कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

स वो विघ्नेश्वरः पायान्नमितोन्नमितेव यम् ।
अनुनृत्यति नृत्यन्तं संध्यासु भुवनावली ॥

Summary AI May that Lord Vighneśvara protect you, whom the row of worlds, rising and falling as if in imitation, dances after as he performs his twilight dance.

१३.१.२

गौरीप्रसाधनालग्नचरणालत्तकश्रियः ।
सखी सुखाय भूयाद्वः शंभोर्भालेक्षणप्रभा ॥

Summary AI May the radiance of Śambhu’s third eye, which is a friend to the beauty of the red lac clinging to Gaurī's feet during her adornment, be for your happiness.

१३.१.३

कवीन्द्रमानसाम्भोजनिवासभ्रमरीं नुमः ।
देवीं सहृदयानन्दशब्दमूर्ति सरस्वतीम् ॥

Summary AI We bow to Goddess Sarasvatī, the bee residing in the lotus-mind of great poets, who is the embodiment of sound and the joy of the refined.

१३.१.४

ततो विरहसंतप्तो विना मदनमञ्चुकाम् ।
नरवाहनदत्तः स तेषु वत्सेश्वरात्मजः ॥

Summary AI Then, in those places, Naravāhanadatta, the son of the King of Vatsa, became tormented by the pangs of separation without Madanamañcukā.

१३.१.५

मलयाचलपादेषु तदुपन्तवनेषु च ।
भ्रमन्मधुमनोज्ञेषु नैव प्राप रतिं क्व चित् ॥

Summary AI Wandering through the foothills of the Malaya mountain and its surrounding forests, lovely with the arrival of spring, he found no pleasure anywhere.

१३.१.६

बिभेद तस्य मृदुरप्यापतद्भिः शिलीमुखैः ।
स्मरचापलतेवात्र हृदयं चूतमञ्जरी ॥

Summary AI Here, even though soft, the mango blossom pierced his heart with falling bees as if it were the creeper-like bow of Smara equipped with arrows.

१३.१.७

कर्णौ मधुरमप्यस्य दुनोति स्म च दुःसहम् ।
मारनिर्भर्त्सनावाक्यकटु कोकिलकूजितम् ॥

Summary AI The cooing of the cuckoo, though sweet, pained his ears unbearably, being as harsh as the words of reproach from Māra.

१३.१.८

पुष्परेणुपिशङ्गश्च मदनाग्निरिवापतन् ।
विददाह तमङ्गेषु शीतो ऽपि मलयानिलः ॥

Summary AI The cool breeze from the Malaya mountain, reddish with flower pollen and falling like the fire of Madana, burned his limbs.

१३.१.९

ततो ऽलिकुलझांकारमुखरैस्तैः स काननैः ।
निष्काल्यमान इव तं प्रदेशं शनकैर्जहौ ॥

Summary AI Then, as if being driven out by those forests echoing with the humming of swarms of bees, he slowly left that region.

१३.१.१०

गच्छन्क्रमेण च प्राप कथंचिद्देवतासखः ।
गङ्गागामिपथाभ्यर्णवनान्तसरसस्तटम् ॥

Summary AI Gradually moving along, he, accompanied by his divine-like companion, somehow reached the bank of a lake within a forest near the path leading to the Gaṅgā.

१३.१.११

तरुमूलोपविष्टौ च तत्र ब्राह्मणपुत्रकौ ।
उभौ भव्याकृती स्वैरं कथासक्तौ ददर्श सः ॥

Summary AI There he saw two young sons of Brahmins, both of handsome appearance, sitting at the foot of a tree and leisurely engaged in conversation.

१३.१.१२

तौ च दृष्ट्वा तमुत्थाय प्रह्वौ मदनशङ्कया ।
अवोचतां नमस्तुभ्यं भगवन्कुसुमायुध ॥

Summary AI Seeing him and suspecting him to be Madana, they stood up bowing and said, 'Salutations to you, O divine wielder of the flower-bow!'

१३.१.१३

ब्रूहि देव किमेकाकी त्यक्तकौसुमकार्मुकः ।
इतो भ्रमसि सा कुत्र रतिः सहचरी तव ॥

Summary AI 'O God, tell us, why do you wander here alone having abandoned your flowery bow? Where is that Rati, your companion?'

१३.१.१४

तच्छ्रुत्वा तौ स वत्सेशसुतो विप्रावभाषत ।
नाहं कामो मनुष्यो ऽहं नष्टा सत्यं तु मे रतिः ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the son of the Lord of Vatsa spoke to those two Brahmins, 'I am not Kāma, I am a human; but truly, my beloved Rati is lost.'

१३.१.१५

इत्युक्त्वाख्यातवृत्तान्तस्तौ विप्रौ पृष्टवान्नृपः ।
कौ युवां कीदृशी चैषा कथात्र युवयोरिति ॥

Summary AI Having said this and related his story, the prince asked those two Brahmins, 'Who are you two, and what is this story that you are discussing here?'

१३.१.१६

ततस्तयोर्विप्रयूनोरेकस्तं विनतो ऽब्रवीत् ।
राज्ञां भवादृशामग्रे रहस्यं कथमुच्यते ॥

Summary AI Then, one of those two young Brahmins humbly said to him, 'How can a secret be told in the presence of kings like you?'

१३.१.१७

तथाप्याज्ञानिरोधात्ते कथयामि निशम्यताम् ।
अस्ति शोभावती नाम कलिङ्गविषये पुरी ॥

Summary AI 'Nevertheless, because of your command, I shall tell it; listen. There is a city named Śobhāvatī in the land of Kaliṅga.'

१३.१.१८

कलिना न प्रविष्टा सा न स्पृष्टा पापकर्मभिः ।
न दृष्टा परराष्ट्रेण धात्रा सृष्टेव तादृशी ॥

Summary AI It was not entered by the Kali age, not touched by sinful deeds, and not seen by enemy kingdoms; it was created by the Creator to be uniquely so.

१३.१.१९

तस्यास्ं यशस्करो नाम विद्वानाढ्यो बहुक्रतुः ।
ब्राह्मणो ऽभूदभूत्तस्य सपत्नी मेखलेति च ॥

Summary AI In that city lived a learned, wealthy Brahmin named Yaśaskara, who performed many sacrifices, and he had a wife named Mekhalā.

१३.१.२०

तयोरेको ऽहमुत्पन्नः सुतो वयसि मध्यमे ।
वर्धितश्चोपनीतश्च ताभ्यामस्मि ततः क्रमात् ॥

Summary AI I was born as their only son during their middle age; then, in due course, I was raised and initiated into the sacred thread by them.

१३.१.२१

ततः पठत्यध्ययनं बाले मय्यतिदुस्तरम् ।
तत्रावृष्टिकृतं देशे दुर्भिक्षमुदपद्यत ॥

Summary AI Then, while I was a young boy engaged in very difficult studies, a famine caused by lack of rain arose in that region.

१३.१.२२

तेन तातो ऽम्बया साकं मामादाय ततो गतः ।
विशालां नाम नगरीं सधनः सपरिच्छदः ॥

Summary AI Consequently, my father, accompanied by my mother, took me and went from there to the city named Viśālā, along with his wealth and attendants.

१३.१.२३

तस्यां लक्ष्मीसरस्वत्योर्वसतौ मुक्तवैरयोः ।
ततो मित्त्रेण वणिजा दत्तवासः स्थितिं व्यधात् ॥

Summary AI In that city, which is an abode where Lakṣmī and Sarasvatī have abandoned their mutual enmity, he established his residence, having been provided a dwelling by a merchant friend.

१३.१.२४

अहं च विद्याधिगमं कुर्वाणो गुरुवेश्मनि ।
तत्रावसं सवयसां मध्ये सब्रह्मचारिणाम् ॥

Summary AI I too lived there in the house of my teacher, pursuing the acquisition of knowledge among fellow students of my own age.

१३.१.२५

एकश्चस्तेषु मे मित्त्रमभूत्क्षत्रकुमारकः ।
गुणी विजयसेनाख्यो महाढ्यक्षत्त्रियास्त्मजः ॥

Summary AI Among them, a virtuous prince named Vijayasena, the son of a very wealthy Kṣatriya, became my friend.

१३.१.२६

एकदास्मदुपाध्यायगृहं मित्त्रस्य तस्य मे ।
स्वसा कुमारी मदिरावती नाम सहागमत् ॥

Summary AI Once, that friend's sister, a young maiden named Madirāvatī, came along with him to our teacher's house.

१३.१.२७

यस्या वदनलावण्यशेषेण हिमदीधितेः ।
जननेत्रामृतं जाने बिम्बं धात्रा विनिर्मितम् ॥

Summary AI I believe that the Creator fashioned the moon’s orb—nectar for the eyes of the people—using only the leftover beauty from her face.

१३.१.२८

जगत्संमोहनं षष्ठमस्त्रमालोक्य तद्वपुः ।
पञ्चस्वन्येषु बाणेषु मन्ये मन्दादरः स्मरः ॥

Summary AI Beholding her body as a sixth weapon capable of deluding the world, I think Smara lost interest in his other five arrows.

१३.१.२९

तां दृष्ट्वा सुहृदस्तस्माच्छ्रुतनामान्वयामहम् ।
स्मराज्ञाविवशो ऽभूवं सद्यस्तन्मयमानसः ॥

Summary AI Upon seeing her and hearing her name and lineage from that friend, I immediately became helpless under the command of Smara, with my mind entirely absorbed in her.

१३.१.३०

पश्यस्न्ती सापि मां तिर्यक्स्निग्धमुग्धेन चक्षुषा ।
ब्रुवाणाङ्कुरितं प्रेम पुलकेन कपालयोः ॥

Summary AI She too, looking at me with a sidelong, affectionate, and charming glance, revealed her sprouting love through the horripilation on her cheeks.

१३.१.३१

क्रीडानिभाच्चिरं स्थित्वा कथंचित्स्वगृहानगात् ।
क्षिपन्ती वलितापाङ्गां प्रीतिदूतीं दृशं मयि ॥

Summary AI After staying for a long time under the pretext of play, she finally went to her home, casting a glance with turned corners—a messenger of her love—towards me.

१३.१.३२

ततस्तद्विरहार्तो ऽहं गृहं गत्वा निपत्य च ।
स्थले मत्स्य इवाकार्षमुद्वर्तनविवर्तने ॥

Summary AI Then, tormented by separation from her, I went home and, having collapsed, tossed and turned like a fish on dry land.

१३.१.३३

लावण्यामृतसर्वस्वनिधानं यत्प्रजापतेः ।
अपि भूयो ऽपि तत्तस्याः पश्येयमहमाननम् ॥

Summary AI Would I ever again behold her face, which is the repository of the very essence of the nectar of beauty created by Prajāpati?

१३.१.३४

धन्यः सखीजनो यं सा तेन स्मेरेण पश्यति ।
चक्षुषा तेन च मुखेनालपत्यपयन्त्रणम् ॥

Summary AI Blessed are her female companions, whom she looks upon with those smiling eyes and to whom she speaks without restraint with that mouth.

१३.१.३५

इत्यादि चिन्तयन्कृच्छ्रादहोरात्रं व्यतीत्य तम् ।
तदुपाध्यायसदनं द्वितीये ऽहन्यहं गतः ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus and passing that day and night with great difficulty, I went to the teacher's house on the following day.

१३.१.३६

तत्रोपेत्य सविस्रम्भकथामध्ये स सादरः ।
सुहृद्विजयसेनो मां सप्रहर्षो ऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥

Summary AI Having arrived there, in the midst of a confidential conversation, my friend Vijayasena, with respect and joy, said this to me.

१३.१.३७

स्वसुर्मे मदिरावत्या मुखान्मन्मित्त्रमीदृशम् ।
श्रुत्वा त्वां मामकी माता सस्नेहा द्रष्टुमिच्छति ॥

Summary AI Having heard about you as such a friend from the mouth of my sister Madirāvatī, my mother affectionately desires to see you.

१३.१.३८

तदेह्यस्मद्गृहं साकं मय स्नेहो ऽस्ति चेन्मयि ।
त्वत्पादपद्मरजसा तद्विभूषितमस्तु नः ॥

Summary AI Therefore, if you have any affection for me, come with me to our house; let it be graced by the dust of your lotus-like feet.

१३.१.३९

एतत्तद्वचनं सद्यो निर्वापणमभून्मम ।
मरुभुम्यध्वगस्येव महद्वर्षमशङ्कितम् ॥

Summary AI These words of his immediately became a source of relief for me, like a great unexpected rainfall for a traveler in a desert land.

१३.१.४०

तथेति तद्गृहं गत्वा दृष्ट्वा तन्मातरं ततः ।
तत्सत्कृतो ऽहं तत्रासं प्रियादर्शननिर्वृतः ॥

Summary AI Saying "so be it," I went to his house, and after seeing his mother and being honored by her, I remained there, delighted by the sight of my beloved.

१३.१.४१

गते विजयसेने ऽथ पित्राहूते मदन्तिकात् ।
मामेत्य मदिरावत्या धात्रेयी प्रणतावदत् ॥

Summary AI When Vijayaseṇa left me after being summoned from my side by his father, the nurse of Madirāvatī approached and spoke to me with a bow.

१३.१.४२

भर्तृदारिकयास्माकमुद्याने भर्तृदारक ।
विवृद्धिं मदिरावत्या नीता या मालतीलता ॥

Summary AI O Prince! In our garden, the jasmine creeper that was nurtured and brought to growth by Princess Madirāvatī...

१३.१.४३

नूतनो वर्तते तस्याः खलु पुष्पभरोद्गमः ।
मधुसंगमसानन्दविलासहसितोज्ज्वलः ॥

Summary AI ...is now bearing a fresh abundance of flowers, shining like a playful smile full of joy at the union with springtime.

१३.१.४४

विषह्यापतितांस्तस्याः कुसुमेषुशिलीमुखान् ।
मुकुलान्युच्चितान्यद्य भर्तृदारिकया स्वयम् ॥

Summary AI Today, the Princess herself gathered its buds, which feel like the unbearable arrows of the flower-arrowed god falling upon her.

१३.१.४५

मौक्तिकैरिव तैरेषा विधायैकावली तया ।
प्रहिता ते नवं वस्तु पूर्वं प्रेष्ठाय दीयते ॥

Summary AI Having fashioned this single-string garland with those buds as if with pearls, she has sent it to you; for a new thing is first given to one's beloved.

१३.१.४६

इत्युक्त्वा सार्पिता मह्यं माला चतुरया तया ।
सपञ्चफलकर्पूरैर्नागवल्लीदलैर्युता ॥

Summary AI Having said this, that clever woman handed me the garland along with betel leaves accompanied by the five fruits and camphor.

१३.१.४७

प्रियास्वहस्तरचितां कण्ठे कृत्वा च तामहम् ।
सुखं किमपिसंप्रापं तत्तदालिङ्गनाधिकम् ॥

Summary AI Placing that garland, fashioned by my beloved's own hands, around my neck, I attained an indescribable happiness exceeding that of her various embraces.

१३.१.४८

मुखे कृत्वा च ताम्बूलं तामवोचं प्रियासखीम् ।
किं ब्रवीम्यधिकं भद्रे हृदि कामो ममेदृशः ॥

Summary AI Putting the betel in my mouth, I said to that dear friend: 'O lady, what more can I say? This is the desire in my heart.'

१३.१.४९

त्यजेयं जीवितमिदं त्वद्वयस्याकृते यदि ।
तदेव मे जन्मफलं सा हि प्राणेषु मे प्रभुः ॥

Summary AI 'If I should give up this life for the sake of your friend, that would be the very fruit of my birth; for she is the mistress of my life.'