कथासरित्सागरः — पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः

पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः ।

एवं विमलबुद्ध्यादियुतो यावत्स तिष्ठति ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तो भिल्लाधिपतेर्मायाबटोर्गृहे ॥

Summary AI While Mṛgāṅkadatta, accompanied by Vimalabuddhi and others, stayed in the house of Māyābaṭu, the chieftain of the Bhillas.

१२.५.२

तावत्तत्संनिधावेत्य तमात्मीयश्चमूपतिः ।
एकदा शबराधीशं ससंरम्भो व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI Then, one day, his own army commander approached the Śabara chieftain in great haste and informed him of certain news.

१२.५.३

त्वदादेशाद्विचिन्वद्भिर्भगवत्याः कृते प्रभो ।
उपहाराय पुरुषः प्राप्तो ऽस्माभिः स तादृशः ॥

Summary AI "O Lord! While searching by your command for a suitable victim to offer to the Goddess, we have found such a man."

१२.५.४

येनास्मद्वीरयोधानां खण्डितं शतपञ्चकम् ।
आनीतश्च स भूयिष्ठप्रहारविवशीकृतः ॥

Summary AI "This man wounded five hundred of our heroic warriors; he has now been brought here, rendered helpless by numerous blows."

१२.५.५

तच्छ्रुत्वा स पुलिन्देन्द्रः सेनापतिमुवाच तम् ।
प्रवेश्यतामिहैवाशु सो ऽस्माकं दर्श्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the king of the Pulindas said to the general: "Let him be brought in here immediately and shown to us."

१२.५.६

ततः प्रवेशितस्तेन यावत्सर्वैः स दृश्यते ।
शस्त्रक्षतोद्यद्रक्ताक्तरणधूलीकलङ्कितः ॥

Summary AI Then, as he was ushered in and seen by everyone, he appeared stained with the dust of battle and smeared with blood oozing from weapon wounds.

१२.५.७

गण्डसिन्दूरसंपृक्तस्रवद्दानाम्बुपङ्किलः ।
पाशैर्विवेष्टितो घूर्णन्मत्तो बद्ध इव द्विपः ॥

Summary AI Muddy with ichor flowing and mixed with the vermilion on his temples, bound with ropes, and staggering, he looked like a captured mad elephant.

१२.५.८

तावत्तं प्रत्यभिज्ञाय मन्त्रिणं स्वं गुणाकरम् ।
मृगाङ्कदत्तो धावित्वा कण्ठे प्ररुदितो ऽग्रहीत् ॥

Summary AI Then, recognizing him as his own minister Guṇākara, Mṛgāṅkadatta ran to him and, weeping, embraced him tightly around the neck.

१२.५.९

बुद्ध्वाथ तत्सखिभ्यस्तं स भिल्लेन्द्रो गुणाकरम् ।
प्रह्वस्तमाश्वासितवान्पादलग्नं निजप्रभोः ॥

Summary AI Then, the Bhilla king, learning from the friends that it was Guṇākara, respectfully comforted him as he lay prostrate at the feet of his lord.

१२.५.१०

प्रवेश्य च गृहं स्नातं तं बद्धव्रणपट्टकम् ।
उपाचरद्भिषक्प्रोक्तैः स पथ्यैः पानभोजनैः ॥

Summary AI After bringing him inside and bathing him, the chieftain bandaged his wounds and treated him with wholesome food and drink as prescribed by a physician.

१२.५.११

ततो मृगाङ्कदत्तस्तं समाश्वस्तं स्वमन्त्रिणम् ।
सखे कथय वृत्तान्तः कस्तवेति स पृष्टवान् ॥

Summary AI Afterwards, Mṛgāṅkadatta asked his recovered minister: "Friend, tell me, what is your story?"

१२.५.१२

अथ सर्वेषु शृण्वत्सु स जगाद गुणाकरः ।
श्रूयतां देव वृत्तान्तमात्मीयं कथयामि वः ॥

Summary AI Then, while everyone listened, Guṇākara spoke: "O King, listen; I shall tell you all my own story."

१२.५.१३

ततो नागस्य शापेन भवद्भ्यो ऽहं वियोजितः ।
न किंचिदविदं मोहाद्दूरां तामटवीं भ्रमन् ॥

Summary AI "Separated from you all by the serpent's curse, I wandered through that vast forest, knowing nothing because of my state of delusion."

१२.५.१४

चिरात्संप्राप्तबुद्धिश्च दुःखितो ऽहमचिन्तयम् ।
अहो दुःशिक्षितस्यैष विलासः कोऽपि वेधसः ॥

Summary AI "Regaining consciousness after a long time, I thought sorrowfully: 'Oh, this is some strange whim of the ill-disposed Creator!'"

१२.५.१५

मृगाङ्कदत्तः खिद्येत स्थितो हर्म्यतले ऽपि यः ।
सो ऽस्यामटव्यां संतप्तसिकतायां कथं भवेत् ॥

Summary AI "'How could Mṛgāṅkadatta, who used to feel distressed even when staying in a palace, endure this forest with its scorching sand?'"

१२.५.१६

कथं च ते वयस्याः स्युरित्यन्तर्विमृशन्मुहुः ।
दैवात्संप्राप्तवानस्मि पर्यटन्विन्ध्यवासिनीम् ॥

Summary AI "'And how must those friends be?' Reflecting thus repeatedly while wandering, by chance I reached the temple of the Goddess Vindhyavāsinī."

१२.५.१७

तस्या उपाहृतानेकनानाजीवमहर्निशम् ।
प्राविशं भवनं देव्याः कृतान्तसदनोपमम् ॥

Summary AI "I entered the temple of that Goddess, which resembled the abode of Death, where various living beings were offered as sacrifices day and night."

१२.५.१८

तत्र देवीं प्रणम्याहमपश्यं पुरुषं शवम् ।
कण्ठान्तर्गतनिस्त्रिंशहस्तमात्मोपहारिणम् ॥

Summary AI "There, after bowing to the Goddess, I saw the corpse of a man who had offered himself as a sacrifice, his hand still holding a sword at his throat."

१२.५.१९

तं दृष्ट्वैव पुनर्दुःखहेतोर्मे त्वद्वियोगिनः ।
अभूदात्मोपहारेण देवीं तोषयितुं मतिः ॥

Summary AI "Upon seeing him, because of the grief of being separated from you, the thought arose in me to please the Goddess by offering myself likewise."

१२.५.२०

तत्खड्गमेव धावित्वा यावदस्मि गृहीतवान् ।
तावन्निवारयन्तीव दूराद्वार्धककम्पिना ॥

Summary AI "As I ran and seized that very sword, someone from afar appeared, as if preventing me with a hand trembling from old age."

१२.५.२१

शिरसा समुपेत्यैव सकृपा कापि तापसी ।
निर्वाय मरणात्पृष्ट्वा वृत्तान्तं निजगाद माम् ॥

Summary AI A compassionate female ascetic, having approached me by the head and saved me from death, asked about my situation and then spoke to me.

१२.५.२२

मैवं कृथाः पुनर्दृष्टो मृतानामपिसंगमः ।
किं पुनर्जीवतां पुत्र तथा चैतां कथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI "Do not do this. Even for the dead, a reunion has been seen, so why not for the living? Listen to this story, O son."

१२.५.२३

अहिच्छत्त्रेति नाम्नास्ति विख्याता नगरी भुवि ।
तस्यामुदयतुङ्गाख्यः पुराभूद्राजकुञ्जरः ॥

Summary AI On earth, there is a famous city named Ahicchatrā. Long ago, an eminent king named Udayatuṅga lived there.

१२.५.२४

तस्य क्षत्ता च कमलमतिर्नाम महानभूत् ।
विनीतमतिरित्यासीत्तस्याप्यसदृशः सुतः ॥

Summary AI He had a great door-keeper named Kamalamati, who had an incomparable son named Vinītamati.

१२.५.२५

समाहृतगुणेनापि प्रापि यस्य न तुल्यता ।
सच्छिद्रेण मृणालेन चापेन कुटिलेन च ॥

Summary AI Even the lotus stalk, though possessing fibers but having holes, and the bow, though having a string but being bent, could not equal him.

१२.५.२६

स कदाचित्सुधाधौतप्रासादोपरि पञ्चके ।
स्थितो ददर्श शीतांशुमुद्गच्छन्तं निशामुखे ॥

Summary AI Once, while staying on the fifth floor of a whitewashed palace, he saw the cool-rayed moon rising at the start of the night.

१२.५.२७

कामकल्पद्रुमोत्थेन पल्लवेन विनिर्मितम् ।
रजन्या वासवदिशः कर्णपूरमिवोज्ज्वलम् ॥

Summary AI The moon appeared like a bright ear-ornament of the eastern direction, fashioned by Night from a sprout of the desire-granting tree of Love.

१२.५.२८

क्रमात्तद्रश्मिजालैश्च जगद्वीक्ष्य विराजितम् ।
स विनीतमतिर्जातहृदुल्लासो व्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Seeing the world illuminated by the moon's net of rays, Vinītamati, with a delighted heart, thought to himself.

१२.५.२९

अहो चन्द्रिकया मार्गाः सुधयेवावभासिताः ।
दृश्यन्ते तदमीष्वेको गत्वा न विहरामि किम् ॥

Summary AI "Oh, the roads appear illuminated by moonlight as if by nectar! Why should I not go out and wander alone on them?"

१२.५.३०

इति ध्यात्वैव स धनुर्धरो निर्गत्य पर्यटन् ।
क्रोशमात्रं गतो ऽकस्माच्छुश्राव रुदितध्वनिम् ॥

Summary AI Having thought thus, the archer went out, and after wandering for about two miles, he suddenly heard the sound of weeping.

१२.५.३१

गत्वा तदनुसारेण ददर्शैकां स कन्यकाम् ।
दिव्यरूपां प्ररुदतींतरुमूलसमाश्रयाम् ॥

Summary AI Following the sound, he saw a weeping girl of divine beauty seeking shelter at the foot of a tree.

१२.५.३२

पप्रच्छ च शुभे का त्वं किं चायं नीयते तुलाम् ।
मुखेन्दुः समलस्येन्दोस्त्वयाश्रुमलिनीकृतः ॥

Summary AI He asked, "Auspicious one, who are you? Why is your moon-like face, soiled by tears, being made to resemble the flawed moon?"

१२.५.३३

इत्युक्ता तेन सावोचत्सुता नागपतेरहम् ।
कन्या विजयवत्याख्या महात्मन्गन्धमालिनः ॥

Summary AI Thus addressed, she replied: "O great-souled one, I am the daughter of the Serpent King Gandhamālin, a maiden named Vijayavatī."

१२.५.३४

स मे पिता रणान्नष्टः शप्तो वासुकिनैकदा ।
यास्यसि त्वं रिपोः पाप जितः सन्दासतामिति ॥

Summary AI "My father once fled from battle and was cursed by Vāsuki: 'O sinful one, being conquered by your enemy, you shall fall into slavery.'"

१२.५.३५

तच्छापात्स च यक्षेण कालजिह्वेन वैरिणा ।
जित्वा मनोनुगः पुष्पभारवाहीकृतः सदा ॥

Summary AI "Due to that curse, he was defeated by his enemy, the Yakṣa Kālajihva, and was made into a flower-carrier who always follows his whims."

१२.५.३६

तद्दुःखात्तत्कृते गौरीं तपसाहमतोषयम् ।
प्रत्यक्षीभूय मे सा च भगवत्येवमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI "Out of sorrow for him, I propitiated Gaurī with penance. The Goddess appeared before me and spoke thus."

१२.५.३७

वत्से शृण्वस्ति सरसो मानसस्यान्तरे महत् ।
सहस्रदलविस्तीर्णं स्फाटिकं दिव्यमम्बुजम् ॥

Summary AI "O child, listen! In the middle of Lake Mānasa, there is a great, divine crystal lotus spreading with a thousand petals."

१२.५.३८

यदर्ककरसंस्पर्शकीर्णतेजो विराजते ।
शेषस्येव शिरो भूरिफणं रत्नांशुपिञ्जरम् ॥

Summary AI "It shines with light scattered by the sun's rays, resembling the many-hooded head of Śeṣa which is tawny with the luster of gems."

१२.५.३९

तदेकदा वैश्रवणो दृष्ट्वा स्नात्वात्र मानसे ।
जातश्रद्धो ऽम्बुजे तस्मिन्हरस्यारभतार्चनम् ॥

Summary AI "Once, Vaiśravaṇa, having seen it and bathed in Lake Mānasa, became filled with devotion and began the worship of Hara upon that lotus."

१२.५.४०

तत्कालं चानुगास्तस्य यक्षास्तत्र सरोन्तरे ।
विजह्रुश्चक्रहंसादिरूपैर्वारिचरोचितैः ॥

Summary AI "At that time, his following Yakṣas sported in that lake, assuming the forms of ruddy geese, swans, and other water-birds."

१२.५.४१

तत्र युष्मद्रिपोस्तस्य कालजिह्वस्य दैवतः ।
विद्युज्जिह्व इति ज्येष्ठो भ्राता यक्षः प्रियासखः ॥

Summary AI There lived Vidyujjihva, a yakṣa and the elder brother of your enemy Kālajihva. By destiny, he resided there as a favorite of his beloved.

१२.५.४२

क्रीडंश्चक्राह्वरूपेण पक्षविक्षेपघट्टनात् ।
कुबेरस्य कराग्रस्थमर्घ्यपात्रमपातयत् ॥

Summary AI While playing in the form of a cakravāka bird, he accidentally struck and knocked down the offering vessel from the hand of Kubera with the flapping of his wings.

१२.५.४३

ततः स धनदः क्रुद्धः शापेनात्रैव मानसे ।
चक्राह्वमेव तं चक्रे विद्युज्जिह्वं सभार्यकम् ॥

Summary AI Enraged, the god of wealth, Kubera, cursed Vidyujjihva and his wife, transforming them both into cakravāka birds right there in Lake Mānasa.

१२.५.४४

तथाकृतं च संप्रीत्या रात्रौ रात्रौ विनोदयन् ।
कृततत्प्रेयसीरूपो विरहातुरमग्रजम् ॥

Summary AI Out of affection, Kālajihva would take the form of the yakṣa's beloved every night to console his elder brother, who was suffering from the pangs of separation in his bird form.

१२.५.४५

कालजिह्वो ऽद्य तत्रास्ते स दिवा निजरूपभृत् ।
दासीकृतेन त्वत्पित्रा सहितो गन्धमालिना ॥

Summary AI Today, Kālajihva remains there; during the day, he assumes his natural form and stays accompanied by your father, Gandhamālin, whom he has enslaved.

१२.५.४६

तत्तत्र प्रेर्यतां पुत्रि प्रतीहारसुतस्त्वया ।
अहिच्छत्रो महास्वीरो विनीतमतिरुद्यमी ॥

Summary AI Therefore, my daughter, you must send the energetic and heroic Vinītamati, the son of the doorkeeper from Ahicchatra, to that place.

१२.५.४७

इममश्चं च खड्गं च गृहाणाभ्यां विजित्य तम् ।
यक्षं स हि प्रवीरस्ते जनकं मोचयिष्यति ॥

Summary AI Take this horse and this sword; using them, that great hero shall defeat the yakṣa and liberate your father from his captivity.

१२.५.४८

खड्गरत्नस्य चैतस्य स्वामी भवति यः पुमान् ।
स जित्वा निखिलाञ्शत्रून्राजा भवति भूतले ॥

Summary AI Any man who becomes the master of this jewel-like sword will conquer all his enemies and become a sovereign king upon this earth.

१२.५.४९

एवमुक्त्वाश्वखड्गौ मे देवी दत्त्वा तिरो ऽभवत् ।
अथ त्वत्प्रेरणायाद्य क्रमेणाहमिहागता ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus and given me the horse and sword, the Goddess vanished. Now, I have come here to urge you to act.