कथासरित्सागरः — द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः

द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः कूपस्थितं तत्र गन्धर्वः को ऽप्यवैक्षत ।
नरवाहनदत्तं तं वीणादत्त इति श्रुतः ॥

Summary AI Then, a certain gandharva known as Vīṇādatta saw Naravāhanadatta situated there in the well.

परार्थफलजन्मानो न स्युर्मार्गद्रुमा इव ।
तापच्छिदो महान्तश्चेज्जीर्णारण्यं जगद्भवेत् ॥

Summary AI If great beings, who like roadside trees exist for the sake of others and relieve suffering, did not exist, the world would become a desolate wilderness.

१४.२.३

यद्दृष्ट्वा तं स सुजनः पृष्ट्वा चान्वयनामनी ।
हस्ते ऽवलम्ब्योदहरत्कूपात्तस्मादुवाच च ॥

Summary AI Seeing him, that noble man asked for his lineage and name, then taking him by the hand, pulled him out of that well and spoke.

१४.२.४

मानुषो ऽसि न देवश्चेद्गन्धर्वनगरं कथम् ।
मानुषागम्यमेतत्त्वमागतः कथ्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI He asked, "If you are a human and not a god, tell me how you reached this city of gandharvas, which is inaccessible to mortals."

१४.२.५

विद्याधर्याहमानीय क्षिप्तो ऽत्रात्मबलादिति ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽपि स तं प्रत्यब्रवीत्तदा ॥

Summary AI Naravāhanadatta then replied to him, "I was brought and thrown here by a vidyādharī using her mystical power."

१४.२.६

ततस्तं वीक्ष्य सच्चक्रवर्तिचिह्नं गुणी गृहम् ।
नीत्वा स वीणादत्तः स्वैरुपचारैरुपाचरत् ॥

Summary AI Then the virtuous Vīṇādatta, observing him to possess the marks of a noble universal emperor, led him home and attended to him with hospitality.

१४.२.७

अन्येद्युस्तत्पुरं दृष्ट्वा वीणाहस्ताखिलप्रजम् ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्तं वीणादत्तं स पृष्टवान् ॥

Summary AI The next day, Naravāhanadatta, seeing all the people of that city with lutes in their hands, questioned Vīṇādatta.

१४.२.८

सर्वे ऽप्याबालमेते किं वीणाहस्ता जना इति ।
वीणादत्तो ऽपि स ततस्तमेवं प्रत्यभाषत ॥

Summary AI When asked why everyone, even children, carried lutes, Vīṇādatta replied to him in this manner.

१४.२.९

राजा सागरदत्ताख्यो गन्धर्वाणामिहास्ति यः ।
तस्य गन्धर्वदत्ताख्या सुतास्ति न्यक्कृताप्सराः ॥

Summary AI He said, "The king of the gandharvas here is Sāgaradatta, whose daughter Gandharvadattā surpasses even the apsarasas in beauty."

१४.२.१०

धात्रा कृतं सुधाचन्द्रचन्दनाद्यैरिवोचितैः ।
सर्वसुन्दरनिर्माणवर्णकायेव यद्वपुः ॥

Summary AI Her body seems to have been fashioned by the Creator using exquisite materials like nectar, the moon, and sandalwood, as the archetype of all beauty.

१४.२.११

सततं सा च गायन्ती वीणायां शौरिणा स्वयम् ।
दत्तं स्वगीतकं काष्ठां गान्धर्वे परमां गता ॥

Summary AI Constantly singing the song given to her by Śauri himself on the lute, she has attained the highest excellence in the art of music.

१४.२.१२

यो वादयति वीणायां त्रिभिर्ग्रामैश्च गायति ।
गान्धर्वे कोविदः सम्यग्वैष्णवं स्तुतिगीतकम् ॥

Summary AI The princess has resolved that whoever plays the lute perfectly in the three scales, being skilled in music and the hymn of praise to Viṣṇu...

१४.२.१३

स मे पतिः स्यादित्यस्या राजपुत्र्याश्च निश्चयः ।
तेन सर्वे ऽत्र वीणासु शिक्षन्ते न च तद्विदुः ॥

Summary AI ...shall be her husband. Therefore, everyone here practices on lutes, though they have not mastered the art.

१४.२.१४

एतच्छ्रुत्वैव सानन्दो वीणादत्तमुखाद्वचः ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽसौ राजपुत्रो जगाद तम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing these words from the mouth of Vīṇādatta, the prince Naravāhanadatta joyfully spoke to him.

१४.२.१५

अहं कलानां सर्वासां स्वयंवरवृतः पतिः ।
जानामि सर्वं गान्धर्वं त्रैलोक्योदरवर्ति यत् ॥

Summary AI "I am the self-chosen master of all arts; I know all the musical knowledge that exists within the three worlds."

१४.२.१६

इत्युक्तवन्तं स सुहृद्वीणादत्तो निनाय तम् ।
राज्ञः सागरदत्तस्य पार्श्वं तत्र जगाद च ॥

Summary AI When he had spoken thus, his friend Vīṇādatta led him to King Sāgaradatta and spoke there.

१४.२.१७

नरवाहनदत्तो ऽयं वत्सराजसुतः किल ।
इह विद्याधरीहस्ताद्विभष्टो नगरे तव ॥

Summary AI "This is indeed Naravāhanadatta, the son of the King of Vatsa, who has fallen into your city from the hands of a vidyādharī."

१४.२.१८

गान्धर्वाचार्य एवायं केशवस्तुतिगीतकम् ।
वेत्ति गन्धर्वदत्ताया त्रयोपरि महान्रसः ॥

Summary AI "He is a master of music and knows the hymn of praise to Keśava; thus, he and Gandharvadattā will share a great mutual passion."

१४.२.१९

तच्छ्रुत्वा सो ऽब्रवीद्राजा सत्यमेतन्मया श्रुतम् ।
गन्धर्वाणां मुखात्पूर्वं तन्मान्यो ऽयमिहाद्य नः ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the King said, "I have heard of this truth before from the gandharvas; therefore, he is worthy of our honor today."

१४.२.२०

देवांशश्चैष न भ्रान्तिर्देवभूमौ किमन्यथा ।
इह विद्याधरीसङ्गादागच्छेन्मानुषो भवन् ॥

Summary AI "He is surely a portion of a deity; otherwise, how could a mortal have come to this divine land through a vidyādharī?"

१४.२.२१

आनीयतां तद्गन्धर्वदत्ता वीक्षामहे ऽद्भुतम् ।
इति राज्ञोदिते जग्मुरानेतुं तां महत्तराः ॥

Summary AI The King commanded that Gandharvadattā be brought so they might witness the wonder of her talent. Upon hearing his order, the chamberlains immediately went to fetch her.

१४.२.२२

आगाच्च सा ततः कान्ता कुसुमाभरणोज्ज्वला ।
यौवनेन विघूर्णन्ती वातेनेवार्तवी लता ॥

Summary AI Then the lovely maiden arrived, radiant in her floral ornaments and swaying with the grace of youth, resembling a seasonal creeper moved by the wind.

१४.२.२३

उपविश्य पितुः पार्श्वे तद्वाक्याच्च क्षणान्तरे ।
भृत्यैः कथितवृत्तान्ता वीणायां गीतकं जगौ ॥

Summary AI Sitting beside her father and following his command after being informed of the situation by the servants, she began to sing a melody while playing the vīṇā.

१४.२.२४

स्वराञ्श्रुतिषु युञ्जन्त्यास्तस्या ब्राह्म्या इव श्रियः ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽभूद्गीते रूपे च विस्मितः ॥

Summary AI As she skillfully placed the notes upon the intervals, appearing like the goddess Brāhmī personified, Naravāhanadatta was struck with amazement at both her music and her beauty.

१४.२.२५

राजपुत्रि न ते वीणा सुस्वरा प्रतिभाति मे ।
जाने बालः स्थितस्तन्त्र्यामिति सो ऽत्र जगाद च ॥

Summary AI "O Princess, your lute does not seem perfectly tuned to me; I perceive that a hair is caught in the strings," Naravāhanadatta remarked during the performance.

१४.२.२६

ततो ऽत वीक्ष्यते यावद्बालस्तावदवापि सः ।
तेन सर्वे ऽपि ते जग्मुर्गन्धर्वा अपि विस्मयम् ॥

Summary AI When the instrument was inspected, the hair was indeed found exactly where he said. This revelation left everyone, including the celestial Gandharvas, in a state of great wonder.

१४.२.२७

राजपुत्र गृहाणेमां कर्णौ सिञ्चामृतेन नः ।
इति राजा सुताहस्ताद्वीणां तस्मै ददौ वदन् ॥

Summary AI "O Prince, take this instrument and sprinkle our ears with nectar," the King said, handing the vīṇā from his daughter’s hand to Naravāhanadatta.

१४.२.२८

सो ऽपि तां वादयन्विष्णोरगायद्गीतकं तथा ।
यथा ते तत्र गन्धर्वाश्चित्रन्यस्ता इवाभवन् ॥

Summary AI He played the lute and sang a hymn to Viṣṇu so exquisitely that the Gandharvas present became as motionless as figures depicted in a painting.

१४.२.२९

ततो गन्धर्वदत्ता सा दृष्ट्यैव प्रणयार्द्रया ।
तं वव्रे फुल्लनीलाब्जमालयेवास्तया स्वयम् ॥

Summary AI Then Gandharvadattā, her gaze moist with affection, chose him as her husband, as if she were casting a garland of blooming blue lotuses upon him.

१४.२.३०

तदालोक्य तथारूपां तत्प्रतिज्ञां स्मरंश्च सः ।
राजा गन्धर्वदत्तां तां सद्यस्तस्मै सुतां ददौ ॥

Summary AI Observing her devotion and recalling his earlier promise, the King immediately gave his daughter Gandharvadattā to Naravāhanadatta in marriage.

१४.२.३१

दिव्यातोद्यादिकश्चात्र विवाहो यस्तयोरभूत् ।
कोपमा कथ्यते तस्य येनान्यदुपमीयते ॥

Summary AI Their wedding, celebrated with divine music and instruments, was of such peerless splendor that no other ceremony could ever be compared to it.

१४.२.३२

ततस्तया समं तत्र तस्थौ गन्धर्वदत्तया ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽसौ दिव्यैर्भोगैर्नवोढया ॥

Summary AI Naravāhanadatta then resided there with his new bride, Gandharvadattā, enjoying various divine pleasures together in happiness.

१४.२.३३

एकस्मिंश्च दिने द्रष्टुं निर्गतो नगरश्रियम् ।
तांस्तान्प्रदेशानालोक्य पुरोद्यानं विवेश सः ॥

Summary AI One day, having gone out to admire the beauty of the city, Naravāhanadatta visited various places and eventually entered the royal garden.

१४.२.३४

तत्र व्योम्नो ऽवरोहन्तीं सो ऽपश्यद्दिव्ययोषितम् ।
समं दुहित्रानभ्रे ऽपि सवृष्टिमिव विद्युतम् ॥

Summary AI There he witnessed a divine woman descending from the sky with her daughter, appearing like lightning accompanied by rain even in a cloudless sky.

१४.२.३५

वत्सराजसुतः सो ऽयं पुत्रि भावि पतिस्तव ।
इति तां वीक्ष्य जल्पन्तीं ज्ञानतस्तां निजां सुताम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing her daughter and knowing the truth through her divine power, the woman spoke to her, stating that this son of the King of the Vatsas was her destined husband.

१४.२.३६

का त्वं किमागतासीति सो ऽपृच्छत्तामुपागताम् ।
सपीप्सितोपक्रमिणी दिव्ययोषित्तमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI When Naravāhanadatta asked her identity and her purpose, the divine woman approached him and began to speak of the matters he desired to know.

१४.२.३७

देवसिंहाभिधानस्य विद्याधरपतेरहम् ।
भार्या धनवती नाम कन्यैषा च सुता मम ॥

Summary AI "I am Dhanavatī, the wife of the Vidyādhara lord named Devasiṃha, and this maiden here is my daughter," she explained.

१४.२.३८

चण्डसिंहस्य भगिनी नाम्नेयमजिनावती ।
अस्या भर्ता त्वमादिष्टो गगनोद्गतया गिरा ॥

Summary AI "Her name is Ajināvatī, the sister of Caṇḍasiṃha. A voice from the sky has already prophesied that you are to be her husband."

१४.२.३९

वेगवत्यात्र निक्षिप्तं भाविविद्याधरेश्वरम् ।
बुद्ध्वाहं निजविद्यातस्त्वां प्राप्ता वक्तुमीप्सितम् ॥

Summary AI "Knowing through my divine science that Vegavatī placed you here, the future emperor of the Vidyādharas, I have come to convey this desired information."

१४.२.४०

न विद्याधरगम्ये ऽत्र स्थाने युक्तं तवासितुम् ।
ते हि द्वेषेण हन्युस्त्वामप्राप्तपदमेककम् ॥

Summary AI "It is not safe for you to remain in this place accessible to Vidyādharas; they might maliciously kill you while you are alone and have not yet attained your sovereign rank."

१४.२.४१

तदेहि तदगम्यां त्वां नयावः सांप्रतं भुवम् ।
नेन्दुः क्षिपति किं कालं परिक्षीणो ऽर्कमण्डले ॥

Summary AI She said, "Come, let us now take you to a land inaccessible to him. Does not the waning moon bide its time within the solar orb?"

१४.२.४२

संप्राप्ते ऽवसरे चैतां सुतां मे परिणेष्यसि ।
इत्युक्त्वैव तमादाय ससुता सा खमुद्ययौ ॥

Summary AI "When the right time comes, you shall marry this daughter of mine." Saying this, she took him and, accompanied by her daughter, flew into the sky.

१४.२.४३

श्रावस्यां पुरि नीत्वैव निक्षिप्योपवने च तम् ।
समं तयाजिनावत्या सुतया सा तिरोदधे ॥

Summary AI Having brought him to the city of Śrāvastī and left him in a garden, she disappeared along with her daughter Ajināvatī.

१४.२.४४

तत्र प्रसेनजिद्राजा दूरादाखेटकागतः ।
ददर्श राजपुत्रं तमुदाराकारलक्षणम् ॥

Summary AI There, King Prasenajit, returning from a long hunting trip, saw that prince who possessed noble features and auspicious marks.

१४.२.४५

स सकौतुकमभ्येत्य पृष्ट्वा नाम कुलं तथा ।
प्रीतः सप्रश्रयं राजा निनायैतं स्वमन्दिरम् ॥

Summary AI Approaching him with curiosity and asking his name and lineage, the pleased king respectfully led him to his palace.

१४.२.४६

आबद्धवारणघटं वाजिराजिविराजितम् ।
भ्रमणश्रान्तराजश्रीविश्रान्तिभवनोपमम् ॥

Summary AI The palace was crowded with herds of elephants and adorned with rows of horses, resembling a resting place for the Goddess of Royal Fortune weary from wandering.

१४.२.४७

यत्र तत्र स्थितं सोत्का नरं कल्याणभाजनम् ।
संपदो ऽभिसरन्त्येव प्रियं जनमिवाङ्गनाः ॥

Summary AI Prosperity surely seeks out a man destined for good fortune, wherever he may be, just as longing women hasten toward their beloved.

१४.२.४८

यत्स तस्मै ददौ राजा गुणलुब्धो निजां सुताम् ।
नरवाहनदत्ताय भगीरथयशोभिधाम् ॥

Summary AI Consequently, the king, attracted by his virtues, gave his own daughter named Bhagīrathayaśas to Naravāhanadatta in marriage.

१४.२.४९

तया समं च तत्रासीन्महार्हविभवः सुखम् ।
लक्ष्म्येव मूर्तया धात्रा तद्विनोदाय सृष्टया ॥

Summary AI He lived there happily in great luxury with her, who seemed like the Goddess Lakṣmī incarnate, created by the Creator for his amusement.