कथासरित्सागरः — पञ्चत्रिंशस्तरङ्गः

पञ्चत्रिंशस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः प्राप्तः समुत्थाय तस्माद्वरसरस्तटात् ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तः सचिवैरशेषैर्मिलितैः सह ॥

Summary AI Then, Mṛgāṅkadatta, having arisen from the bank of that excellent lake, set out along with all his reunited ministers.

१२.३५.२

युक्तः श्रुतधिना तेन प्रायादुज्जयिनीं प्रति ।
स शशाङ्कवतीं प्रेप्सुर्नत्वा तं विघ्नजिद्द्रुमम् ॥

Summary AI Accompanied by Śrutadhi and desiring to reach Śaśāṅkavatī, he bowed to that obstacle-destroying tree and set out toward Ujjayinī.

१२.३५.३

ततस्तास्ता वनभुवो भूयो ऽनेकशतह्रदाः ।
तमालश्यामलाभोगा घनागमनिशा इव ॥

Summary AI Then there were various forest regions, filled with hundreds of pools and dark with tamāla trees, resembling nights at the onset of the rainy season.

१२.३५.४

अन्याश्च विचरद्भीममत्तेभाभग्नकीचकाः ।
विपरीतार्जुनाकारा विराटनगरीनिभाः ॥

Summary AI Other forest lands resembled the city of Virāṭa; they had bamboos broken by wandering, fierce, intoxicated elephants, and possessed an appearance where Arjuna trees were overturned.

१२.३५.५

गिरीन्द्रकंदराश्चैव शुद्धाः पुष्पवतीरपि ।
क्रूरसत्त्वाश्रिताः शान्तैर्मुनिभिः संश्रिता अपि ॥

Summary AI He passed through mountain caves inhabited by cruel creatures yet also frequented by peaceful sages, as well as pure lands blooming with flowers.

१२.३५.६

अतिक्रम्य क्रमाद्वीरः स सर्वसचिवान्वितः ।
प्रापदुज्जयिनीपुर्याः संनिकर्षं नृपात्मजः ॥

Summary AI Having gradually traversed those regions, that heroic prince, accompanied by all his ministers, reached the vicinity of the city of Ujjayinī.

१२.३५.७

ततो गन्धवतीं प्राप्य नदीं स्नानहृतक्लमः ।
तीर्त्वा च तां महाकालश्मशानं प्राप सानुगः ॥

Summary AI Then, reaching the river Gandhavatī and removing his fatigue through a bath, he crossed it and arrived at the Mahākāla cemetery with his followers.

१२.३५.८

ददर्श तच्च नानास्थिकपालशकलाकुलम् ।
धृतमानुषकङ्कालकरालं वीरसेवितम् ॥

Summary AI He beheld that cemetery, crowded with various bones and skull fragments, dreadful with human skeletons, and frequented by brave heroic practitioners.

१२.३५.९

बहुभूतगणाकीर्णमाक्रीडड्डाकिनीप्रियम् ।
महाभैरव मासन्नचिताधूममलीमसम् ॥

Summary AI It was filled with many hosts of ghosts, a favorite place for sporting ḍākinīs, greatly terrifying, and blackened by the smoke of nearby funeral pyres.

१२.३५.१०

तदतिक्रम्य चापश्यत्स तां युगपुरातनीम् ।
पुरीमुज्जयिनीं गुप्तां कर्मसेनेन भूभुजा ॥

Summary AI After passing that place, he saw the ancient city of Ujjayinī, which was protected by King Karmasena.

१२.३५.११

अधिष्ठितप्रतोलीकां रक्षिभिर्विविधायुधैः ।
प्रवीरकुलजानेकराजपुत्राभिरक्षितैः ॥

Summary AI He saw the city whose main streets were occupied by guards armed with various weapons and protected by many princes born of heroic lineages.

१२.३५.१२

गिरीन्द्रशिखराकारैः प्राकारैः परिवेष्टिताम् ।
दुष्प्रवेशामविज्ञातैर्हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुलाम् ॥

Summary AI It was surrounded by ramparts as high as mountain peaks, difficult for strangers to enter, and crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots.

१२.३५.१३

विलोक्य तादृशीं तां च सर्वतो ऽप्यतिदुर्गमाम् ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तो विमनाः सचिवान्स्वानुवाच सः ॥

Summary AI Seeing the city thus inaccessible from all sides, Mṛgāṅkadatta became dejected and spoke to his own ministers.

१२.३५.१४

कष्टं क्लेंशशतैरेवमभव्यस्यागतस्य मे ।
प्रवेश एव नास्तीह प्रियाप्राप्तौ तु का गतिः ॥

Summary AI "Alas! For me, an unfortunate man who has come here through hundreds of hardships, there is no entry at all; what hope then is there for attaining my beloved?"

१२.३५.१५

तच्छ्रुत्वा ते ऽप्यवोचंस्तं किमेषा प्रतिभाति ते ।
अस्माकमियतां देव बलसाध्या महापुरी ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, they said to him, "O King, does this great city seem to you to be conquerable by the mere strength of us few?"

१२.३५.१६

उपायो ऽत्र विचेतव्यः स चावश्यं भविष्यति ।
दैवतैर्बहुशो ह्येतदादिष्टं विस्मृतं कथम् ॥

Summary AI "A strategy must be devised here, and it will surely be found. This has been ordained many times by the gods; how have you forgotten it?"

१२.३५.१७

इत्युक्तः सचिवैस्तस्या नगर्या बहिरेव सः ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तो दिवसान्कांश्चित्तस्थौ परिभ्रमन् ॥

Summary AI Thus addressed by his ministers, Mṛgāṅkadatta remained wandering outside that city for some days.

१२.३५.१८

प्राक्सिद्धमथ वेतालं दध्यौ विक्रमकेसरी ।
तन्मन्त्री वासभवनात्तत्प्रियाकर्षणेच्छया ॥

Summary AI Then his minister Vikramakesarī, desiring to draw his beloved from her dwelling, meditated upon a vetāla whom he had previously mastered.

१२.३५.१९

सो ऽपि कृष्णच्छविः प्रांशुरुष्ट्रग्रीवो गजाननः ।
महिषाङ्घ्रिरुलूकाक्षो वेतालः खरकर्णकः ॥

Summary AI That vetāla had a dark complexion, was tall, had a camel's neck, an elephant's face, a buffalo's feet, owl's eyes, and donkey's ears.

१२.३५.२०

एत्य तत्र प्रवेष्टुं यन्न शशाक जगाम तत् ।
शंभोर्वरात्तां नगरीं नाक्रामन्ति तथाविधाः ॥

Summary AI Arriving there, he was unable to enter and thus departed; by the boon of Śambhu, such beings could not invade that city.

१२.३५.२१

अथामात्यैर्वृतं खिन्नं प्रवेशोन्मुखचेतसम् ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तं श्रुतधिर्नीतिज्ञः सो ऽब्रवीद्द्विजः ॥

Summary AI Then, the wise brāhmaṇa Śrutadhi spoke to Mṛgāṅkadatta, who was surrounded by his ministers and felt dejected, his mind set on entering the city.

१२.३५.२२

किं देव नीतितत्त्वज्ञो ऽप्यजानन्निव मुह्यसि ।
स्वपरान्तरमप्रेक्ष्य मतः कस्येह विक्रमः ॥

Summary AI O King, why do you falter like one ignorant despite knowing the principles of policy? Whose valor is considered wise here without first assessing the difference between one's own strength and that of the enemy?

१२.३५.२३

एकैकस्मिन्नगर्यां हि द्वारेष्वस्यां चतुर्ष्वपि ।
कुञ्जराणां सहस्रे द्वे वाजिनां पञ्चविंशतिः ॥

Summary AI In each of the four gates of this city, there are two thousand elephants and twenty-five thousand horses.

१२.३५.२४

रथानां दशलक्षं च पदातीनां दिवानिशम् ।
संनद्धमास्ते रक्षार्थं वीराधिष्ठानदुर्जयम् ॥

Summary AI Ten lakh chariots and infantry units remain ready day and night for protection, making the city invincible due to the presence of many heroes.

१२.३५.२५

तन्नः कतिपयानां यत्सहसात्र प्रवेशनम् ।
परं पतङ्गवृत्तिः सा नार्थसिद्धिस्तु काचन ॥

Summary AI Therefore, our sudden entry as a mere handful of men would be like the suicidal act of moths jumping into fire; it would achieve no purpose.

१२.३५.२६

सैन्येनापि च नाल्पेन युक्ता क्षेप्तुमियं पुरी ।
हस्तिपादातयुद्धं तद्विरोधो ऽधिबलेन यत् ॥

Summary AI This city cannot be attacked even with a small army; opposing a superior force is like a man on foot fighting an elephant.

१२.३५.२७

तन्मायाबटुना तेन पुलिन्दपृथिवीभृता ।
सुहृदा नर्मदाग्राहभयात्त्रातेन दारुणात् ॥

Summary AI Go with Māyābaṭu, the Pulinda king and friend, who was rescued from the terrible fear of a crocodile in the Narmadā river.

१२.३५.२८

तन्मित्त्रेण च मातङ्गराजेनातिबलीयसा ।
तेन दुर्गपिशाचेन तत्संबन्धानुरागिणा ॥

Summary AI And with his ally, the exceedingly powerful Mātaṅga king named Durgapiśāca, who is devoted because of that connection.

१२.३५.२९

किरातराजेन यथा बालसब्रह्मचारिणा ।
शक्तिरक्षितसंज्ञेन तेन विक्रमशालिना ॥

Summary AI As well as with that valorous Kirāta king named Śaktirakṣita, who was a childhood companion.

१२.३५.३०

समेत्य सबलैः सर्वैः सैन्यपूरितदिङ्मुखः ।
सम्यक्सहायसंपन्नः साधयैतत्समीहितम् ॥

Summary AI Having joined with all these forces, filling the quarters with your army and being well-equipped with allies, accomplish your desired goal.

१२.३५.३१

किरातराजश्च स ते दूतागमनसंविदम् ।
प्रतीक्षमाणः स्थित इत्येतत्ते विस्मृतं कथम् ॥

Summary AI That Kirāta king is waiting for news of a messenger’s arrival from you; how have you forgotten this?

१२.३५.३२

मायाबटुश्च मातङ्गराजादेशागतो ध्रुवम् ।
सज्जस्तेन सहैवास्ते संवित्तस्य कृता ह्यसौ ॥

Summary AI Māyābaṭu has certainly arrived by the command of the Mātaṅga king and remains ready with him, for an agreement was indeed made with him.

१२.३५.३३

तत्तस्य मातङ्गपतेर्विन्ध्यदक्षिणपार्श्वगम् ।
निवासकोट्टं गच्छामः करभग्रीवनामकम् ॥

Summary AI Therefore, let us go to that fortress-residence named Karabhagrīva, situated on the southern side of the Vindhya mountains, belonging to that Mātaṅga lord.

१२.३५.३४

तत्रैवाहूयते राजा कैरातः शक्तिरक्षितः ।
ततः संभूय सर्वैस्तैरुद्योगः सिद्धये शुभः ॥

Summary AI The Kirāta king Śaktirakṣita will be summoned there; then, uniting with all of them, a glorious effort toward success will begin.

१२.३५.३५

श्रुत्वैतच्छ्रुतधेर्वाक्यमर्थवत्प्राज्ञसंमतम् ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तः सामात्यस्तथेति श्रद्दधेतराम् ॥

Summary AI After hearing these meaningful words of Śrutadhi, which were approved by the wise, Mṛgāṅkadatta, along with his ministers, firmly agreed, saying, "So be it."

१२.३५.३६

अन्येद्युश्च नमस्कृत्य गुणिबन्धुं धृतोदयम् ।
प्रदर्शिताशं विश्वस्य नभोनित्याध्वगं रविम् ॥

Summary AI On the following day, after bowing to the Sun—the friend of the virtuous, the source of prosperity, who reveals all directions to the world and is the eternal traveler of the sky.

१२.३५.३७

उच्चचाल ततो विन्ध्यपार्श्वं तं दक्षिणं प्रति ।
तस्य दुर्गपिशाचस्य मातङ्गेन्द्रस्य केतनाम् ॥

Summary AI He then set out toward the southern side of the Vindhya range, to the abode of the Mātaṅga lord named Durgapiśāca.

१२.३५.३८

तन्मन्त्रिणश्च स व्याघ्रसेनो भीमपराक्रमः ।
गुणाकरो मेघबलः समं विमलबुद्धिना ॥

Summary AI His ministers, the mighty Vyāghrasena, Guṇākara, and Meghabala, along with Vimalabuddhi...

१२.३५.३९

स विचित्रकथः स्थूलबाहुर्विक्रमकेसरी ।
प्रचण्डशक्तिः श्रुतधिर्दृढमुष्टिस्तमन्वगुः ॥

Summary AI ...as well as Vicitrakatha, Sthūlabāhu, Vikramakesarī, Pracaṇḍaśakti, Śrutadhi, and Dṛḍhamuṣṭi, followed him.

१२.३५.४०

तैः समं सो ऽतिविस्तीर्णा निजच्चेष्टा इवाटवीः ।
गहनांश्च वनोद्देशान्स्वाभिप्रायानिव क्रमात् ॥

Summary AI Along with them, he traversed the vast forests, which were like his own extensive maneuvers, and the dense woodland regions, which resembled his own deep intentions.

१२.३५.४१

अतिक्रामन्सरस्तीरतरुमूलनिशाश्रयः ।
प्राप्यारुरोह विन्ध्याद्रिमात्मचित्तमिवोन्नतम् ॥

Summary AI After spending the night at the foot of trees on the banks of a lake, he reached and ascended the Vindhya mountain, which was as lofty as his own mind.

१२.३५.४२

तस्याग्राद्दक्षिणं पार्श्वमवरुह्य च दूरतः ।
दन्तिदत्ताजिनचिता भिल्लपल्लीर्विलोकयन् ॥

Summary AI Descending from the summit to the southern slope, he observed from a distance the Bhillu villages, which were filled with elephant tusks and hides.

१२.३५.४३

कुत्र स्यादास्पदं तस्य मातङ्गाधिपतेरिह ।
कुतो ज्ञास्याम इत्यन्तर्दध्यौ राजसुतो ऽत्र सः ॥

Summary AI The prince then reflected within himself: "Where could the dwelling of that Mātaṅga king be, and how shall we find it?"

१२.३५.४४

तावच्च संमुखायातमेकं मुनिकुमारकम् ।
स ददर्श सहामात्यैः पप्रच्छ च कृतानतिः ॥

Summary AI At that moment, accompanied by his ministers, he saw a young hermit approaching and, after bowing respectfully, questioned him.

१२.३५.४५

अपि जानासि कुत्रेह गृहं मातङ्गभूपतेः ।
सौम्य दुर्गपिशाचस्य द्रष्टव्यो वर्तते हि नः ॥

Summary AI "O gentle one, do you know where the home of the Mātaṅga king, Durgapiśāca, is? We must certainly see him."

१२.३५.४६

तच्छ्रुत्वा स जगादैवं साधुस्तापसपुत्रकः ।
इतः पञ्चवटीत्यस्ति प्रदेशः क्रोशमात्रके ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the virtuous son of the ascetic replied: "A mile from here lies the region known as Pañcavaṭī."

१२.३५.४७

नातिदूरे च तस्याभूदगस्त्यस्याश्रमो मुनेः ।
नाकतः पातितोत्सिक्तनहुषेन्द्रस्य हेलया ॥

Summary AI Not far from there was the hermitage of the sage Agastya, who had effortlessly cast down the arrogant King Nahuṣa from heaven.

१२.३५.४८

यत्र पित्राज्ञयोपात्तवनवासः सलक्ष्मणः ।
सीतयानुगतो रामो मुनिमन्वास्त तं चिरम् ॥

Summary AI There Rāma, undergoing exile by his father's command, stayed for a long time with that sage, accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā.

१२.३५.४९

रक्षोविनाशपिशुनौ चन्द्रार्कविव यत्र सः ।
आस्कन्दितुं प्रवृत्तो ऽभूत्कबन्धो रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥

Summary AI In that place, the demon Kabandha attempted to attack Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, who appeared like the sun and moon portending the destruction of the Rākṣasas.

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