कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

देहार्धधृतकान्तो ऽपि तपस्वी निर्गुणो ऽपि यः ।
जगत्स्तुत्यो नमस्तस्मै चित्ररूपाय शंभवे ॥

Summary AI Salutation to Śambhu of manifold form, who, though bearing his beloved on half his body, is an ascetic, and though beyond qualities (nirguṇa), is praised by the whole world.

१७.१.२

चलत्कर्णाग्रविक्षिप्तगण्डोड्डीनालिमण्डलम् ।
धुन्वानं विघ्नसंघातमिव विघ्नान्तकं नुमः ॥

Summary AI We bow to Vighnāntaka (Gaṇeśa), who, by the flapping of his ears, disperses the swarm of bees flying from his temples, as if he were driving away a multitude of obstacles.

१७.१.३

एवं तत्रासितगिरौ कश्यपस्याश्रमे मुनेः ।
गोपालकस्य निकटे मातुलस्य तपस्यतः ॥

Summary AI Thus, Naravāhanadatta was at Mount Asita in the hermitage of Sage Kaśyapa, near his maternal uncle Gopālaka, who was performing penance.

१७.१.४

वर्षाकालातिवाहाय निवसन्सचिवैर्युतः ।
सर्वविद्याधरेन्द्रैकचक्रवर्तिपदे स्थितः ॥

Summary AI Established in the rank of the sole emperor of all vidyādhara kings, he resided there with his ministers to spend the rainy season.

१७.१.५

नरवाहनदत्तो ऽसौ तैस्तैर्विद्याधराधिपैः ।
अन्वासितः स्वभार्याभिः पञ्चविंशतिभिर्वृतः ॥

Summary AI Naravāhanadatta was attended by various vidyādhara lords and surrounded by his twenty-five wives.

१७.१.६

ब्रुवन्कथाः स मुनिभिः सपत्नीकैरपृच्छ्यत ।
यदा मानसवेगेन देवी मदनमञ्चुका ॥

Summary AI While telling stories, he was questioned by the sages and their wives: 'When Queen Madanamañcukā was abducted by Mānasavega...'

१७.१.७

माययापहृतैषाभूत्तदा विरहनिःसहम् ।
व्यनोदयत्कथं कस्त्वामिति नः कथ्यतां त्वया ॥

Summary AI '...by means of magic, who comforted you then, and how did you endure the unbearable pangs of separation? Please tell us.'

१७.१.८

इति तैर्मुनिभिः पृष्टस्तद्भार्याभिश्च तत्र सः ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽथ वक्तुमेवं प्रचक्रमे ॥

Summary AI Thus questioned by the sages and their wives, Naravāhanadatta then began to speak as follows.

१७.१.९

तदा हृतायां मे तस्यां देव्यां पापेन वैरिणा ।
मयानुभूतं दुःखं यत्तत्कियत्कथ्यते ऽधुना ॥

Summary AI 'How can I now describe the extent of the sorrow I experienced when that queen was carried off by my sinful enemy?'

१७.१.१०

न तत्पुरं न चोद्यानं गृहं वा यत्र नाभ्रमम् ।
चिन्वन्नहमिमामार्तः सर्वे च सचिवा मम ॥

Summary AI 'There was no city, garden, or house where I and all my ministers did not wander in our distress, searching for her.'

१७.१.११

उपविष्टं च सोन्मादमिवोद्याने तरोस्तले ।
आह स्म लब्धावसरः सान्त्वयन्गोमुखो ऽथ माम् ॥

Summary AI 'Then Gomukha, finding an opportunity, spoke to comfort me as I sat under a tree in the garden like one distracted by madness.'

१७.१.१२

मा गा विक्लवतां देवीमचिरात्प्राप्स्यसि प्रभो ।
देवा हि द्युचरैश्वर्यमादिशंस्ते ऽनया सह ॥

Summary AI "O Lord, do not yield to despair; you will soon recover the queen. Indeed, the gods have ordained for you the sovereignty over the sky-goers (vidyādharas) along with her."

१७.१.१३

तदवश्यं तथा भावि नहि तद्वचनं मृषा ।
धीराश्च सोढविरहाः प्राप्नुवन्तीष्टसंगमम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, it will certainly happen; the divine word is never false. Brave men who endure separation eventually attain union with their beloved."

१७.१.१४

रामभद्रो नलो राजा तवैव च पितामहाः ।
विषह्य विरहं किं न प्रेयसीभिः समागताः ॥

Summary AI "Did not Rāmabhadra, King Nala, and even your own ancestors reunite with their beloveds after enduring the pain of separation?"

१७.१.१५

स मुक्ताफलकेतुश्च चक्रवर्ती द्युचारिणाम् ।
पद्मावत्या न किं प्राप वियुक्तः संगमं पुनः ॥

Summary AI "Did not Muktāphalaketu, the emperor of the sky-goers, reunite with Padmāvatī after being separated from her?"

१७.१.१६

तथा च शृणु देवाहं तत्कथां कथयामि ते ।
इत्युक्त्वा गोमुखो मह्यमिमामकथयत्कथाम् ॥

Summary AI "O King, listen, I shall tell you that story." Having said this, Gomukha told me the following tale.'

१७.१.१७

अस्तीह प्रथिता पृथ्व्यां नाम्ना वाराणसी पुरी ।
द्युसरिद्भूषिता मूर्तिः शांभवीवापवर्गदा ॥

Summary AI There is a famous city on this earth named Vārāṇasī. Adorned by the celestial river (Gaṅgā), it grants liberation like the very form of Śambhu.

१७.१.१८

सुरसद्मध्वजपटैर्मरुता नमितोद्धतैः ।
इहैत मोक्षं यातेति ब्रुवाणेवास्निशं जनान् ॥

Summary AI With the banners of its temples raised and lowered by the wind, the city seems to be constantly calling out to people, 'Come here and attain liberation!'

१७.१.१९

सितप्रासादशिखरा चन्द्रचूडनिवासभूः ।
भाति शैवगणाकीर्णा कैलासाद्रिस्थलीव या ॥

Summary AI With the white peaks of its palaces, being the abode of the moon-crested god (Śiva), and crowded with devotees of Śiva, it shines like the plateau of Mount Kailāsa.

१७.१.२०

तस्यामभूद्ब्रह्मदत्तो नाम राजा पुरा पुरि ।
शिवैकभक्तो ब्रह्मण्यः शूरो दाता क्षमापरः ॥

Summary AI In ancient times, there lived in that city a king named Brahmadatta, who was a devoted worshipper of Śiva, a protector of Brahmanical culture, brave, generous, and patient.

१७.१.२१

न दुर्गेष्वपि चस्खाल न ममज्जाम्बुधिष्वपि ।
भुवि भ्रमन्ती यस्याज्ञा न द्वीपान्यपि नातरत् ॥

Summary AI The king's command traversed the earth without faltering in difficult terrains, sinking in oceans, or failing to reach distant islands.

१७.१.२२

आह्लाददायिनी तस्य चकोरस्येव वल्लभा ।
आसीत्सोमप्रभा देवी नेत्रपेयास्य साप्यभूत् ॥

Summary AI His beloved Queen Somaprabhā was as delightful to him as a mate is to a cakora bird; she was a feast for his eyes.

१७.१.२३

शिवभूत्यभिधानश्च मन्त्री तस्याभवद्द्विजः ।
बृहस्पतिसमो बुद्ध्या सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः ॥

Summary AI He had a brāhmaṇa minister named Śivabhūti, who equaled Bṛhaspati in wisdom and was a master of the meaning of all scriptures.

१७.१.२४

स कदाचिन्नृपश्चन्द्रप्रासादे शयने स्थितः ।
ददर्श हंसयुगलं गगनेनागतं निशि ॥

Summary AI Once, while resting on his bed in the Moon Palace at night, the king observed a pair of swans flying through the sky.

१७.१.२५

दीप्तजाम्बूनदमयं राजहंसावलीवृतम् ।
अभ्रगङ्गाजलोत्क्षिप्तमिव हेमाम्बुजद्वयम् ॥

Summary AI Radiant like molten gold and surrounded by a flock of royal swans, the pair appeared like two golden lotuses tossed up by the waters of the celestial Gaṅgā.

१७.१.२६

गते दृष्टिपथात्तस्मिन्नत्याश्चर्ये स भूपतिः ।
पर्यतप्यत सोत्कण्ठः पुनस्तद्दर्शनं विना ॥

Summary AI When that wondrous sight vanished from view, the king was overcome with longing and grieved at the loss of their presence.

१७.१.२७

अनिद्र एव नीत्वा तां निशां प्रातः स मन्त्रिणम् ।
यथा दृष्टं तथाख्याय शिवभूतिमुवाच तम् ॥

Summary AI After passing a sleepless night, the king described the vision to his minister Śivabhūti in the morning and spoke to him.

१७.१.२८

तद्यथेष्टं न तौ हेमहंसौ पश्याम्यहं यदि ।
तत्किमेतेन राज्येन जीवितेनापि वा मम ॥

Summary AI "If I cannot behold those golden swans as I desire," the king said, "then what is the purpose of my kingdom or even my life?"

१७.१.२९

इति राज्ञोदिते मन्त्री शिवभूतिर्जगाद तम् ।
अस्त्युपायो ऽत्र कश्चित्तं शृणु देववदामि ते ॥

Summary AI Following the king's words, the minister Śivabhūti replied, "There is a way, O King. Listen, and I shall explain it to you."

१७.१.३०

विचित्रकर्मयोगेन संसारे ऽस्मिन्प्रजापतेः ।
विचित्रो भूतसर्गो ऽयमपरिच्छेद्य एव यः ॥

Summary AI "In this world, through the diverse workings of Prajāpati, there exists a multifaceted creation of beings that is truly unfathomable."

१७.१.३१

तत्र दुःखमये मोहादुद्भवत्सुखबुद्धयः ।
निवासाहारपानादिरसाद्रज्यन्ति जन्तवः ॥

Summary AI "In this world of sorrow, creatures deluded by perceived happiness become attached to the pleasures of shelter, food, and drink."

१७.१.३२

तेषां चाहारपानादि निवासं च पृथग्विधम् ।
स्वस्वजात्यनुरूपेण प्रीतिदं विदधे विधिः ॥

Summary AI "The Creator has ordained diverse kinds of food, drink, and dwellings for them, each suited to their specific species and providing them delight."

१७.१.३३

तद्देव कारय महद्धंसानामाश्रयं सरः ।
कमलोत्पलसंछन्नं निर्बाधं रक्षिरक्षितम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, O King, construct a vast lake as a sanctuary for swans, covered with lotuses and lilies, undisturbed, and well-guarded by keepers."

१७.१.३४

पक्षिप्रियं च तत्रान्नं प्रक्षेपय सदा तटे ।
यवदायान्ति तत्राशु नानादिग्भ्यो ऽम्बुपक्षिणः ॥

Summary AI "Scatter favorite bird food regularly along its banks, so that water-birds from all directions will soon flock there."

१७.१.३५

तन्मध्ये नचिरादत्र तौ हंसावप्युपैष्यतः ।
ततो द्रक्ष्यस्यजस्रं तौ मा कृथा दुर्मनस्कताम् ॥

Summary AI "Among those birds, those two swans will also soon arrive; then you shall see them constantly. Do not be disheartened."

१७.१.३६

इत्युक्ते मन्त्रिणा तेन स राजा तदकारयत् ।
यथोक्तं क्षणसंपन्नं ब्रह्मदत्तो महासरः ॥

Summary AI At the minister's advice, King Brahmadatta immediately had that vast lake constructed exactly as described.

१७.१.३७

हंससारसचक्राह्वसंश्रिते तत्र कालतः ।
आगत्य पद्मखण्डे तद्धंसयुग्ममुपाविशत् ॥

Summary AI In time, as the lake became frequented by swans, cranes, and cakravāka birds, that specific pair of swans arrived and settled amidst a cluster of lotuses.

१७.१.३८

तदुपेत्य स विज्ञप्तस्तत्सरोरक्षिभिर्नृपः ।
अगादेतत्सरो हृष्टः सिद्धं मत्वा मनोरमम् ॥

Summary AI Informed by the lake-keepers, the king, delighted that his beautiful project was successful, proceeded to the lake.

१७.१.३९

ददर्श हेमहंसौ च तत्र तौ दूरतो ऽर्चयन् ।
आश्वासयच्च निक्षिप्य सक्षीराञ्शालितण्डुलान् ॥

Summary AI There he beheld the two golden swans; honoring them from a distance, he comforted them by offering rice grains mixed with milk.

१७.१.४०

विशुद्धकलधौताङ्गौ मुक्तामणिमयेक्षणौ ।
प्रवालचञ्चुचरणौ तार्क्ष्यरत्नाग्रपक्षती ॥

Summary AI They possessed bodies of pure gold, eyes of pearls, beaks and feet of coral, and wing-tips adorned with emeralds.

१७.१.४१

विस्रम्भोपगतौ तौ स हंसौ राजा विभावयन् ।
मुदा सदावसत्प्रीत्या तत्रैव सरसस्तटे ॥

Summary AI Recognizing those two swans who had approached him with confidence, the King continued to reside joyfully and affectionately right there on the bank of the lake.

१७.१.४२

एकदा चैकदेशे ऽत्र सरोरोधसि पर्यटन् ।
अम्लायिपुष्परचितां पूजां राज ददर्श सः ॥

Summary AI Once, while wandering in a certain spot on the bank of the lake, the King observed an offering made with unfading flowers.

१७.१.४३

केन पूजा कृतैषेति पप्रच्छात्र स रक्षिणः ।
ततस्ते तं सरःपाला नृपमेवं व्यजिज्ञपन् ॥

Summary AI The King asked the guards there, "Who performed this worship?" Then, those lake-keepers replied to the King in this manner.

१७.१.४४

त्रिसंध्यं सरसि स्नास्त्वा हंसावेतौ हिरण्मयौ ।
इह नित्यमिमां पूजां कृत्वा ध्यानेन तिष्ठतः ॥

Summary AI "These two golden swans, having bathed in the lake at the three junctions of the day, regularly perform this worship here and remain in meditation."

१७.१.४५

तन्न विद्मो महाराज किमेतन्महदद्भुतम् ।
एतच्छ्रुत्वा स रक्षिभ्यश्चिन्तयामास भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI "O Great King, we do not know what this great wonder is." Hearing this from the guards, the King began to reflect on the situation.

१७.१.४६

क्व हंसौ क्वेदृशी चर्या ध्रुवमस्त्यत्र कारणम् ।
तत्करिष्ये तपस्तावद्यावद्वेत्स्यामि काविमौ ॥

Summary AI "Where are swans, and where is such conduct? Surely there is a reason here. Therefore, I shall perform penance until I discover who these two really are."

१७.१.४७

इति संचिन्त्य नृपतिस्त्यक्ताहारः स भार्यया ।
मन्त्रिणा च समं चक्रे हरध्यानपरस्तपः ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus, the King, having given up food, performed penance focused on the meditation of Hara along with his wife and minister.

१७.१.४८

अथ तौ दिव्यहंसौ तं द्वादशाहमुपोषितम् ।
उपेत्य व्यक्तया वाचा स्वप्ने राजानमूचतुः ॥

Summary AI Then, those two divine swans approached the King, who had fasted for twelve days, and spoke to him in a dream with clear and distinct words.

१७.१.४९

राजन्नुत्तिष्ठ वक्ष्यावः सभार्यासचिवस्य ते ।
प्रातः सर्वं यथातत्त्वं विजने पारणे कृते ॥

Summary AI "O King, arise! In the morning, after your breakfast is completed in solitude, we shall tell you, along with your wife and minister, everything exactly as it is."

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