कथासरित्सागरः — त्रिंशस्तरङ्गः

त्रिंशस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो गत्वा पुनः प्राप शिंशपापादपात्ततः ।
स त्रिविक्रमसेनस्तं वेतालं राजसत्तमः ॥

Summary AI Then, the noble King Trivikramasena went back and retrieved the Vetāla from that śiṃśapā tree.

स्कन्धे कृत्वा च तं मौनी दर्शितानेकवैकृतम् ।
यावत्प्रतिष्ठते तावत्स वेतालस्तमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Placing the Vetāla—who displayed many supernatural transformations—on his shoulder, the King silently set out, at which point the Vetāla spoke to him.

१२.३०.३

राजन्नकार्ये ऽप्येतस्मिन्दुर्वारो ऽयं ग्रहस्तव ।
तत्ते श्रमविनोदाय कथयामि कथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI "O King, your persistence in this unworthy task is irrepressible. Therefore, to relieve your exhaustion, I shall narrate a story; listen."

१२.३०.४

आसीत्कलिङ्गविषये नाम्ना शोभावती पुरी ।
दिवीव शक्रनगरी वसतिः शुभकर्मणाम् ॥

Summary AI In the land of Kaliṅga, there was a city named Śobhāvatī, which was the abode of virtuous people, resembling Indra's city in heaven.

१२.३०.५

यां प्रद्युम्न इवैश्वर्यवीर्यातिशयविश्रुतः ।
प्रद्युम्ननामा नृपतिः शशासोर्जितशासनः ॥

Summary AI A king named Pradyumna, renowned for his extraordinary majesty and prowess like the deity Pradyumna himself, ruled that city with firm authority.

१२.३०.६

गुणापकर्षश्चापेषु मुरजेषु कराहतिः ।
युगेष्वश्रूयत कलिर्यस्यां प्रज्ञासु तीक्ष्णता ॥

Summary AI In that city, the lowering of qualities was seen only in bowstrings, striking only on drums, Kali only as an age, and sharpness only in intellect.

१२.३०.७

एकदेशे पुरस्तस्या नृपेण प्रतिपादितः ।
यज्ञस्थलाभिधानो ऽभूदग्रहारो बहुद्विजः ॥

Summary AI In one part of that city, there was a Brahman settlement called Yajñasthala, established by the King and inhabited by many twice-born priests.

१२.३०.८

तत्रासीद्यज्ञसोमाख्यो ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः ।
महाधनो ऽग्निहोत्री च पूजितातिथिदेवतः ॥

Summary AI There lived a Brāhmaṇa named Yajñasoma, a scholar of the Vedas, very wealthy, a keeper of the sacred fire, who honored guests and deities.

१२.३०.९

तस्य व्यतीते तारुण्ये मनोरथशतैः सुतः ।
भार्यायामनुरूपायामेक एवोदपद्यत ॥

Summary AI After his youth had passed, through hundreds of prayers, a single son was born to him by his devoted and suitable wife.

१२.३०.१०

ववृधे च पितुः सो ऽस्य गृहे बालः सुलक्षणः ।
कृताभिधानो विधिवद्देवसोम इति द्विजैः ॥

Summary AI That auspicious boy grew up in his father's house and was formally named Devasoma by the Brāhmaṇas according to the sacred rites.

१२.३०.११

प्राप्तषोडशवर्षश्च स विद्याविनयादिभिः ।
आवर्जितजनो ऽकस्माज्ज्वरेण प्राप पञ्चताम् ॥

Summary AI Having reached the age of sixteen and won over everyone with his knowledge and humility, the youth suddenly died from a fever.

१२.३०.१२

ततः परासुं स्नेहात्तमाश्लिष्य सह भार्यया ।
यज्ञसेनः पिता शोचन्न दाहाय जहौ चिरम् ॥

Summary AI Then his father, Yajñasena, along with his wife, embraced the lifeless body out of affection and, grieving, refused to let it be cremated for a long time.

१२.३०.१३

ब्रह्मन्संसारगन्धर्वनगरस्य न वेत्सि किम् ।
परावरज्ञो ऽपि गतिं वारिबुद्बुदभङ्गुराम् ॥

Summary AI "O Brāhmaṇa, though you know the higher and lower truths, do you not understand the nature of this world, which is like a phantom city and as fragile as a water bubble?"

१२.३०.१४

ये सैन्यैः पूरितधरा हर्म्यपृष्ठेषु हारिषु ।
लसत्संगीतनादेषु रत्नपर्यङ्कवर्तिनः ॥

Summary AI "Those kings who once covered the earth with their armies and reclined on gem-studded couches in beautiful palaces filled with the sounds of music..."

१२.३०.१५

श्रीखण्डद्रवलिप्ताङ्गा वरस्त्रीपरिवारिताः ।
व्यलसन्नमरंमन्या भूलोके ऽस्मिन्नराधिपाः ॥

Summary AI "...whose bodies were anointed with sandalwood paste, surrounded by excellent women, and who considered themselves immortal while sporting on this earth..."

१२.३०.१६

ते ऽप्येककाः श्मशानेषु रुदत्प्रेतानुयायिषु ।
चिताधिशयिनो यत्र जग्धाः क्रव्यात्कृशानुभिः ॥

Summary AI "...even they ended up alone in cemeteries followed by weeping mourners, where they lay on funeral pyres and were consumed by the flesh-eating fires."

१२.३०.१७

शिवाभिर्वलितोपान्ताः कालेन कवलीकृताः ।
न रोद्धुं शकिताः कैश्चित्तत्रान्येषां कथैव का ॥

Summary AI "Surrounded by jackals and swallowed by Time, they could not be stopped by anyone; in such a case, what can be said of ordinary mortals?"

१२.३०.१८

तदेतं प्रेतमाश्लिष्य विद्वन्वद करोषि किम् ।
इत्याद्यबोधयन्वृद्धा मिलितास्तं द्विजं ततः ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, O learned man, what do you hope to achieve by embracing this corpse?" Thus the gathered elders advised the Brāhmaṇa.

१२.३०.१९

ततस्तेन कथंचित्तं मुक्तमारोप्य तत्सुतम् ।
शिबिकायां गतप्राणं कृतप्रेतप्रसाधनम् ॥

Summary AI Having finally persuaded him to release the body, they placed his deceased son—now adorned for the funeral rites—upon a palanquin.

१२.३०.२०

बान्धवा वैशसोदश्रुमिलद्बन्धुजनान्विताः ।
श्मशानं प्रापयामासुः कोलाहलसमाकुलाः ॥

Summary AI His kinsmen, joined by other relatives weeping at the tragedy, carried the body to the cemetery amidst a great tumult of grief.

१२.३०.२१

अत्रान्तरे च तत्रासीच्छ्मशाने कोऽपि तापसः ।
वृद्धः पाशुपतो योगी मठिकायां कृतस्थितिः ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, in that cemetery, there lived an aged ascetic, a Pāśupata yogi, who had established his residence in a small hut.

१२.३०.२२

वयसा तपसा चातिभूयसा सुकृशां तनुम् ।
बिभ्राणो भङ्गभीत्येव सिराभिः परिवेष्टितम् ॥

Summary AI He bore a body greatly emaciated by age and excessive penance, appearing as if bound by veins for fear of falling apart.

१२.३०.२३

नाम्ना वामशिवो भस्मपाण्डुरोमावृताकृतिः ।
विद्युत्पिङ्गजटाजूटो महेश्वर इवापरः ॥

Summary AI Named Vāmaśiva, his form was covered with hair pale from ashes, and he possessed tawny matted locks like lightning, appearing like another Maheśvara.

१२.३०.२४

स तापसो ऽत्र तत्कालं दत्तोपालम्भखेदितम् ।
मूर्खं शठं ध्यानयोगाद्यवलिप्तमहंकृतम् ॥

Summary AI At that time, the ascetic observed his resident disciple—a foolish, deceitful, and arrogant man who was vexed by a recent rebuke.

१२.३०.२५

भिक्षाफलव्रतधरं शिष्यमन्तिकवासिनम् ।
जगाद दूराच्छ्रुत्वा तं जनकोलाहलं बहिः ॥

Summary AI Hearing the distant clamor of a crowd outside, the ascetic spoke to his nearby disciple, who was dedicated to the vow of subsisting on alms.

१२.३०.२६

उत्तिष्ठ गत्वात्र बहिर्विज्ञायागच्छ सत्वरम् ।
कुतो ऽत्राश्रुतपूर्वो ऽयं श्मशाने तुमुलारवः ॥

Summary AI "Arise, go outside quickly, and return after finding out the cause. From where does this unprecedented, tumultuous noise come in this cemetery?"

१२.३०.२७

इत्युक्ते गुरुणा तेन स शिष्यः प्रत्युवाच तम् ।
नाहं यामि स्वयं याहि भिक्षावेला ह्यपैति मे ॥

Summary AI When addressed thus by the teacher, the disciple replied, "I will not go; go yourself. Indeed, my time for begging alms is passing away."

१२.३०.२८

तच्छ्रुत्वोवाच स गुरुर्धिङ्मूर्खोदरतत्पर ।
अह्नो ऽर्धप्रहरे याते भिक्षावेलात्र का तव ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the teacher said, "Fie on you, you fool devoted only to your belly! When only half a watch of the day has passed, what alms-time is this of yours?"

१२.३०.२९

श्रुत्वैवैतत्स तं क्रुद्धः कुशिष्यः प्राह तापसम् ।
धिग्जराजीर्ण नाहं ते शिष्यो न त्वं गुरुर्मम ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing this, the wicked disciple became angry and said to the ascetic, "Fie on you, you withered old man! I am not your disciple, nor are you my teacher."

१२.३०.३०

अहमन्यत्र यास्यामि वह पात्रीमिमां स्वयम् ।
इत्युक्त्वोत्थाय स प्रायात्त्यक्त्वाग्रे दण्डकुण्डिकाम् ॥

Summary AI "I shall go elsewhere; carry this alms-bowl yourself." Saying this, he stood up, abandoned his staff and water-pot in front of him, and departed.

१२.३०.३१

विहसन्नथ निर्गत्य मठिकायाः स तापसः ।
तत्रागाद्यत्र दाहार्थमानीतः स द्विजार्भकः ॥

Summary AI Then the ascetic, laughing, came out of his hut and went to the spot where the young brāhmaṇa had been brought for cremation.

१२.३०.३२

दृष्ट्वा च तं जनतया शोच्यमानाग्र्ययौवनम् ।
योगी प्रवेष्टुं तद्देहं मतिं चक्रे जरार्दितः ॥

Summary AI Afflicted by old age, the yogi, seeing the youth whose prime was being mourned by the crowd, resolved to enter that body.

१२.३०.३३

गत्वा च द्रुतमेकान्ते मुक्तकण्ठं प्ररुद्य च ।
ननर्त स ततः क्षिप्रमङ्गहारैर्यथोचितैः ॥

Summary AI Quickly going to a secluded spot, he wept loudly and then immediately performed a ritual dance with appropriate limb movements.

१२.३०.३४

ततो विवेश योगात्तद्द्विजपुत्रकलेवरम् ।
क्षणात्स स्वतनुं त्यक्त्वा तपस्वी यौवनेच्छया ॥

Summary AI Then the ascetic, desiring youth, abandoned his own body and through yogic power instantly entered the corpse of the brāhmaṇa boy.

१२.३०.३५

तत्क्षणं रचितायां च चितायां सहसैव सः ।
लब्धजीवो द्विजयुवा प्रोत्तस्थौ कृतजृम्भिकः ॥

Summary AI At that moment, upon the funeral pyre that had been prepared, the young brāhmaṇa suddenly regained life, yawned, and stood up.

१२.३०.३६

तद्दृष्ट्वा बन्धुवर्गस्य दिष्ट्या जीवति जीवति ।
इत्युद्बभूव नादो ऽत्र निखिलस्य जनस्य च ॥

Summary AI Seeing that, a cry of "By good fortune, he lives, he lives!" arose from all the people and his assembled kinsmen.

१२.३०.३७

अथामोक्ष्यन्व्रतं सर्वान्मृषा योगेस्वरः स तान् ।
विप्रपुत्रशरीरान्तःप्रविष्टस्तापसो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Then the ascetic, a master of yoga who had entered the body of the brāhmaṇa's son, spoke to the gathered people as they were about to finish the rites.

१२.३०.३८

लोकान्तरगतस्याद्य महापाशुपतव्रतम् ।
ग्राह्यं साक्षान्ममाभाष्य दत्तं शर्वेण जीवितम् ॥

Summary AI "Today, when I had gone to the other world, Lord Śarva spoke to me in person, commanded me to take up the great Pāśupata vow, and restored my life."

१२.३०.३९

अधुनैव च धार्यं तद्गत्वैकान्ते व्रतं मया ।
जीवितं मे ऽन्यथा नास्ति तद्यूयं यात याम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI "I must now go to a secluded place and observe that vow; otherwise, my life will not persist. Therefore, you go, and I shall depart."

१२.३०.४०

इति सर्वान्स तत्रस्थान्संबोध्य दृढनिश्चयः ।
स्वगृहान्प्रेषयामास हर्षशोकाकुलान्व्रती ॥

Summary AI Having addressed all those present in this manner, the firm-willed ascetic sent them back to their homes, though they were overwhelmed by a mixture of joy and sorrow.

१२.३०.४१

स्वयं च गत्वा श्वभ्रे तत्क्षिप्त्वा पूर्वकलेवरम् ।
आत्तव्रतो महायोगी युवीभूतो ऽन्यतो ययौ ॥

Summary AI The great yogi himself went and cast his previous body into a pit. Having observed his vows and now restored to youth, he departed for another place.

१२.३०.४२

इति व्याख्याय वेतालः कथां निशि तदा पथि ।
तं त्रिविक्रमसेनं स राजानं पुनरब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Having narrated the story on the path during the night, the Vetāla spoke once more to King Trivikramasena.

१२.३०.४३

राजन्ब्रूहि स योगीन्द्रः कस्मात्परपुरे वसन् ।
प्ररुरोद ननर्ताथ कौतुकं महदत्र मे ॥

Summary AI The Vetāla asked, "O King, tell me why that lord of yogis wept and then danced while entering another's body? I am greatly curious about this."

१२.३०.४४

इति वेतालतः श्रुत्वा शापशङ्की स भूपतिः ।
विमुच्य मौनमेवं तमवादीद्धीमतां वरः ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing this from the Vetāla, King Trivikramasena, the best among the wise, broke his silence out of fear of a curse and replied.

१२.३०.४५

शृणु तत्र बभूवास्य यो ऽभिप्रायस्तपस्विनः ।
सह वृद्धं चिरायेदं शरीरं सिद्धिसाधनम् ॥

Summary AI The King said, "Listen to the ascetic's intention. That aged body had long been his companion and means for attaining spiritual accomplishments (siddhi)."

१२.३०.४६

पितृभ्यां लालितं बाल्ये त्यजाम्यद्येति दुःखितः ।
स जरत्तापसो ऽरोदीद्देहस्नेहो हि दुस्त्यजः ॥

Summary AI The old ascetic wept because he was sorrowful at abandoning the body that his parents had cherished in his childhood; indeed, attachment to one's body is difficult to renounce.

१२.३०.४७

नवं देहं प्रवेक्ष्यामि साधयिष्याम्यतो ऽधिकम् ।
इति हर्षादनृत्यच्च कस्य नेष्टं हि यौवनम् ॥

Summary AI He danced with joy, thinking that by entering a new body, he would achieve even greater feats. After all, who does not desire the return of youth?

१२.३०.४८

एतत्तस्य वचो निशम्य नृपतेरंसत्स भूयो ऽप्यगा-
द्वेतालो मृतपूरुषान्तरगतस्तं शिंशपापादपम् ।
राजा सो ऽपि तमन्वधावदधिकोत्साहः पुनः प्रेप्सया
कल्पान्ते ऽप्यचलं कुलाद्रिविजयि स्थैर्यं हि धीरात्मनाम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing the king's answer, the Vetāla left his shoulder and returned to the śiṃśapā tree. The king pursued him with renewed vigor; for the resolve of the brave remains unshaken, surpassing even the great mountains at the end of time.

Other texts to read

कादम्बरीसंग्रहः कृष्णमाचार्यः

नीलकण्ठविजयचम्पूः नीलकण्ठदीक्षितः

About

Resources

Connect