कथासरित्सागरः — चतुस्त्रिंशस्तरङ्गः

चतुस्त्रिंशस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः सो ऽत्र सरस्तीरे कृतपारणसुस्थितः ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तस्तैः साकं सचिवैः स्वैरुपाविशत् ॥

Summary AI Then, after having comfortably completed his fast-breaking meal on the bank of the lake, Mṛgāṅkadatta sat down along with his ministers.

१२.३४.२

ततस्ते तदहः प्राप्ताश्चत्वारो निजमन्त्रिणः ।
तेनापृच्छ्यन्त विश्लेषकालवृत्तान्तमादरात् ॥

Summary AI Then, those four ministers who had arrived that day were respectfully questioned by him about the events that transpired during the time of their separation.

१२.३४.३

अथ स व्याघ्रसेनाख्यस्तेषां मध्यात्तमब्रवीत् ।
देवास्मदीयवृत्तान्तं श्रूयतां वर्णयाम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI Then, from among them, the one named Vyāghrasena said to him, "O King, let our story be heard; I shall describe it."

१२.३४.४

यदा पारावताख्यस्य तस्य नागस्य शापतः ।
भवद्भ्यो दूरविभ्रष्टो जातो ऽहं नष्टचेतनः ॥

Summary AI "When, due to the curse of that Nāga named Pārāvata, I was separated far from you and lost consciousness..."

१२.३४.५

तदा भ्रान्त्वाटवीं रात्रौ लब्धसंज्ञो ऽप्यहं चिरात् ।
न दिशो न च पन्थानमपश्यं तमसा वृतः ॥

Summary AI "...then, having wandered through the forest at night, although I eventually regained consciousness, I could see neither the directions nor the path, enveloped as I was by darkness."

१२.३४.६

कृच्छ्राच्च दुःखदीर्घायां गतायां विरतिं निशि ।
उदिते भगवत्यर्के क्रमादाशाप्रकाशके ॥

Summary AI "When that night, long with sorrow, finally came to an end with great difficulty, and the divine sun had risen, gradually illuminating the quarters..."

१२.३४.७

अचिन्तयमहं हा धिक्क्व नु यातः स नः प्रभुः ।
अस्मद्वियुक्तश्चैकाकी कथं सो ऽत्र भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI "...I thought: 'Alas! Where has our master gone? Separated from us and alone, how will he fare here?'"

१२.३४.८

कथं वा तमवाप्स्यामि कुत्रान्विष्यामि का गतिः ।
वरमुज्जयिनीं यामि तत्र प्राप्येत जातु सः ॥

Summary AI "'How shall I find him? Where shall I search? What is my recourse? It is better that I go to Ujjayinī; perhaps he may be found there.'"

१२.३४.९

सा शशाङ्कवतीहेतोर्गन्तव्या तस्य हि स्थिता ।
इत्याशया शनैः प्रायामहमुज्जयिनीं प्रति ॥

Summary AI "'For he is destined to go there for the sake of Śaśāṅkavatī.' With this hope, I slowly set out toward Ujjayinī."

१२.३४.१०

गाहमानो ऽथ कष्टां तामटवीं दुर्दशामिव ।
दह्यमानो ऽर्ककिरणैरग्निचूर्णोत्करैरिव ॥

Summary AI "Then, being scorched by the sun's rays as if by showers of fire-dust, I plunged into that arduous forest, which was like a state of misery itself."

१२.३४.११

कथंचित्प्राप्तवानस्मि सरः फुल्लोत्पलेक्षणम् ।
हंसादिमधुरारावैः संभाषणमिवाचरत् ॥

Summary AI "Somehow, I reached a lake that had blossoming lotuses for eyes and seemed to be conversing through the sweet calls of swans and other birds."

१२.३४.१२

प्रयुक्तवीचिहस्ताग्रं प्रसन्नविपुलाशयम् ।
दर्शनादेव सर्वार्तिहरं सत्पुरुषं यथा ॥

Summary AI "Extending the tips of its hands in the form of waves, with a clear and vast expanse, it removed all distress just by the sight of it, like a virtuous man."

१२.३४.१३

तत्र स्नात्वा च भुक्त्वा च बिसान्यापीय वारि च ।
यावत्स्थितो ऽस्मि तावत्त्रीनेतानद्राक्षमागतान् ॥

Summary AI "After bathing there, eating lotus stalks, and drinking water, while I remained, I saw these three friends arriving."

१२.३४.१४

दृढमुष्टिमथ स्थूलबाहुं मेघबलं तथा ।
समेत्य च भवद्वार्ता मिथो ऽस्माभिरपृच्छ्यत ॥

Summary AI "Having met Dṛḍhamuṣṭi, Sthūlabāhu, and Meghabala, we inquired of each other about news concerning you."

१२.३४.१५

अजानन्तश्च सर्वे ऽपि वयं ते पापशङ्किनः ।
अकार्ष्म देहत्यागाय मतिं त्वद्विरहासहाः ॥

Summary AI "Knowing nothing and fearing the worst for you, all of us, unable to endure separation from you, resolved to give up our lives."

१२.३४.१६

तावच्च तस्मिन्सरसि स्नातुं मुनिकुमारकः ।
आगमद्दीर्घतपसः सुतो नाम्ना महातपाः ॥

Summary AI "Just then, a young ascetic named Mahātapas, the son of Dīrghatapas, came to that lake to bathe."

१२.३४.१७

जटीकृतनिजज्वालो भूयो ऽग्निरिव खाण्डवम् ।
दिधक्षुराश्रितो ब्राह्मीं प्रज्वलंस्तेजसा तनुम् ॥

Summary AI "He appeared like the god Agni, having matted his flames into locks, desiring once more to burn the Khāṇḍava forest, blazing with splendor as he occupied a Brāhmaṇa body."

१२.३४.१८

कृष्णाजिनेन संवीतः सव्येनात्तकमण्डलुः ।
दक्षिणेन करेणाक्षमालावलयमुद्वहन् ॥

Summary AI "He was wrapped in a black antelope skin, carrying a water-pot in his left hand and holding a rosary of beads in his right hand."

१२.३४.१९

सहागतमृगैः शृङ्गप्रोत्खातस्नानमृत्तिकः ।
युक्तः कतिपयैरन्यैः समानैर्मुनिपुत्रकैः ॥

Summary AI "He was accompanied by deer that had dug up the bathing-clay with their horns, and was attended by several other young ascetics like himself."

१२.३४.२०

सो ऽस्मानुपागाद्दृष्ट्वैव सरः प्रपतनोद्यतान् ।
करुणार्द्रा हि सर्वस्य सन्तो ऽकारणबान्धवाः ॥

Summary AI "Seeing us about to throw ourselves into the lake, he approached us; for the virtuous, tender with compassion, are the friends of everyone without any selfish motive."

१२.३४.२१

अवदच्च न कार्यं वः पापं कापुरुषोचितम् ।
दुःखान्धा हि पतन्त्येव विपच्छ्वभ्रेषु कातराः ॥

Summary AI He said, "You should not perform a sinful act suited for cowards. For those who are fearful and blinded by grief surely fall into the pits of calamity."

१२.३४.२२

धीरास्तु दृष्टसन्मार्गा विवेकामलचक्षुषः ।
न पतन्त्यवटे प्राप्यमवश्यं प्राप्नुवन्ति च ॥

Summary AI But the steadfast, who perceive the right path and possess the pure eyes of discernment, do not fall into the abyss; they inevitably attain what is to be attained.

१२.३४.२३

यूयं च भव्याकृतयः कल्याणं प्राप्स्यथ ध्रुवम् ।
तद्ब्रूत किं नु दुःखं वो मानसं दूयते हि मे ॥

Summary AI "You possess auspicious appearances and will surely find welfare. Tell me, what is your sorrow? For my heart is truly distressed for you."

१२.३४.२४

एवमुक्तवते तस्मै मुनिपुत्राय तत्क्षणम् ।
आमूलान्निजवृत्तान्तं सर्वं कथितवानहम् ॥

Summary AI To the son of the sage who had spoken thus, I immediately related my entire story from the very beginning.

१२.३४.२५

ततस्तेन वयं तैस्तैर्वाक्यैरायतिदर्शिभिः ।
संबोध्य सानुगेनापि देहत्यागान्निवर्तिता ॥

Summary AI Then, consoled by him and his followers with various words that pointed toward future prosperity, we were dissuaded from the act of taking our own lives.

१२.३४.२६

अथ स्नात्वा ततो नातिदूरं स मुनिपुत्रकः ।
अस्माननैषीदातिथ्यं विधित्सुः पितुराश्रमम् ॥

Summary AI After bathing, that young sage, wishing to offer us hospitality, led us to his father's hermitage which was situated not very far away.

१२.३४.२७

तत्रोच्चशाखोर्ध्वभुजैर्वेदिकासूत्थितस्थितैः ।
प्रारब्धतपसीवार्करश्मिपैः पादपैरपि ॥

Summary AI There, the trees with their high branches raised like arms, standing upon the altars and absorbing the sun’s rays, seemed to be performing penance.

१२.३४.२८

उपवेश्यैकदेशे ऽस्मान्दत्तार्घ्यान्स मुनेः सुतः ।
एकैकमाश्रमतरुं गत्वा भिक्षामयाचत ॥

Summary AI Having seated us in a certain spot and offered us arghya, the son of the sage went to each tree of the hermitage and asked for alms.

१२.३४.२९

अपूर्यत क्षणात्तस्य फलैस्तेभ्यः स्वतश्च्युतैः ।
भिक्षापात्रमथागात्तद्गृहीत्वा सो ऽस्मदन्तिकम् ॥

Summary AI Instantly, his alms-bowl was filled with fruits that fell spontaneously from those trees; then, taking it, he approached us.

१२.३४.३०

अदाच्च दिव्यास्वादानि तान्यस्मभ्यं फलानि सः ।
यैर्भुक्तैरमृतेनेव तृप्ता जाता वयं तदा ॥

Summary AI He gave us those fruits of divine taste, by eating which we then felt satisfied, as if nourished by amṛta.

१२.३४.३१

क्षीणे ऽह्नि चाब्धौ पतिते सूर्ये ज्योतिर्भिरम्बरे ।
तत्पातोच्छलितैरम्भःशीकरैरिव पूरिते ॥

Summary AI When the day ended and the sun set in the ocean, the sky became filled with stars, resembling droplets of water splashed up by the sun's descent.

१२.३४.३२

तद्वैराग्यादिव प्राचीशैलशृङ्गतपोवनम् ।
संवीतचन्द्रिकाधौतवल्कले शशिनि श्रिते ॥

Summary AI As if out of detachment from the world, the moon, wearing the washed bark-garment of its own rays, sought refuge in the penance-forest of the eastern mountain peak.

१२.३४.३३

एकस्थानोपविष्टानां कृताशेषस्वकर्मणाम् ।
मुनीनामाश्रमे तत्र दर्शनाय गता वयम् ॥

Summary AI In that hermitage, we went to see the sages who had completed all their duties and were seated together in one place.

१२.३४.३४

प्रणिपत्योपविष्टाश्च कृतातिथ्यैः प्रियंवदैः ।
कुतो यूयमिति क्षिप्रात्पृष्टाः स्मस्तैर्महर्षिभिः ॥

Summary AI Having prostrated and sat down, we were quickly questioned by those sweet-spoken great sages who had extended hospitality, "From where have you come?"

१२.३४.३५

ततो मुनिकुमारेण तेन तेभ्यो निवेदितः ।
तदाश्रमप्रवेशान्तो वृत्तान्तो ऽस्मन्निबन्धनः ॥

Summary AI Then that young sage informed them of our history, concluding with our arrival at the hermitage.

१२.३४.३६

अथास्मानत्र कण्वाख्यो ज्ञानी मुनिरभाषत ।
किमेवं वीरपुरुषा अपि क्लैब्यं गताः स्थ भोः ॥

Summary AI Then a wise sage there named Kaṇva spoke to us, "O, why have even brave men like you fallen into such despondency?"

१२.३४.३७

आपद्यभग्नधैर्यत्वं संपद्यनभिमानिता ।
यदुत्साहस्य चात्यागस्तद्धि सत्पुरुषव्रतम् ॥

Summary AI "Unshaken courage in calamity, absence of pride in prosperity, and never abandoning one's resolve—this indeed is the vow of a virtuous man."

१२.३४.३८

महान्तश्च महान्त्येव कृच्छ्राण्युत्तीर्य धैर्यतः ।
महतो ऽर्थान्समासाद्य महच्छब्दमवाप्नुवन् ॥

Summary AI "Great souls, having crossed through great hardships with fortitude and achieved great goals, attain the title of being 'Great'."

१२.३४.३९

इयं सुन्दरसेनस्य तथा च श्रूयतां कथा ।
यथा मन्दारवत्यर्थे क्लेशस्तेनान्वभूयत ॥

Summary AI "Listen to this story of Sundarasena, and how he endured suffering for the sake of Mandāravatī."

१२.३४.४०

इत्युक्त्वा स मुनिः कण्वः सर्वेष्वत्र महर्षिषु ।
अस्मासु चोपशृण्वत्सु कथामेतामवर्णयत् ॥

Summary AI Having said this, the sage Kaṇva narrated this story while all the great sages and we ourselves listened.

१२.३४.४१

अस्त्यलंकृतकौबेरीदिङ्मुखो निषधाभिधः ।
देशस्तत्रालका नाम बभूव नगरीं पुरा ॥

Summary AI There exists a land named Niṣadha that adorns the northern direction. In that land, there once was a city named Alakā.

१२.३४.४२

यस्यां सदैव सर्वार्थसमृद्धिसुखितो जनः ।
केवलं रत्नदीपानामासीच्छश्वदनिर्वृतिः ॥

Summary AI In that city, people were always happy, enriched by every kind of prosperity. Only the gem-lamps experienced constant "un-extinguishing" (a play on words meaning they lacked rest/peace).

१२.३४.४३

तस्यामन्वर्थनामाभून्महासेनो महीपतिः ।
शरजन्माद्भुताप्युग्रग्रतापप्लुष्टशात्रवः ॥

Summary AI There ruled a king named Mahāsena, whose name was truly meaningful; though wondrous like the reed-born Skanda, he scorched his enemies with his fierce prowess.

१२.३४.४४

तस्य राज्ञो महामन्त्री गुणपालित इत्यभूत् ।
शौर्यालयो महीभारवोढा शेष इवापरः ॥

Summary AI That king had a great minister named Guṇapālita, an abode of valor who carried the burden of the earth like a second Śeṣa.

१२.३४.४५

तस्मिन्न्यस्तभरस्यास्य सुखिनः क्षपितद्विषः ।
देव्यां शशिप्रभाख्यायामुत्पेदे नृपतेः सुतः ॥

Summary AI To this happy king, who had entrusted the burden of the state to his minister and destroyed his enemies, a son was born to Queen Śaśiprabhā.

१२.३४.४६

नाम्ना सुन्दरसेनो यः शिशुरेवाशिशुर्गुणैः ।
शौर्यसौन्दर्यलक्ष्मीभ्यां स्वयंवरपतिर्वृतः ॥

Summary AI Named Sundarasena, he was a child in years but not in virtues. He was chosen as a groom in a svayaṃvara by the goddesses of Valor, Beauty, and Fortune.

१२.३४.४७

तस्य राजसुतस्यात्र शूरास्तुल्यवयोगुणाः ।
आ बाल्यात्सह संवृद्धा बभूवुः पञ्च मस्न्त्रिणः ॥

Summary AI That prince had five brave ministers of similar age and virtues, who had grown up with him since childhood.

१२.३४.४८

चण्डप्रभो भीमभुजस्तथा व्याघ्रपराक्रमः ।
वीरो विक्रमशक्तिश्च दृढबुद्धिश्च पञ्चमः ॥

Summary AI Their names were Caṇḍaprabha, Bhīmabhuja, Vyāghraparākrama, the heroic Vikramaśakti, and the fifth was Dṛḍhabuddhi.

१२.३४.४९

ते च सर्वे महासत्त्वा बलबुद्धिसमन्विताः ।
कुलीनाः स्वामिभक्ताश्च रुतज्ञा अपि पक्षिणाम् ॥

Summary AI All of them were high-spirited, endowed with strength and wisdom, well-born, devoted to their master, and even understood the cries of birds.

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