कथासरित्सागरः — षट्त्रिंशस्तरङ्गः

षट्त्रिंशस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः स विन्ध्यमुल्लङ्घ्य प्राप संनद्धसैनिकः ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तः सीमान्तमुज्जयिन्याः सुहृद्युतः ॥

Summary AI Then Mṛgāṅkadatta, accompanied by his friends and prepared soldiers, crossed the Vindhya mountains and reached the outskirts of Ujjayinī.

१२.३६.२

तद्बुद्ध्वा कर्मसेनो ऽपि राजास्य सबलो ऽग्रतः ।
धीरो युद्धाय संनह्य नगर्या निरगात्ततः ॥

Summary AI Learning of this, King Karmasena, being brave and accompanied by his forces, prepared for battle and marched out of the city to confront him.

१२.३६.३

निकटीभूय चान्योन्यदर्शिन्योरुभयोस्तयोः ।
तत्सेनयोः प्रववृते संग्रामो वीरहर्षणः ॥

Summary AI As the two armies drew near and came into each other's sight, a battle began that gladdened the hearts of heroes.

१२.३६.४

नृसिंहनादवित्रस्तभग्नक्लीबासुराकुलः ।
सो ऽभूद्धिरण्यकशिपोर्निवास इव संगरः ॥

Summary AI That battlefield became like the abode of Hiraṇyakaśipu, filled with weak-hearted demons terrified and broken by the lion-like roars of men.

१२.३६.५

संतता विनिकृन्तन्तो घना गगनगामिनः ।
सुभटेष्विषवः पेतुः सस्येषु शलभा इव ॥

Summary AI Constantly cutting through, thick arrows flying through the sky fell upon the brave warriors like swarms of locusts upon crops.

१२.३६.६

खड्गाहतेभकुम्भोत्थो बभौ मुक्ताफलोत्करः ।
संरम्भत्रुटितो हार इव तत्समरश्रियः ॥

Summary AI The heap of pearls emerging from the frontal globes of elephants struck by swords shone like a necklace of the Goddess of War, broken in the excitement of battle.

१२.३६.७

तीक्ष्णकुन्ताग्रदशनं ग्रस्ताश्वनरकुञ्जरम् ।
कृतान्तस्येव वदनं तद्विरेजे रणाजिरम् ॥

Summary AI The battlefield, with the tips of sharp spears appearing as teeth and devouring horses, men, and elephants, resembled the gaping mouth of Kṛtānta.

१२.३६.८

उत्फेल्लुर्भल्ललूनानि शिरांसि भुजशालिनाम् ।
दिवि दत्तोर्ध्वझम्पानि दिव्यस्त्रीरिव चुम्बितुम् ॥

Summary AI The heads of the mighty-armed warriors, severed by crescent-headed arrows, leaped upward into the sky as if to kiss the celestial nymphs.

१२.३६.९

कबन्धा ननृतुश्चात्र सुभटानां पदे पदे ।
निर्भासितोत्तमस्वामिसंगरप्रमदादिव ॥

Summary AI Headless trunks of great warriors danced at every step, as if out of joy at the battle where their noble lords distinguished themselves.

१२.३६.१०

एवं च पञ्चदिवसान्वहच्छोणितनिम्नगः ।
आसीत्करङ्ककूटाढ्यः स शूरान्तकरो रणः ॥

Summary AI For five days, that battle continued—a destroyer of heroes—filled with heaps of skeletons and rivers of flowing blood.

१२.३६.११

पञ्चमे ऽह्नि रहः सायं तं समेतं स्वमन्त्रिभिः ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तं श्रुतधिर्विप्रो ऽभ्येत्य जगाद सः ॥

Summary AI On the evening of the fifth day, the Brāhmaṇa Śrutadhi approached Mṛgāṅkadatta in private, while he was with his ministers, and spoke to him.

१२.३६.१२

युष्मासु समरव्यग्रेष्वितो भिक्षुकरूपिणा ।
गत्वा निराकुलद्वारां प्रविश्योज्जयिनीं मया ॥

Summary AI While you were occupied with the battle, I went from here in the guise of a mendicant and entered Ujjayinī, whose gates were unguarded.

१२.३६.१३

निकटादप्यदृश्येन भूत्वा विद्याप्रभावतः ।
यदन्विष्टं यथवत्तच्छृणु देव वदामि ते ॥

Summary AI Having become invisible through the power of my magic even when close by, O King, listen as I tell you exactly what I discovered.

१२.३६.१४

यदैव कर्मसेनो ऽसौ राजा युद्धाय निर्गतः ।
तदैवानुज्ञया मातुः सा शशाङ्कवती गृहात् ॥

Summary AI As soon as King Karmasena went out for battle, Śaśāṅkavatī, with her mother's permission, left the palace.

१२.३६.१५

निर्गत्य तत्पुरीवर्तिगौर्यायतनमाश्रिता ।
तामाराधयितुं देवीं श्रेयोर्थं समरे पितुः ॥

Summary AI Having left, she took refuge in the temple of Gaurī located in that city, in order to worship the Goddess for her father's victory in the battle.

१२.३६.१६

तत्रस्था च रहस्येकां सखीमाप्तामुवाच सा ।
मत्कृते सखि तातस्य विग्रहो ऽयमुपागतः ॥

Summary AI While staying there, she said in private to a trusted female friend: "O friend, this war has come upon my father because of me."

१२.३६.१७

आक्रान्तश्चार्पयेदेष तस्मै राजसुताय माम् ।
गणयन्ति न राज्यार्थे ऽपत्यस्नेहं महीभुजः ॥

Summary AI "If he is defeated, he might hand me over to that prince; for kings do not consider their love for their children when the kingdom is at stake."

१२.३६.१८

न च जाने ऽनुरूपः किं स मे राजसुतो न वा ।
कामं हि मृत्युमिच्छेयं न विरूपमहं पतिम् ॥

Summary AI "I do not know if that prince is a suitable match for me or not. I would rather die than have an ugly husband."

१२.३६.१९

मन्ये रूपाभिसंपन्नो दरिद्रो ऽपि वरं पतिः ।
न विरूपः पुनः कृत्स्नपृथिवीचक्रवर्त्यपि ॥

Summary AI "I believe a handsome husband is preferable even if poor, whereas an ugly one is not, even if he were the emperor of the whole earth."

१२.३६.२०

तत्कीदृगिति गत्वा तं विलोक्यागच्छ सैन्यतः ।
प्रज्ञानेन च नाम्ना च शुभे चतुरिका ह्यसि ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, O auspicious one, go and observe him in the army to see what he is like and return; for you are clever (Caturikā) by name and by nature."

१२.३६.२१

एवं सखी तयोक्ता सा युक्त्या कटकमेत्य नः ।
त्वां विलोक्य विभो गत्वा राजपुत्रीमुवाच ताम् ॥

Summary AI O Lord, that friend, thus instructed by her, skillfully came to our camp, saw you, and returned to tell the princess.

१२.३६.२२

किमन्यत्सखि सा जिह्वा जाने नास्त्यपि वासुके ।
या शक्ता गदितुं तस्य रूपं राजसुतस्य तत् ॥

Summary AI O friend, what else can I say? I believe even Vāsuki does not have a tongue capable of describing the extraordinary beauty of that prince.

१२.३६.२३

ब्रवीमि पुनरेतावद्यथा नान्या समास्ति ते ।
नारी रूपेण मनुजस्तथा नान्यो ऽस्ति तत्समः ॥

Summary AI I tell you this much: just as no other woman is your equal, there is no other man who equals him in beauty.

१२.३६.२४

अत्यल्पं धिङ्मयोक्तं वा मन्ये ह्यस्मिञ्जगत्त्रये ।
न सिद्धो नापि गन्धर्वो न देवो ऽप्यस्ति तादृशः ॥

Summary AI Fie on me, for I have said too little! I believe that in these three worlds, there is no Siddha, Gandharva, or even a god like him.

१२.३६.२५

एवं सखीगिरा तस्यास्त्वयि न्यस्तं च मानसम् ।
शशाङ्कवत्याः कामेन कीलितं च समं शरैः ॥

Summary AI Thus, through the words of her friend, Śaśāṅkavatī's heart was fixed on you and transfixed by Kāma with his arrows.

१२.३६.२६

तत्क्षणात्प्रभृति श्रेयस्कामा तव पितुश्च सा ।
कृशीभवन्ती तपसा स्थिता त्वद्विरहेण च ॥

Summary AI From that moment, desiring your welfare and obeying her father, she has remained growing thin through penance and the pain of separation.

१२.३६.२७

तद्गुप्तं निशि गत्वाद्य हृत्वा गौर्याश्रमात्ततः ।
विजनादानयत तां राजपुत्रीमलक्षितम् ॥

Summary AI Therefore, go secretly tonight and abduct that princess unobserved from the lonely temple of Gaurī and bring her back.

१२.३६.२८

यात मायाबटोरस्य गृहानेते नृपास्ततः ।
पश्चात्प्रकोपं रक्षित्वा तत्रैष्यन्ति समं मया ॥

Summary AI Go to the house of the illusory brahmin student; these kings, having restrained their anger, will later come there with me.

१२.३६.२९

निवर्ततामिदं युद्धं मा स्म भूत्सैन्यसंक्षयः ।
अस्तु वः कुशलं देहे राज्ञस्त्वच्छ्वशुरस्य च ॥

Summary AI Let this battle cease so that there is no loss of soldiers. May you and your father-in-law, the king, remain healthy.

१२.३६.३०

गतिरेषा ह्यगतिका युद्धं प्राणार्पणेन यत् ।
उपायेषु जघन्यो ऽयमुपायो गीयते बुधैः ॥

Summary AI A battle involving the sacrifice of life is the last resort of the desperate; the wise call it the lowest of all expedients.

१२.३६.३१

एवमुक्तः श्रुतधिना स गुप्तं प्रययौ निशि ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तस्तत्राश्वानारुह्य सचिवैः सह ॥

Summary AI Thus advised by Śrutadhi, Mṛgāṅkadatta mounted his horse and set out secretly at night with his ministers.

१२.३६.३२

सुप्तस्त्रीबालशेषां तां विवेशोज्जयिनीं च सः ।
गत्वैव संवृतद्वारां सुप्तैः स्वल्पैश्च रक्षिभिः ॥

Summary AI Having arrived, he entered Ujjayinī with its closed gates and few sleeping guards, where only women and children were asleep.

१२.३६.३३

ततः श्रुतधिना दत्तैरभिज्ञानैः सुलक्षितम् ।
ख्यातं पुष्पकरण्डाख्यमहोद्यानान्तरस्थितिम् ॥

Summary AI Then, guided by the signs provided by Śrutadhi, he reached the famous temple situated within the great garden called Puṣpakaraṇḍa.

१२.३६.३४

तत्कालालंकृतप्राचीमुखेन शशिना करैः ।
प्रकाशितं राजसुतस्तं स गौर्याश्रमं ययौ ॥

Summary AI The prince arrived at the temple of Gaurī, which was illuminated by the rays of the moon that had just then graced the eastern sky.

१२.३६.३५

तावच्च परिचर्यादिश्रान्ते सुप्ते सखीजने ।
सा शशाङ्कवती तत्र वीतनिद्रा व्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, as her attendants slept, exhausted from their service, Śaśāṅkavatī remained awake and began to reflect.

१२.३६.३६

मदर्थं बत राजानो राजपुत्रा दिने दिने ।
वीरास्ते ते च हन्यन्ते समित्युभयसैन्ययोः ॥

Summary AI Alas! For my sake, various heroic kings and princes are being killed day after day in the battles between the two armies.

१२.३६.३७

स च राजसुतो देव्या स्वप्ने ह्यम्बिकयानया ।
आदिष्टः पूर्वभर्ता मे मदर्थप्रार्थिताहवः ॥

Summary AI And that prince, whom the goddess Ambikā pointed out in my dream as my husband in a previous life, has sought battle for me.

१२.३६.३८

हृदयं च यमाच्छिद्य दत्त्वा शरपरम्पराम् ।
सिद्धलक्षेण कामेन नीत्वा तस्मै समर्पितम् ॥

Summary AI My heart, which Kāma took away and pierced with many arrows with unerring aim, has been carried off and offered to him.

१२.३६.३९

तातस्तु मन्दपुण्यां मां नैव तस्मै प्रदास्यति ।
पूर्ववैराच्च दर्पाच्च लेखादित्यद्य हि श्रुतम् ॥

Summary AI But my father will never give me, unfortunate as I am, to him because of old enmity and pride, as I heard today from a letter.

१२.३६.४०

वामे विधौ च कः स्वप्नदेवतादेशनिश्चयः ।
प्रियप्राप्तौ च पश्यामि न कांचित्सर्वथा दिशम् ॥

Summary AI When fate is adverse, what certainty is there in the command of a dream deity? I see no way at all to obtain my beloved.

१२.३६.४१

तद्यावन्नाहितं किंचित्तस्य तातस्य वा रणे ।
शृणोमि तावदात्मानं हताशं न त्यजामि किम् ॥

Summary AI Therefore, before I hear of any misfortune befalling my father or him in battle, why should I not abandon this hopeless life?

१२.३६.४२

इत्युत्थाय पुरो गत्वा गौर्याः साशोकपादपे ।
पाशं विरचयामास स्वोत्तरीयेण दुःखिता ॥

Summary AI Saying this, the sorrowful maiden rose and went before the goddess Gaurī, where she fashioned a noose from her own upper garment on an Aśoka tree.

१२.३६.४३

तावन्मृगाङ्कदत्तो ऽपि सवयस्यः प्रविश्य तम् ।
उद्यानं तरुबद्धाश्वो गौर्यागाराश्रमं गतः ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, Mṛgāṅkadatta also entered that garden with his companions, tied his horse to a tree, and approached the temple hermitage of Gaurī.

१२.३६.४४

तत्र तत्सचिवेनाराद्राजपुत्रीं विलोक्य ताम् ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तो जगदे स्वैरं विमलबुद्धिना ॥

Summary AI There, seeing the princess from a distance, Mṛgāṅkadatta was quietly addressed by his minister Vimalabuddhi.

१२.३६.४५

देव पश्यात्र काप्येषा पाशेन वरकन्यका ।
उद्यता हन्तुमात्मानं तत्का नाम भवेदियम् ॥

Summary AI "Lord, behold! Here some noble maiden is prepared to kill herself with a noose. Who indeed could she be?"

१२.३६.४६

तच्छ्रुत्वैव विलोक्यैतां राजसूनुरुवाच सः ।
अहो केयं रतिः किंस्विद्रूपिणी किमु निर्वृतिः ॥

Summary AI Hearing that and looking at her, the prince said, "Oh, who is she? Is she Rati herself in bodily form, or perhaps Bliss incarnate?"

१२.३६.४७

साकारा कान्तिरिन्दोर्वा मन्मथाज्ञाय जङ्गमा ।
किं वामराङ्गना मैवमस्याः पाशोद्यमः कथम् ॥

Summary AI "Or is she the personified radiance of the moon, or the walking command of Manmatha, or a celestial nymph? But wait, why is she attempting to use a noose?"

१२.३६.४८

तत्तावदिह तिष्ठामः पादपन्तरिताः क्षणम् ।
यावज्जानीमहे केयमिति व्यक्तं कथंचन ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, let us remain here concealed behind the trees for a moment until we can somehow clearly discern who she is."

१२.३६.४९

इत्युक्त्वा सवयस्यो ऽत्र यावच्छन्नः स तिष्ठति ।
सा शशाङ्कवती तावद्विग्ना देवीं व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI While the prince and his companions remained hidden after he spoke, the agitated Śaśāṅkavatī made a petition to the Goddess.