कथासरित्सागरः — अष्टाविंशस्तरङ्गः

अष्टाविंशस्तरङ्गः ।

अथ गत्वा पुनः प्राप्य शिंशपातस्ततो ऽग्रहीत् ।
स त्रिविक्रमसेनो ऽंसे वेतालं तं नराधिपः ॥

Summary AI After returning to the Śiṃśapā tree, King Trivikramasena once again took the Vetāla onto his shoulder.

आगच्छन्तं च तं भूयः स वेतालो ऽब्रवीन्नृपम् ।
राजन्नुद्गाढकन्दर्पां शृण्वेकां वच्मि ते कथाम् ॥

Summary AI As the King proceeded, the Vetāla spoke to him again: 'O King, listen as I tell you a story filled with intense passion.'

१२.२८.३

अस्ति शक्रपुरीवान्या धात्रा सुकृतिनां कृते ।
दिवश्च्युतानां विहिता विशालाख्या पुरी भुवि ॥

Summary AI There is a city on earth named Viśālā, created by the Creator for the virtuous who have descended from heaven, resembling another capital of Indra.

१२.२८.४

तस्यां बभूव नृपतिः पद्मनाभ इति श्रुतः ।
सच्चक्रनन्दकः स्रीमानाक्रान्तबलिराजकः ॥

Summary AI In that city lived the illustrious King Padmanābha, renowned for his power and virtue, who had subdued many mighty kings, much like Lord Viṣṇu.

१२.२८.५

तस्मिन्पृथ्वीपतौ तस्यां नगर्यां सुमहावणिक् ।
अर्थदत्ताभिधानो ऽभूद्धनैर्विजितवित्तपः ॥

Summary AI Under that king's reign, there lived a great merchant named Arthadatta, whose immense wealth surpassed even that of Kubera, the god of riches.

१२.२८.६

तस्यैका च सुतानङ्गमञ्जरीत्युदपद्यत ।
स्वःसुन्दरीप्रतिकृतिर्भुवि धात्रेव दर्शिता ॥

Summary AI He had an only daughter named Anaṅgamañjarī, whom the Creator displayed on earth as a perfect replica of a celestial nymph.

१२.२८.७

दत्ता च तेन वणिजा वणिग्वरसुताय सा ।
मणिवर्माभिधानाय ताम्रलिप्तीनिवासिने ॥

Summary AI The merchant married her to Maṇivarmā, the son of an eminent merchant residing in the city of Tāmraliptī.

१२.२८.८

एकापत्यतया चातिवत्सलः स न तां वणिक् ।
भर्तृयुक्तां सुतां गेहात्तत्याजानङ्गमञ्जरीम् ॥

Summary AI Because she was his only child, the affectionate merchant did not send Anaṅgamañjarī away, but kept her and her husband in his own home.

१२.२८.९

तस्याश्चानङ्गमञ्जर्याः पतिर्द्वेष्यो बभूव सः ।
मणिवर्मा सरोगस्य कटुतिक्तमिवौषधम् ॥

Summary AI However, Maṇivarmā became hateful to Anaṅgamañjarī, appearing to her like bitter and pungent medicine to a sick person.

१२.२८.१०

पत्युस्तु सास्य सुमुखी जीवितादप्यभूत्प्रिया ।
धनर्द्धिः कृपणस्येव कृच्छ्रात्सुचिरसंचिता ॥

Summary AI In contrast, the beautiful Anaṅgamañjarī was dearer than life itself to her husband, like a miser’s long-accumulated hoard of wealth.

१२.२८.११

एकदा चान्तिकं पित्रोस्ताम्रलिप्तीं निजं गृहम् ।
उत्कण्ठादिनिमित्तेन मणिवर्मा जगाम सः ॥

Summary AI One day, driven by longing, Maṇivarmā departed for his ancestral home in Tāmraliptī to visit his parents.

१२.२८.१२

ततो दिनेषु यातेषु तीक्ष्णसूर्यांशुसायकैः ।
प्रोषितानां निरुद्धाध्वा घर्मकाल इहाभ्यगात् ॥

Summary AI As time passed, the summer season arrived, blocking the paths of travelers with the fierce, arrow-like rays of the scorching sun.

१२.२८.१३

वसन्तविरहादुष्णा निःश्वासाः ककुभामिव ।
मल्लिकापाटलामोदमेदुरा मरुतो ववुः ॥

Summary AI Winds laden with the fragrance of Mallikā and Pāṭala blossoms blew like the hot sighs of the directions grieving for the departure of spring.

१२.२८.१४

उत्पेतुः पवनोद्धूता गगने रेणुराजयः ।
दूत्यो घनागमायेव प्रहितास्तप्तया भुवा ॥

Summary AI Dust clouds stirred by the wind rose into the sky like messengers sent by the scorched earth to announce the approach of the rainy season.

१२.२८.१५

आकाङ्क्षिततरुच्छायाः कठोरातपतापिताः ।
पथिका इव यान्ति स्म चिरेण दिवसा अपि ॥

Summary AI Scorched by the harsh heat and longing for the shade of trees, the days themselves seemed to pass as slowly as weary travelers.

१२.२८.१६

चन्द्रांशुपाण्डुरुचयो गाढाश्लेषसुखप्रदम् ।
विना हेमन्तमगमन्नतिदुर्बलतां निशाः ॥

Summary AI The nights, pale with moonlight and deprived of the joy of winter's tight embraces, became exceedingly short and frail.

१२.२८.१७

तत्कालं चन्दनालेपधवला सा वणिक्सुता ।
संवीततनुकौशेयशोभितानङ्गमञ्जरी ॥

Summary AI At that time, the merchant's daughter Anaṅgamañjarī, cooled by sandalwood paste and shining in fine silk, remained in her residence.

१२.२८.१८

ददर्श स्वगृहोत्तुङ्गवातायनगतैकदा ।
आप्तसख्या युता भव्यं युवानं विप्रपुत्रकम् ॥

Summary AI One day, while standing at a high window of her house with a trusted friend, she beheld a handsome young Brahmin youth.

१२.२८.१९

संचरन्तं रतिप्राप्त्यै नवोत्पन्नमिव स्मरम् ।
कमलाकरनामानं पुत्रं राजपुरोधसः ॥

Summary AI She saw Kamalakāra, the son of the royal priest, who wandered about like a newly incarnated God of Love seeking his Rati.

१२.२८.२०

सो ऽपीन्दोरिव मूर्तिं तां कान्तां दृष्ट्वोपरि स्थिताम् ।
कुमुदाकरतां भेजे सानन्दः कमलाकरः ॥

Summary AI Upon seeing that lovely woman above like the moon's orb, Kamalakāra was filled with joy and blossomed like a bed of night-lilies.

१२.२८.२१

तयोरभूदमूल्यं तन्मनःसंवननं तदा ।
स्मरगुर्वाज्ञया यूनोरन्योन्यस्यावलोकनम् ॥

Summary AI Then, by the command of the great teacher Smara, the mutual gazing of those two youths became an invaluable means of captivating each other's minds.

१२.२८.२२

उन्मूलितह्रियौ तौ च दूरविक्षिप्तचेतसा ।
रजोभिभूतौ जह्राते मन्मथावेगवात्यया ॥

Summary AI Deprived of their shame and their minds cast far away, the two were overcome by passion and were swept away by the whirlwind of the force of Manmatha.

१२.२८.२३

दृष्ट्वा च मदनाविष्टः सख्या स कमलाकरः ।
सहस्थितेन नीतो ऽभूत्कथंचिद्भवनं निजम् ॥

Summary AI Overwhelmed by love after seeing her, Kamalākara was somehow led back to his own house by a friend who was standing with him.

१२.२८.२४

सापि तं नामतो ऽन्विष्य विवशानङ्गमञ्जरी ।
तया स्वया समं सख्या प्राविशद्वासकं शनैः ॥

Summary AI The helpless Anaṅgamañjarī, having inquired about his name, slowly entered her living quarters along with that same friend of hers.

१२.२८.२५

तत्र संचिन्तयन्ती च कान्तं कामज्वरातुरा ।
नापश्यन्नाशृणोत्किंचिल्लुठन्ती शयनीयके ॥

Summary AI There, afflicted by the fever of love and contemplating her beloved, she rolled about on her bed, neither seeing nor hearing anything.

१२.२८.२६

गतेष्वहःसु द्वित्रेषु सत्रपा सभया च सा ।
असहा विरहोन्मादं विसोढुं कृशपाण्डुरा ॥

Summary AI As two or three days passed, she, filled with shame and fear, became emaciated and pale, unable to endure the madness of separation.

१२.२८.२७

दुष्प्रापप्रियसंयोगनिरास्था नक्तमेकदा ।
गवाक्षप्रेरितकरेणाकृष्टेव हिमांशुना ॥

Summary AI One night, despairing of union with her hard-to-reach beloved, she went out as if drawn by the moon, who reached out his rays through the window-lattice like hands.

१२.२८.२८

सुप्ते परिजने स्वैरं निर्गत्य मरणोन्मुखी ।
जगाम स्वगृहोद्यानवापीं तरुलतावृताम् ॥

Summary AI While the attendants were asleep, she, intent on death, went out secretly and reached the step-well in her own garden, which was surrounded by trees and creepers.

१२.२८.२९

तत्र पित्रा कृतोदारप्रतिष्ठां कुलदेवताम् ।
उपेत्य चण्डिकां देवीं नत्वा स्तुत्वा व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI Approaching the family deity, Goddess Caṇḍikā, who had been grandly installed there by her father, she bowed, praised her, and made this request.

१२.२८.३०

अस्मिञ्जन्मनि चेद्भर्ता न मया कमलाकरः ।
प्राप्तस्तद्देवि भूयान्मे सो ऽन्यस्मिन्नपि जन्मनि ॥

Summary AI "O Goddess, if Kamalākara is not obtained as my husband in this life, then may he be mine in the next life as well."

१२.२८.३१

इत्युक्त्वा पुरतस्तस्या देव्याः साशोकपादपे ।
पाशं विरचयामास स्वोत्तरीयेण रागिणी ॥

Summary AI Having said this, the impassioned woman fashioned a noose from her upper garment on an Aśoka tree in front of that goddess.

१२.२८.३२

तावदाप्ता सखी तस्याः सा प्रबुध्यात्र वासके ।
तामदृष्ट्वा तदुद्यानं दैवादागाद्विचिन्वती ॥

Summary AI Just then, her trusted friend, having woken up in the dwelling and not seeing her, came to that garden by chance while searching for her.

१२.२८.३३

तत्र दृष्ट्वा च तां पाशमर्पयन्तीं तथा गले ।
मा मेत्युक्त्वा प्रधाव्यैव पाशं तस्यास्तमच्छिनत् ॥

Summary AI Seeing her putting the noose around her neck in that manner, the friend cried out "Don't, don't!", ran forward, and cut that noose of hers.

१२.२८.३४

सापि तां वीक्ष्य संप्राप्तां कृत्तपाशां निजां सखीम् ।
अनङ्गमञ्जरी भूमौ पपाताधिकदुःखिता ॥

Summary AI Seeing her own friend arrive and cut the noose, Anaṅgamañjarī, overwhelmed with even greater grief, fell to the ground.

१२.२८.३५

आश्वासिता स्वसख्या च तया पृष्टा च सा क्षणात् ।
दुःखहेतुं समाख्याय पुन एनामभाषत ॥

Summary AI Consoled and questioned by her friend, she explained the cause of her grief in a moment and spoke to her again.

१२.२८.३६

सखि मालतिके तन्मे दुर्लभे प्रियसंगमे ।
गुर्वादिपरतन्त्राया न सुखं मरणात्परम् ॥

Summary AI "O friend Mālatikā, since union with my beloved is difficult for me, who am dependent on elders and others, there is no happiness other than death."

१२.२८.३७

इति ब्रुवाणैवानङ्गशराग्निज्वलिता भृशम् ।
सानङ्गमञ्जरी मोहं ययौ नैराश्यनिःसहा ॥

Summary AI Even as she spoke thus, Anaṅgamañjarī, greatly inflamed by the fire of Anaṅga's arrows and unable to bear the despair, fell into a deep faint.

१२.२८.३८

कष्टं स्मराज्ञा दुर्लङ्घ्या यया नीता दशामिमाम् ।
अन्याविनीतवनिताहासिनीयं सखी मम ॥

Summary AI Alas! The command of Smara is difficult to transgress, by which this friend of mine, who used to laugh at other immodest women, has been brought to this state.

१२.२८.३९

इत्यादिविलपन्ती च तां सा मालतिका सखी ।
शनैराश्वासयामास शीताम्बुपवनादिभिः ॥

Summary AI Lamenting in this way and so on, her friend Mālatikā slowly revived her using cold water, fanning, and other remedies.

१२.२८.४०

तापोपशान्तये चास्याश्चकार नलिनीदलैः ।
शय्यां ददौ च हृदये हारं तुहिनशीतलम् ॥

Summary AI To alleviate her heat, the friend prepared a bed of lotus leaves and placed a necklace as cold as ice upon her heart.

१२.२८.४१

ततः साश्रुरुवाचैतां सखीं सानङ्गमञ्जरी ।
सखि हारादिभिर्नायं दाहो ऽन्तो मम शाम्यति ॥

Summary AI Then Anaṅgamañjarī, with tears in her eyes, said to her friend, "O friend, this internal burning of mine is not pacified by necklaces or other coolants."

१२.२८.४२

येन प्रशाम्यति पुनः स्वबुद्ध्यैव विधत्स्व तत् ।
मां संयोजय कान्तेन जीवितं मे यदीच्छसि ॥

Summary AI "Do whatever your wisdom dictates to pacify this fever. If you desire my life, then unite me with my beloved."

१२.२८.४३

एवमुक्तवतीं तां सा स्नेहान्मालतिकाब्रवीत् ।
सखि भूयिष्टयाताद्य रात्रिः प्रातरहं पुनः ॥

Summary AI To her who had spoken thus, Mālatikā affectionately replied, "Friend, the night is mostly gone. Tomorrow morning..."

१२.२८.४४

इहैव कृतसंकेतमानेष्यामि प्रियं तव ।
तदालम्ब्य धृतिं तावन्निजं प्रविश मन्दिरम् ॥

Summary AI "...I will bring your beloved here after making an appointment. Therefore, take courage and enter your own house for now."

१२.२८.४५

इत्युक्तवत्यै संतुष्य तस्यै सानङ्गमञ्जरी ।
हारं स्वकण्ठादाकृष्य प्रददौ पारितोषिकम् ॥

Summary AI Pleased with her for saying this, Anaṅgamañjarī pulled a necklace from her own neck and gave it to her as a reward.

१२.२८.४६

गच्छाधुनैव स्वगृहं प्रातः सिद्ध्यै ततो व्रज ।
इति चैतां सखीं प्रेष्य सा विवेश स्ववासकम् ॥

Summary AI "Go home right now, and then set out in the morning for success." Having thus dismissed her friend, she entered her own dwelling.

१२.२८.४७

प्रातश्च सा मालतिका केनाप्यनुपलक्षिता ।
तत्सखी तस्य कमलाकरस्य भवनं ययौ ॥

Summary AI In the morning, that friend Mālatikā, unobserved by anyone, went to the house of Kamalākara.

१२.२८.४८

चिन्वती तत्र चोद्याने तरुमूले ददर्श तम् ।
चन्दनार्द्राम्बुरुहिणीपत्त्रशय्याविवर्तिनम् ॥

Summary AI Searching there in the garden, she saw him at the foot of a tree, tossing on a bed of lotus leaves moistened with sandalwood paste.

१२.२८.४९

रहस्यधारिणैकेन कदलीदलमारुतैः ।
आश्वास्यमानं सुहृदा दह्यमानं स्मराग्निना ॥

Summary AI He was being fanned with winds from plantain leaves by a single confidant who held his secret, while he was being consumed by the fire of love.

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