कथासरित्सागरः — द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः

द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः स ब्रह्मदत्तस्तौ दिव्यहंसौ नृपो ऽब्रवीत् ।
कथं विद्युद्ध्वजं मुक्ताफलकेतुर्जघान तम् ॥

Summary AI Then King Brahmadatta asked those two divine swans, "How did Muktāphalaketu slay Vidyuddhvaja?"

शापमर्त्यत्वमुत्तीर्य प्राप पद्मावतीं कथम् ।
एतत्कथयतां तावत्कर्तास्मि प्रकृतं ततः ॥

Summary AI "How did he overcome the mortality of his curse and win Padmāvatī? Tell me this first, then I will return to the matter at hand."

१७.२.३

तच्छ्रुत्वा तत्कथामेवं ताववर्णयतां खगौ ।
आसीद्विद्युत्प्रभो नाम दैत्येन्द्रो देवदुर्जयः ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing this, the two birds narrated the tale: "There once was a lord of the Daityas named Vidyutprabha, who was invincible even to the gods."

१७.२.४

स गत्वा जाह्नवीतीरे सभार्यः पुत्रकाम्यया ।
ब्रह्माणमाराधयितुं चक्रे वर्षशतं तपः ॥

Summary AI Desiring a son, he went to the banks of the Jāhnavī with his wife and performed penance for a hundred years to worship Brahmā.

१७.२.५

तपस्तुष्टस्य स ततः सुरारिर्ब्रह्मणो वरात् ।
प्राप विद्युद्ध्वजं नाम त्रिदशावध्यमात्मजम् ॥

Summary AI From the boon of Brahmā, who was pleased by his penance, that enemy of the gods obtained a son named Vidyuddhvaja, who was invulnerable to the immortals.

१७.२.६

स बालो ऽपि महावीर्यो दैत्यराजसुतो बलैः ।
रक्ष्यमाणं चतुर्दिक्कं दृष्ट्वा स्वपुरमेकदा ॥

Summary AI Once, that son of the Daitya king, though a child but of great valor, observed his city being guarded on all four sides by armies.

१७.२.७

वयस्यमेकमप्राक्षीद्भयमत्र कुतः सखे ।
येनेदं रक्ष्यते नित्यं नगरं सैनिकैरिति ॥

Summary AI He asked a friend, "O friend, from where does fear arise here, that this city must be constantly protected by soldiers?"

१७.२.८

ततो वयस्यः सो ऽवादीदस्ति नस्त्रिदशेश्वरः ।
प्रतिपक्षस्तदर्थो ऽयं पुररक्षणसंविधिः ॥

Summary AI The friend replied, "The Lord of the Immortals is our rival; it is for this reason that these measures for guarding the city are established."

१७.२.९

दन्तिनां दशलक्षाणि रथानां च चतुर्दश ।
त्रिंशल्लक्षाणि चाश्वानां पत्तीनां दशकोटयः ॥

Summary AI "Ten lakhs of elephants, fourteen lakhs of chariots, thirty lakhs of horses, and ten crores of infantry..."

१७.२.१०

यामे यामे ऽभिरक्षन्ति पुरं वारक्रमादिदम् ।
स च प्रहरवारो ऽब्दैस्तेषामायाति सप्तभिः ॥

Summary AI "...guard this city watch after watch in rotation. Their turn to guard the city comes but once every seven years."

१७.२.११

तच्छ्रुत्वा सो ऽब्रवीद्विद्युद्ध्वजो धिग्राज्यमीदृशम् ।
रक्ष्यते यत्किलान्येषां बाहुभिर्न स्वबाहुना ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Vidyuddhvaja exclaimed, "Fie on such a kingdom that is protected by the arms of others and not by one's own strength!"

१७.२.१२

तत्कृत्वाहं तपस्तीव्रं करिष्यामि तथा यथा ।
भुजनिर्जितशत्रोर्मे न स्यादेषा विडम्बना ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, I shall perform intense penance to ensure that I, who will conquer enemies with my own arms, never face such a mockery."

१७.२.१३

इत्युक्त्वैव वयस्यं तं वारयन्तं निषिध्य सः ।
विद्युद्ध्वजो ययौ पित्रोरनुक्त्वा तपसे वनम् ॥

Summary AI After saying this and dismissing his friend who tried to stop him, Vidyuddhvaja went to the forest for penance without informing his parents.

१७.२.१४

बुद्ध्वाथ पितरौ स्नेहादन्वागत्य तमूचतुः ।
क्व बालस्त्वं क्व च तपः कष्टं मा पुत्र साहसम् ॥

Summary AI His parents, discovering his departure, followed him out of affection and said, "O son, how can a child like you perform penance? Alas, do not be so rash!"

१७.२.१५

जितशत्रुं च राज्यं नस्त्रैलोक्ये नु ततो ऽधिकम् ।
किं वाञ्छसि वृथात्मानं शोषयन्किं दुनोषि नौ ॥

Summary AI "Our kingdom's enemies are already defeated; what more is there to gain in the three worlds? Why do you grieve us by needlessly withering your body?"

१७.२.१६

एवं वदन्तौ पितरौ विद्युद्ध्वज उवाच सः ।
बाल्य एवार्जयिष्यामि दिव्यास्त्राणि तपोबलात् ॥

Summary AI To his parents speaking thus, Vidyuddhvaja replied, "Even in my youth, I shall acquire divine weapons through the power of penance."

१७.२.१७

निःशत्रु च जगद्राज्यमेतेनैव न वेद्मि किम् ।
रक्ष्यते नित्यसंनद्धैः सैन्यैः स्वपुरमेव यत् ॥

Summary AI "With these weapons, I shall make the sovereign kingdom free of enemies. Do I not know that even our own city is guarded by soldiers always in armor?"

१७.२.१८

इत्यादि निश्चयेनोक्त्वा पितरौ च विसृज्य सः ।
विद्युद्ध्वजो ऽसुरश्चक्रे विरिञ्चाराधनं तपः ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus with resolve and dismissing his parents, the Asura Vidyuddhvaja performed penance to worship Viriñca.

१७.२.१९

फलाहारो ऽम्बुभक्षश्च वायुभुग्वर्जिताशनः ।
त्रीणि त्रीणि क्रमात्तस्थौ दैत्यो वर्षशतानि सः ॥

Summary AI The Daitya remained for three hundred years each, successively subsisting on fruits, then water, then air, and finally on nothing at all.

१७.२.२०

ततो ब्रह्मा जगत्क्षोभक्षममालोक्य तत्तपः ।
एत्यास्त्राणि ददौ तस्मै ब्रह्मादीनि तदर्थिने ॥

Summary AI Then Brahmā, seeing that his penance was capable of agitating the entire world, appeared and granted the divine weapons, including the brahmāstra, to the seeker.

१७.२.२१

ब्रह्मास्त्रमेतदन्येन नास्त्रेण प्रतिहन्यते ।
विना पाशुपतं रौद्रमस्त्रमस्मदगोचरम् ॥

Summary AI This Brahmāstra cannot be countered by any other weapon except the fierce Pāśupata weapon of Rudra, which is beyond our reach.

१७.२.२२

तदकाले त्वया नैतत्प्रयोक्तव्यं जयैषिणा ।
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ ब्रह्मा स दैत्यश्चागमद्गृहम् ॥

Summary AI Therefore, this should not be used by you at an improper time while seeking victory. Having said this, Brahmā departed, and that daitya returned home.

१७.२.२३

ततस्तदुत्सवायातैः सर्वैः स स्वबलैः सह ।
विद्युद्ध्वजः समं पित्रा प्रायाच्छक्रजिगीषया ॥

Summary AI Then, Vidyuddhvaja, along with his father and all his forces who had arrived for the festival, set out with the desire to conquer Śakra.

१७.२.२४

शक्रस्तदागमं बुध्वा कृतरक्षस्त्रिविष्टपे ।
सख्या विद्याधरेन्द्रेण सहितश्चन्द्रकेतुना ॥

Summary AI Upon learning of his arrival, Śakra secured heaven and joined his friend Candraketu, the lord of the Vidyādharas.

१७.२.२५

पद्मशेखरसंज्ञेन गन्धर्वाधीश्वरेण च ।
सदेवलोकपालो ऽग्रे युयुत्सुस्तस्य निर्ययौ ॥

Summary AI Accompanied by the Gandharva king named Padmaśekhara and the world-protectors, he went forth to the front, eager to fight.

१७.२.२६

प्राप विद्युद्ध्वजश्चात्र बलैराच्छादिताम्बरः ।
ब्रह्मरुद्रादयश्चैतमाहवं द्रष्टुमाययुः ॥

Summary AI Vidyuddhvaja arrived there, his armies veiling the sky. Brahmā, Rudra, and others also came to witness this battle.

१७.२.२७

ततः प्रववृते युद्धं तयोरुभयसैन्ययोः ।
परस्परास्त्रसंपातनिरुद्धार्कान्धकारितम् ॥

Summary AI Then, a battle commenced between the two armies, darkened because the sun was blocked by the collision of their mutual weapons.

१७.२.२८

अमर्षवातक्षुभितो वाहिनीशतनिर्भरः ।
लुठद्वाजिगजग्राहो ववृधे समरार्णवः ॥

Summary AI The ocean of battle swelled, agitated by the wind of wrath, filled with hundreds of rivers of armies, and having falling horses and elephants as its crocodiles.

१७.२.२९

द्वन्द्वयुद्धेषु देवानां संप्रवृत्तेष्वथासुरैः ।
शक्रं विद्युत्प्रभो ऽप्यागाद्विद्युद्ध्वजपिता क्रुधा ॥

Summary AI When the individual duels between the gods and the asuras began, Vidyutprabha, the father of Vidyuddhvaja, also approached Śakra in a rage.

१७.२.३०

अस्त्रप्रत्यस्त्रयुद्धेन शनैस्तेनामरद्विषा ।
शक्रो ऽभिभूयमानो ऽथ तस्मै वज्रमवाक्षिपत् ॥

Summary AI Then, being gradually overwhelmed in the fight of missiles and counter-missiles by that enemy of the gods, Śakra hurled the vajra at him.

१७.२.३१

वज्राहतः स दैत्यो ऽत्र पपात गतजीवितः ।
विद्युद्ध्वजो ऽथ तत्क्रोधादभ्यधावच्छतक्रतुम् ॥

Summary AI The daitya fell there, struck by the vajra and deprived of life. Then, Vidyuddhvaja, out of anger for that, rushed towards Śatakratu.

१७.२.३२

अप्राणसंशये चादौ तस्मै ब्रह्मास्त्रमक्षिपत् ।
अन्ये च प्राहरन्नन्यैस्तस्मिन्नस्त्रैर्महासुराः ॥

Summary AI In the face of mortal danger, he first launched the Brahmāstra at him, while other great asuras struck him with various other weapons.

१७.२.३३

सो ऽथ ध्यात्वेश्वरादिष्टमस्त्रं पाशुपतं क्षणात् ।
अग्रोपस्थितमभ्यर्च्य शक्रश्चिक्षेप शत्रुषु ॥

Summary AI Then Śakra, meditating on the Pāśupata weapon ordained by the Lord, worshiped it as it appeared instantly before him and hurled it at the enemies.

१७.२.३४

तेन कालाग्निनास्त्रेण दग्धं तत्सैन्यमासुरम् ।
विद्युद्ध्वजस्तु बालत्वादहतो मूर्च्छितो ऽपतत् ॥

Summary AI That asura army was consumed by that weapon, which was like the fire of destruction, but Vidyuddhvaja, due to his childhood, was not killed but fell unconscious.

१७.२.३५

न हिनस्ति तदस्त्रं हि बालं वृद्धं पराङ्मुखम् ।
ततो लब्धजया देवाः स्वस्थानान्यखिला ययुः ॥

Summary AI For that weapon does not harm a child, an old man, or one who has turned away. Then, all the victorious gods went to their respective places.

१७.२.३६

सो ऽपि विद्युद्ध्वजो ध्वस्तः सुचिराल्लब्धचेतनः ।
शोचन्पलाय्य मिलितानवोचच्छेषसैनिकान् ॥

Summary AI The defeated Vidyuddhvaja, having regained consciousness after a long time, spoke grievingly to the remaining soldiers who had fled and regrouped.

१७.२.३७

जयिनो ऽपि जिताः स्मो ऽद्य ब्रह्मास्त्रे प्रत्युतार्जिते ।
तत्त्यक्ष्याम्याहवे गत्वा शक्रमासाद्य जीवितम् ॥

Summary AI Today, we are defeated despite having acquired the Brahmāstra. Therefore, I will go to the battle, encounter Śakra, and give up my life.

१७.२.३८

हते पितरि शक्ष्यामि न गन्तुं स्वपुरं पुनः ।
इत्युक्तवन्तं तं मन्त्री वृद्धो वक्ति स्म पैतृकः ॥

Summary AI "With my father slain, I cannot return to my own city," to him who spoke thus, an old ancestral minister said:

१७.२.३९

अकालमुक्तं ब्रह्मास्त्रमन्यमुक्तास्त्रमन्थरम् ।
अन्यास्त्रासहनैशानमहास्त्रव्याहतं हि तत् ॥

Summary AI The Brahmāstra released out of season is slowed by other discharged missiles; indeed, it was countered by the supreme weapon of Īśāna, which is intolerant of other weapons.

१७.२.४०

तल्लब्धजयमाक्षेप्तुं नाकाले शत्रुमर्हसि ।
एवं हि तस्योपचयः स्वनाशश्च कृतो भवेत् ॥

Summary AI Therefore, you should not challenge a victorious enemy at an inopportune time; for in this way, his strength is increased and your own destruction is ensured.

१७.२.४१

धीरो हि रक्षन्नात्मानं काले प्राप्य बलं रिपोः ।
मन्युप्रतिक्रियां कृत्वा विश्वश्लाघ्यं यशो ऽश्नुते ॥

Summary AI A wise man, protecting himself, awaits the right time to counter his enemy's strength; by thus avenging his anger, he attains world-renowned fame.

१७.२.४२

इति वृद्धेन तेनोक्तो विद्युद्ध्वज उवाच सः ।
तर्ह्यस्मद्राज्यरक्षार्थं यात यूयमहं पुनः ॥

Summary AI Addressed thus by the elder, Vidyuddhvaja replied, "Then you go to protect our kingdom, while I shall proceed further."

१७.२.४३

तमेवाराधयिष्यामि गत्वा सर्वेश्वरं शिवम् ।
इत्युक्त्वानिच्छतो ऽप्येतन्विससर्जैव सो ऽनुगान् ॥

Summary AI Declaring that he would go to worship Śiva, the Lord of all, he dismissed his followers even though they were unwilling to leave him.

१७.२.४४

गत्वा च पञ्चभिः सार्धं वयस्यैर्दैत्यपुत्रकैः ।
कैलासमूले गङ्गायास्तीरे सो ऽशिश्रियत्तपः ॥

Summary AI Accompanied by five friends who were sons of Daityas, he went to the foot of Kailāsa and performed penance on the banks of the Gaṅgā.

१७.२.४५

धर्मे पञ्चाग्निमध्ये च शीते तस्थौ स वारिणि ।
एकं सहस्रं वर्षाणां शिवध्यायी फलाशनः ॥

Summary AI For a thousand years, meditating on Śiva and subsisting only on fruit, he stood amidst five fires during the heat and in cold water during the winter.

१७.२.४६

मूलाशनो द्वितीयं च तृतीयं वारिभोजनः ।
वायुभक्षश्चतुर्थं च निराहारश्च पञ्चमम् ॥

Summary AI He spent a second millennium eating roots, a third consuming only water, a fourth subsisting on air, and a fifth fasting completely.

१७.२.४७

वरदानागतं भूयो बहु मेने न पद्मजम् ।
दृष्टो वरप्रभावस्ते गम्यतामित्युवाच च ॥

Summary AI When Brahmā arrived to grant a boon, he did not value him much and said, "Your power of granting boons has been seen; you may go."

१७.२.४८

कालं तावन्तमेवान्यन्निराहारस्थितं च तम् ।
मूर्धोद्गतमहाधूमं साक्षाच्छंभुरुपाययौ ॥

Summary AI After he had remained without food for as much more time, with great smoke issuing from his head, Śambhu himself approached him.

१७.२.४९

वृणीष्व वरमित्युक्तस्तेन दैत्यो जगाद सः ।
वध्यामहं रणे शक्रं त्वत्प्रसादाद्विभो इति ॥

Summary AI Told by the Lord to choose a boon, the Daitya replied, "O Lord, by your grace, let me slay Śakra in battle."