कथासरित्सागरः — चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः

चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः श्रुतधियुक्तेन समं विमलबुद्धिना ।
स शशाङ्कवतीहेतोर्गच्छन्नुज्जयिनीं प्रति ॥

Summary AI Accompanied by the wise Śrutadhi and Vimalabuddhi, Mṛgāṅkadatta set out toward Ujjayinī for the sake of Śaśāṅkavatī.

१२.४.२

मृगाङ्कदत्तः संप्रापदन्तरा नर्मदानदीम् ।
वीचिवेल्लद्भुजलतां विलसत्फेनपाण्डुराम् ॥

Summary AI On the way, the prince reached the river Narmadā, which appeared white with shimmering foam and possessed wave-like arms in the form of undulating creepers.

१२.४.३

दिष्ट्या मिलदमात्यो ऽयं संवृत्त इति वीक्ष्य तम् ।
हर्षादिव प्रनृत्यन्तीं हसन्तीं चपलाशयाम् ॥

Summary AI Beholding the prince, the river seemed to dance with joy and laugh through her restless waters, as if celebrating that he had fortunately reunited with his ministers.

१२.४.४

तस्यां स्नानावतीर्णे च तस्मिन्कश्चिदुपाययौ ।
तत्र मायाबटुर्नाम स्नातुं शबरभूपतिः ॥

Summary AI While the prince descended into the river to bathe, a Śabara king named Māyābaṭu also arrived there for a bath.

१२.४.५

तं स्नान्तं सहसोत्थाय त्रयो ऽत्र जलमानुषाः ।
युगपज्जगृहुर्भिल्लं भीतिनश्यत्परिच्छदम् ॥

Summary AI As the Bhilla king was bathing, three water-dwellers suddenly emerged and simultaneously seized him, while his terrified attendants fled in fear.

१२.४.६

तद्दृष्ट्वाकृष्टखड्गो ऽन्तः प्रविश्य जलमानुषान् ।
हत्वा मृगाङ्कदत्तस्तान्भिल्लेन्द्रं तममोचयत् ॥

Summary AI Seeing this, Mṛgāṅkadatta drew his sword, entered the water, and after slaying the water-dwellers, rescued the Bhilla chief.

१२.४.७

स तद्ग्राहभयान्मुक्तो भिल्लराजो जलोत्थितः ।
तं राजपुत्रं पप्रच्छ पतित्वा पादयोस्ततः ॥

Summary AI Freed from the fear of those monsters and emerging from the water, the Bhilla king fell at the prince’s feet and questioned him.

१२.४.८

धात्रा कस्त्वमिहानीतः प्राणत्राणाय मे वद ।
कस्य चालंकृतो वंशस्त्वया सुकृतिनः पितुः ॥

Summary AI "Tell me, who are you, brought here by Providence to save my life? Which virtuous father’s lineage is adorned by you?"

१२.४.९

को वा कटाक्षितः पुण्यैर्देशो यत्र गमिष्यसि ।
इत्युक्त्वा श्रुतधेः श्रुत्वा तद्वृत्तान्तमशेषतः ॥

Summary AI "And which land, graced by past merits, is your destination?" Having said this, he heard the prince's entire story from Śrutadhi.

१२.४.१०

सुतरां प्रणतस्तं स शबरेन्द्रो ऽब्रवीत्पुनः ।
तर्ह्यहं ते यथादिष्टे सहायो ऽत्राभिवाञ्छिते ॥

Summary AI Prostrating himself deeply, the Śabara chief spoke again: "Then I shall be your ally in attaining your desired goal, just as you have commanded."

१२.४.११

सख्या दुर्गपिशाचेन मातङ्गपतिना सह ।
तत्प्रसादं कुरुष्वेहि गृहान्भृत्यस्य मे प्रभो ॥

Summary AI "Along with my friend Durgapiśāca, the lord of the Mātaṅgas, I am at your service. O Lord, show me favor and come to the house of your servant."

१२.४.१२

इति सप्रणयैस्तैस्तैर्वचोभिः प्रार्थ्य तं ततः ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तं पल्लीं स्वां शबरेन्द्रो निनाय सः ॥

Summary AI Having entreated him with such affectionate words, the Śabara chief then led Mṛgāṅkadatta to his own forest settlement.

१२.४.१३

उपाचरच्च तं तत्र यथावत्स्वविभूतिभिः ।
राजपुत्रमशेषेण पल्लीलोकेन पूजितम् ॥

Summary AI There, he served the prince, who was honored by all the forest folk, with all the resources and hospitality at his command.

१२.४.१४

सो ऽपि मातङ्गराजो ऽत्र समेत्याभिननन्द तम् ।
दासीभूय सुहृत्प्राणप्रदं न्यस्तशिरा भुवि ॥

Summary AI The Mātaṅga king also arrived there and, bowing his head to the ground like a servant, greeted the one who had saved his friend's life.

१२.४.१५

ततो मायाबटोस्तस्य भिल्लेन्द्रस्यानुरोधतः ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तस्तत्रैव तस्थौ कांश्चित्स वासरान् ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, at the request of the Bhilla chief Māyābaṭu, Mṛgāṅkadatta stayed there in the forest settlement for several days.

१२.४.१६

एकदा च स्थिते तस्मिन्द्यूतं स शबरेश्वरः ।
समं निजप्रतीहारेणारेभे चण्डकेतुना ॥

Summary AI One day, while the prince was staying there, the Śabara king began a game of dice with his own doorkeeper, Caṇḍaketu.

१२.४.१७

तावन्नभसि मेघेषु गर्जत्सु गृहबर्हिणः ।
प्रनृत्तान्द्रष्टुमुत्तस्थौ स मायाबटुभूपतिः ॥

Summary AI Just then, as the clouds thundered in the sky, King Māyābaṭu rose from his game to watch the pet peacocks dancing.

१२.४.१८

ततः स द्यूतरसिकः प्रतीहारस्तमभ्यधात् ।
किमेभिः प्रेक्षितै राजन्नसुशिक्षितताण्डवैः ॥

Summary AI Then the doorkeeper, who was fond of gambling, said to him: "O King, what is the use of watching these birds with their poorly trained dances?"

१२.४.१९

स मयूरो गृहे मे ऽस्ति नास्ति यो ऽन्यत्र भूतले ।
दर्शयिष्यामि तं प्रातस्तुभ्यं तद्रसिको ऽसि चेत् ॥

Summary AI "In my house, there is a peacock unlike any other on earth. If you are a connoisseur of such things, I will show him to you in the morning."

१२.४.२०

तच्छ्रुत्वा दर्शनीयो मे सर्वथा स त्वयेति च ।
उक्त्वा स तं प्रतीहारं दिनकृत्यं व्यधान्नृपः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the king told the doorkeeper, "You must certainly show him to me," and then proceeded to perform his daily duties.

१२.४.२१

मृगाङ्कदत्तो ऽप्याकर्ण्य सर्वं तत्तत्र सानुगः ।
तथैवोत्थाय विदधे स्नानाहारादिकाः क्रियाः ॥

Summary AI After hearing everything there with his followers, Mṛgāṅkadatta rose and performed his daily rites, including bathing and eating.

१२.४.२२

ततो रात्रावुपेतायामन्धे तमसि जम्भिते ।
कस्तूरिकानुलिप्ताङ्गो वसानो नीलवाससी ॥

Summary AI Then, when night arrived and blinding darkness spread, he anointed his body with musk and donned blue garments.

१२.४.२३

स राजपुत्रः स्वोद्देशाद्वीरचर्यार्थमेककः ।
सुप्तानुगाद्वासगृहात्खड्गपाणिर्विनिर्ययौ ॥

Summary AI That prince, sword in hand, set out alone from his residence where his followers slept, venturing forth into his territory to observe the night-watchman’s duties.

१२.४.२४

भ्रमंश्च तत्र केनापि पुंसा मार्गागतेन सः ।
अपश्यता ध्वान्तवशादंसेनांसे ऽभ्यहन्यत ॥

Summary AI While wandering, he was struck shoulder-to-shoulder by some man coming down the path, who could not see him due to the darkness.

१२.४.२५

ततः सो ऽभ्यभवत्क्रुद्धो युद्धायाह्वयति स्म तम् ।
स चाहतः पुमान्प्रौढस्तत्कालोचितमभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI Then, becoming enraged, he challenged the man to a fight. The bold man who had collided with him spoke words appropriate for the moment.

१२.४.२६

किं ताम्यस्यविचार्यैव विचारयसि चेत्ततः ।
वाच्यो निशापतिर्येन निशैषा न प्रकाशिता ॥

Summary AI "Why do you grow angry without thinking? If you reflect, then the Moon should be blamed for not illuminating this night."

१२.४.२७

धाता वा येन पूर्णो ऽस्य नाधिकारो ऽत्र निर्मितः ।
येन वैराणि जायन्ते तमसीदृश्यकारणम् ॥

Summary AI "Or blame the Creator, who did not grant him full authority here. In such darkness, enmities arise without reason."

१२.४.२८

तच्छ्रुत्वा सत्यमित्युक्त्वा तुष्टो नागरिकोक्तितः ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तः को ऽसीति स तं पप्रच्छ पूरुषम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Mṛgāṅkadatta, pleased by the citizen's clever speech, said, "True," and asked the man, "Who are you?"

१२.४.२९

चौरो ऽहमिति तेनोक्तः पुंसा सो ऽप्यवदन्मृषा ।
हस्तमानय स ब्रह्मचारी मम भवानिति ॥

Summary AI When the man replied, "I am a thief," the prince spoke falsely, saying, "Give me your hand; you are my fellow-student in this trade."

१२.४.३०

कृत्वा च सख्यं जिज्ञासुः स तेनैव सह व्रजन् ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तः संप्राप जीर्णकूपज्ं तृणावृतम् ॥

Summary AI Having formed a friendship, the curious Mṛgāṅkadatta walked with him and reached an old well covered with grass.

१२.४.३१

तत्र तेन प्रविष्टेन पुंसा सह सुरुङ्गया ।
गत्वा मायाबटोस्तस्य राज्ञो ऽन्तःपुरमाप्तवान् ॥

Summary AI Entering there and going through an underground passage with that man, he reached the harem of the king Māyābaṭu.

१२.४.३२

तत्र दीपेन दृष्ट्वा तं परिजज्ञे स पूरुषम् ।
यावत्सो ऽत्र प्रतीहारश्चण्डकेतुर्न तस्करः ॥

Summary AI There, seeing him by the light of a lamp, he recognized the man; he was the doorkeeper Caṇḍaketu, not a thief.

१२.४.३३

प्रतीहारस्तु न स तं मन्दालोकैककोणगम् ।
परिजज्ञे ऽन्यवेषस्थं राजस्त्रीछन्नकामुकः ॥

Summary AI But the doorkeeper, who was the secret lover of the king's wife, did not recognize the prince, who was in disguise and standing in a dimly lit corner.

१२.४.३४

राजवध्वा च स तया प्राप्त एवास्नुरक्तया ।
उत्थाय कण्ठे जगृहे मञ्जुमत्यभिधानया ॥

Summary AI As soon as he arrived, the king's devoted wife, named Mañjumatī, rose and embraced him around the neck.

१२.४.३५

उपवेश्य च पर्यङ्के स पृष्टो ऽभूत्तया तदा ।
अद्यैव भवता को ऽयमिहानीतः पुमानिति ॥

Summary AI Seating him on the couch, she then asked him, "Who is this man you have brought here today?"

१२.४.३६

सुहृन्ममायं विश्वस्ता भवेत्युक्ता च तेन सा ।
प्रतीहारेण सोद्वेगा मञ्जुमत्येवमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI When the doorkeeper told her, "He is my friend, be at ease," Mañjumatī replied anxiously in this manner:

१२.४.३७

कुतो मे मन्दभाग्याया विश्वासो यदसौ नृपः ।
मृत्योर्मृगाङ्कदत्तेन मुखं प्राप्तो ऽपि रक्षितः ॥

Summary AI "How can I, unfortunate as I am, have confidence, seeing that the king was saved by Mṛgāṅkadatta even after entering the jaws of death?"

१२.४.३८

तच्छ्रुत्वा स प्रतीहारस्तामवादीदलं शुचा ।
नृपं मृगाङ्कदत्तं च हनिष्याम्यचिरात्प्रिये ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the doorkeeper said to her, "Dear, enough of grief; I will soon kill both the King and Mṛgāṅkadatta."

१२.४.३९

इत्युक्तवन्तं तं दैवात्साब्रवीत्किं विकत्थसे ।
आक्रान्तो ऽभूद्यदा ग्राहैर्नृपो ऽसौ नर्मदाम्भसि ॥

Summary AI When he said this, she spoke to him as if prompted by fate, "Why do you boast? When the king was attacked by crocodiles in the waters of the Narmadā..."

१२.४.४०

मृगाङ्कदत्त एवैकस्तदा तद्रक्षणोद्यतः ।
त्वया किं न हतस्तत्र भीतो हि त्वं पलायितः ॥

Summary AI "...Mṛgāṅkadatta alone was intent on protecting him. Why did you not kill him then? Indeed, you fled in fear."

१२.४.४१

तत्तूष्णीं भव मा कश्चिदेतच्छ्रोष्यसि ते वचः ।
ततो मृगाङ्कदत्तात्वं शूरादशिवमाप्स्यसि ॥

Summary AI "Keep silent! Let no one hear these words of yours. Otherwise, you will face misfortune from the heroic Mṛgāṅkadatta."

१२.४.४२

एवमुक्तवतीं तां च जारः क्षत्ता न चक्षमे ।
पापे मृगाङ्कदत्ते त्वं बद्धभावाधुना ध्रुवम् ॥

Summary AI The chamberlain, her lover, could not tolerate her words and exclaimed, "O sinful woman, you are certainly now deeply attached to Mṛgāṅkadatta!"

१२.४.४३

तदस्यानुभवेदानीमधिक्षेपस्य मे फलम् ।
इत्युक्त्वा च स हन्तुं तामुत्तस्थौ सासिधेनुकः ॥

Summary AI "Now suffer the consequences of this insult to me!" Saying this, he stood up, armed with a small sword, intending to kill her.

१२.४.४४

ततो रहस्यधारिण्या तत्र चेटिकयैकया ।
धावित्वा छुरिका तस्यावष्टब्धाभूत्करेण सा ॥

Summary AI Then, a maidservant who was in on their secret ran forward and seized the dagger from his hand.

१२.४.४५

तावद्ययौ मञ्जुमती ततो निर्गत्य सान्यतः ।
क्षत्ता च तस्याश्चेट्यास्तां निकृत्ताङ्गुलितः करात् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, Mañjumatī escaped through another exit. The chamberlain, whose fingers were cut in the struggle, snatched the dagger back from the maid's hand.

१२.४.४६

आक्षिप्य छुरिकां प्रायात्स्वगृहं स यथागतम् ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तेन सममाकुलो विस्मितात्मना ॥

Summary AI After snatching the dagger, he returned home in an agitated state, accompanied by the astonished Mṛgāṅkadatta.

१२.४.४७

गच्छाम्यहं भवान्प्राप्तो गृहानिति च तत्र तम् ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तः क्षत्तारं तमस्यप्रकटो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI The disguised Mṛgāṅkadatta said to the chamberlain, "I shall depart now, as you have reached your home."

१२.४.४८

इह निद्रां भज क्षिप्रं परिश्रान्तो भृशं ह्यसि ।
इति सो ऽपि प्रतीहारो राजपुत्रं तमभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI "Sleep here quickly, for you are indeed very exhausted," the doorkeeper replied to the prince.

१२.४.४९

ततस्तथेति तेनोक्ते तच्चेष्टालोकनैषिणा ।
क्षत्ता स्वभृत्यमत्रैकं समाहूय जगाद सः ॥

Summary AI When the prince agreed, the chamberlain—wishing to observe his actions—summoned a servant and gave him instructions.