षिणी ॥

Summary AI "Mother, look at the beauty and youth of this Brāhmaṇa youth; how they rain nectar upon the eyes of the whole world!"

१२.२६.३८

एतच्छ्रुत्वैव तस्मिंस्तां बद्धभावामवेत्य च ।
तन्माता सा वणिग्भार्या मनस्येवमचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing this and perceiving her daughter's deep affection for him, her mother, the merchant's wife, thought thus in her mind.

१२.२६.३९

मद्दुहित्रानया तावद्वरणीयः सुताप्तये ।
कश्चिद्भर्त्राज्ञया तस्मादेष एवार्थ्यते न किम् ॥

Summary AI "My daughter must choose someone to obtain a son by her husband's command; therefore, why should he himself not be requested?"

१२.२६.४०

इत्याकलय्य व्यसृजत्तत्संदिश्य मनीषितम् ।
रहस्यधारिणीं चेटीं तमानेतुं सुताकृते ॥

Summary AI Reflecting thus, she sent a confidential maid-servant to bring him for her daughter, conveying her intention.

१२.२६.४१

सा गत्वा विजने नीत्वा चेटी तस्मै शशंस तत् ।
स च श्रुत्वा द्विजयुवा व्यसनी तामभाषत ॥

Summary AI The maidservant led him to a secluded spot and delivered the message. Upon hearing it, the dissolute young brāhmaṇa replied to her.

१२.२६.४२

यदि हंसावलीहेतोर्दीनारशतपञ्चकम् ।
सौवर्णं दीयते सह्यं तदेकामेमि यामिनीम् ॥

Summary AI He stated, "If five hundred gold dīnāras are given for the sake of Haṃsāvalī, that is acceptable; only then will I come for a single night."

१२.२६.४३

इति तेनोक्तया चेट्या तया गत्वा तथैव सा ।
उक्ता वणिक्स्त्री तस्मै तत्तद्धस्ते प्राहिणोद्धनम् ॥

Summary AI The maidservant returned and informed the merchant's wife of his words; the woman then sent the requested gold to him through the maidservant's hand.

१२.२६.४४

तद्गृहीत्वा मनःस्वामी तत्पुत्र्या वासकं ययौ ।
तस्याः स तन्निसृष्टाया धनवत्यः सचेटिकः ॥

Summary AI Having received the money, Manaḥsvāmī went with the maidservant to the bedchamber of Dhanavatī, the merchant's daughter who had been offered to him.

१२.२६.४५

तत्र तां विततोत्कण्ठां कान्तां भूषितभूतलाम् ।
स चकोर इव ज्योत्स्नां ददर्श च जहर्ष च ॥

Summary AI There, he beheld his beloved, who was filled with intense longing and adorned the very ground she stood upon; like a cakora bird gazing at the moonlight, he looked at her and rejoiced.

१२.२६.४६

तया समं च नीत्वा तां रात्रिं संभोगलीलया ।
निर्गत्य स ततो गुप्तं ययौ प्रातर्यथागतम् ॥

Summary AI After spending the night with her in amorous play, he left secretly at dawn and returned by the same way he had come.

१२.२६.४७

सापि तस्माद्धनवती सगर्भाभूद्वणिक्सुता ।
काले च सुषुवे पुत्रं लक्षणानुमितायतिम् ॥

Summary AI That merchant's daughter, Dhanavatī, became pregnant by him and, in due course, gave birth to a son whose future glory was predicted by his auspicious bodily marks.

१२.२६.४८

परितुष्टां तदा तां च सुतोत्पत्त्या समातृकाम् ।
आदिदेश हरः स्वप्ने दर्शितस्ववपुर्निशि ॥

Summary AI Then Hara, revealing his divine form in a dream at night, gave instructions to the woman and her mother, both of whom were delighted by the birth of the son.

१२.२६.४९

युक्तं हेमसहस्रेण नीत्वा बालमुषस्यमुम् ।
सूर्यप्रभनृपस्येह मञ्चस्थं द्वारि मुञ्चतम् ॥

Summary AI He commanded, "At dawn, take this infant along with a thousand gold pieces and leave him on a couch at the palace gate of King Sūryaprabha."

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