कथासरित्सागरः — तृतीयस्तरङ्गः

तृतीयस्तरङ्गः ।

ततस्त्रिविष्टपं प्राप्य स शक्रः पर्यवेष्टयत् ।
हरानुग्रहसोत्साहैर्लब्धकालबलैर्बलैः ॥

Summary AI Then Śakra reached heaven and invested it with his forces, who were full of energy through the favor of Hara and had gained strength from the timing.

१७.३.२

तद्दृष्ट्वा निर्ययौ विद्युद्ध्वजः संनद्धसैनिकः ।
प्रावर्तन्तानिमित्तानि तस्य निर्गच्छतस्तदा ॥

Summary AI Seeing this, Vidyuddhvaja marched out with his army equipped for battle. At that moment, as he was departing, ill omens appeared.

१७.३.३

ध्वजेषु विद्युतः पेतुर्भ्रेमुर्गृध्रास्तथोपरि ।
अभज्यन्त महाच्छत्त्राण्यशिवं चारुवञ्शिवाः ॥

Summary AI Lightning struck the banners, vultures hovered overhead, great umbrellas shattered, and jackals howled inauspiciously.

१७.३.४

तान्यरिष्टान्यगणयन्निरगादेव सो ऽसुरः ।
देवासुराणं च ततः प्रावर्तत महाहवः ॥

Summary AI Disregarding those ill omens, the asura marched out, and a great battle between the devas and asuras commenced.

१७.३.५

स मुक्ताफलकेतुः किं नाद्याप्येतीति वज्रिणा ।
पृष्टो ऽथ चन्द्रकेतुस्तं खेचरेन्द्रो व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI When asked by Vajrin why Muktāphalaketu had not yet arrived, the Vidyādhara king Candrakeetu informed him.

१७.३.६

विस्मृत्य त्वरया तस्य नोक्तमागच्छता मया ।
स तु बुद्ध्वा ध्रुवं पश्चादागच्छत्येव सत्वरम् ॥

Summary AI "In my haste to arrive, I forgot to inform him. He will surely follow quickly once he realizes the situation."

१७.३.७

एतच्छ्रुत्वा स देवेन्द्रश्चतुरं वायुसारथिम् ।
श्रीमुक्ताफलकेतुं तमानेतुं प्राहिणोद्रथम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the king of gods dispatched a swift chariot driven by Vāyu to bring the illustrious Muktāphalaketu.

१७.३.८

पिता च तत्समं तस्य चन्द्रकेतुः ससैनिकम् ।
आह्वानाय प्रतीहारं विससर्ज रथानुगम् ॥

Summary AI Simultaneously, his father Candrakeetu sent a chamberlain along with the chariot and soldiers to summon him.

१७.३.९

स मुक्ताफलकेतुश्च बुद्ध्वा दैत्याहवे गतम् ।
पितरं सानुगो गन्तुं तत्रैवाभ्युद्यतो ऽभवत् ॥

Summary AI Having learned that his father had gone to the battle against the daityas, Muktāphalaketu and his followers prepared to depart for the same place.

१७.३.१०

ततो जयगजारूढोजननीकृतमङ्गलः ।
वायुलोकादुदचलत्स बिभ्रत्खड्गमैश्वरम् ॥

Summary AI Then, having received his mother’s blessings and carrying the divine sword of Īśvara, he set out from the world of Vāyu mounted on the elephant of victory.

१७.३.११

प्रस्थितस्यापतत्तस्य पुष्पवृष्टिर्नभस्तलात् ।
देवाश्च दुन्दुभीञ्जघ्नुर्वायवश्च ववुः शिवाः ॥

Summary AI As he departed, a shower of flowers fell from the sky, the gods struck their drums, and auspicious winds blew.

१७.३.१२

मिलित्वा परिवव्रुश्च ते तं देवगणास्ततः ।
आसन्पलाय्य प्रच्छन्ना ये विद्युद्ध्वजभीतितः ॥

Summary AI Then the hosts of gods, who had been hiding in fear of Vidyuddhvaja, gathered and surrounded him.

१७.३.१३

तेन सैन्येन महता सह गच्छन्ददर्श सः ।
मार्गे मेघवनं नाम पार्वत्यायतनं महत् ॥

Summary AI Proceeding with that vast army, he saw on the way a great temple of Pārvatī called Meghavana.

१७.३.१४

तदनुल्लङ्घयन्भक्त्या गजादत्रावतीर्य सः ।
आहृत्य दिव्यपुष्पाणि देवीं प्रावर्ततार्चितुम् ॥

Summary AI Out of devotion, he did not pass it by; instead, he dismounted from his elephant, gathered divine flowers, and began to worship the Goddess.

१७.३.१५

अत्रान्तरे च गन्धर्वपतेः स प्राप्तयौवना ।
पद्मावती सुता पद्मशेखरस्य सखीवृता ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, Padmāvatī, the daughter of the Gandharva king Padmaśekhara, who had attained youth, arrived accompanied by her friends.

१७.३.१६

भर्तुः सङ्ग्रामयातस्य श्रेयोर्थं तपसि स्थिताम् ।
मातरं स्वामनुज्ञाप्य विमानेनेन्दुलोकतः ॥

Summary AI Having obtained permission from her mother, who was performing penance for her husband’s victory in battle, she came from the world of the Moon in a celestial car.

१७.३.१७

शिवार्थिनी पितुः संख्ये वरस्याभीप्सितस्य च ।
तदेव तपसे दिव्यं गौर्यायतनमाययौ ॥

Summary AI Desiring the welfare of her father in battle and a suitable husband, she came to that same divine temple of Gaurī to practice penance.

१७.३.१८

वरो नाद्यापि ते कश्चिन्निश्चितो यो युधि स्थितः ।
पितुः श्रेयोनिमित्तं च माता ते संश्रिता तपः ॥

Summary AI "No husband has yet been chosen for you who is in the battle; your mother is performing penance only for your father's success."

१७.३.१९

त्वं तु कन्या तपः कस्य कृते सखि चिकीर्षसि ।
इत्युक्ता पथि सख्या सा पद्मावत्यब्रवीदिदम् ॥

Summary AI "But for whom, O friend, do you, a maiden, wish to perform penance?" Questioned thus by her friend on the way, Padmāvatī replied.

१७.३.२०

पितैव सखि कन्यानां दैवतं सर्वसिद्धिकृत् ।
वरो ऽप्यनन्यसामन्यगुणो निश्चित एव मे ॥

Summary AI "Friend, for maidens, the father is the deity who brings all success. Furthermore, a husband of unique qualities has already been determined for me."

१७.३.२१

विद्युद्ध्वजं निहन्तुं यो जातो विद्याधरेन्द्रतः ।
स मुक्ताफलकेतुर्मे व्यादिष्टः शंभुना पतिः ॥

Summary AI Śambhu has ordained Muktāphalaketu, who was born from the king of Vidyādharas to slay Vidyuddhvaja, as my husband.

१७.३.२२

एतन्मयाम्बापृष्टस्य तातस्यैव मुखाच्छ्रुतम् ।
स च यास्यति यातो वा सङ्ग्रामे मे वरो ध्रुवम् ॥

Summary AI I heard this from the mouth of my father when he was questioned by my mother; surely that groom of mine will go, or has already gone, to the battle.

१७.३.२३

अतो भगवतीं गौरीं तपसारधयाम्यहम् ।
विजयाकाङ्क्षिणी तस्य पत्युस्तातस्य चोभयोः ॥

Summary AI Therefore, desiring victory for both my husband and my father, I worship the goddess Gaurī through penance.

१७.३.२४

एवं वदन्तीं तां राजपुत्रीमाह स्म सा सखी ।
भाविन्यर्थे ऽपि तर्ह्येष व्यवसायस्तवोचितः ॥

Summary AI Her friend said to the princess who was speaking thus, "Then even in an inevitable matter, this exertion of yours is appropriate."

१७.३.२५

तत्ते ऽभिलषितं सिध्यत्विति सख्या तयोदिता ।
सा गौर्यायतनाभ्यर्णं भव्यं प्राप महत्सरः ॥

Summary AI Addressed by her friend with the words "May your desire be fulfilled," she reached a grand and beautiful lake near the temple of Gaurī.

१७.३.२६

उत्फुल्लैः स्वर्णकमलैः प्रतिच्छन्नं प्रभास्वरैः ।
तन्मुखाम्भोरुहोत्सर्पत्कान्तिविच्छुरितैरिव ॥

Summary AI The lake was covered with blossoming, radiant golden lotuses, appearing as if they were sprinkled with the luster emanating from her lotus-like face.

१७.३.२७

तत्रावतीर्य कमलान्यम्बिकाभ्यर्चनाय सा ।
उच्चित्य गन्दह्र्वसुता स्नानं यावद्विधित्सति ॥

Summary AI Having descended there, the daughter of the Gandharva plucked lotuses for the worship of Ambikā, and just as she intended to bathe.

१७.३.२८

तावद्देवासुररणं रक्षःस्वामिषगर्धिषु ।
अभिधावत्सु तेन द्वे राक्षस्यावागते पथा ॥

Summary AI Just then, while the demons were rushing towards the battle between the gods and asuras, greedy for meat, two Rākṣasīs arrived by that path.

१७.३.२९

दंष्ट्राघोरमुखोद्वान्तज्वालापिङ्गोर्ध्वमूर्धजे ।
धूमश्याममहाकाये लम्बोदरपयोधरे ॥

Summary AI Those Rākṣasīs had upward-pointing hair, tawny from the flames vomited from their mouths terrifying with tusks, smoke-dark massive bodies, and pendulous bellies and breasts.

१७.३.३०

ताभ्यां दृष्ट्वैव गन्धर्वराजपुत्री निपत्य सा ।
नक्तंचरीभ्यां जगृहे निन्ये च गगनोन्मुखम् ॥

Summary AI As soon as the Gandharva princess was seen by them, she was pounced upon and seized by those two night-roamers, who then carried her up towards the sky.

१७.३.३१

तद्विमानाधिदेवश्च राक्षस्यौ यावदेव ते ।
रुणद्धि यवदार्तश्च क्रन्दत्यस्याः परिच्छदः ॥

Summary AI While the presiding deity of her celestial chariot tried to stop those Rākṣasīs, and while her distressed attendants cried out.

१७.३.३२

तावद्देवीगृहान्मुक्ताफलकेतुः कृतार्चनः ।
स निर्गतः श्रुताक्रन्दस्तमेवोद्देशमागमत् ॥

Summary AI At that moment, Muktāphalaketu, having finished his worship, emerged from the Goddess's temple and, hearing the cry, came to that very spot.

१७.३.३३

स दृष्ट्वा राक्षसीयुग्मगृहीतां तां लसद्द्युतिम् ।
कालमेघावलीमध्यगतां सौदामनीमिव ॥

Summary AI He saw her, of shining brilliance, seized by the pair of Rākṣasīs, looking like a flash of lightning caught in the midst of a row of dark clouds.

१७.३.३४

पद्मावतीं प्रधाव्यैव महावीरो व्यमोचयत् ।
क्षिप्त्वा विचेतने भूमौ राक्षस्यौ ते तलाहते ॥

Summary AI That great hero, rushing forward, struck the two Rākṣasīs with his palms, throwing them unconscious to the ground, and rescued Padmāvatī.

१७.३.३५

ददर्श तां च लावण्यरसनिर्झरवाहिनीम् ।
त्रिवलीलहरीहारिमध्यभागोपशोभिनीम् ॥

Summary AI He beheld her, who was like a river of the nectar of loveliness, adorned with a waist charming with the ripples of the three folds of skin.

१७.३.३६

स्वर्वधूसर्गसंप्राप्तकौशलोत्कर्षशालिना ।
धात्रा समग्रसौन्दर्यसारसंपादितामिव ॥

Summary AI She appeared as if created by the Creator using the essence of all beauty, through the superior skill he attained in the creation of celestial nymphs.

१७.३.३७

दृष्ट्वा च तां स कंदर्पमोहमन्थरितेन्द्रियः ।
धीरो ऽप्यत्र क्षणं तस्थौ चित्रस्थ इव निश्चलः ॥

Summary AI Upon seeing her, his senses were slowed by the delusion of love; though steadfast, he stood there motionless for a moment like a figure in a painting.

१७.३.३८

राक्षसीसंभ्रमे शान्ते समाश्वस्य क्षणादिव ।
पद्मावत्यपि तं मुक्ताफलकेतुं ददर्श सा ॥

Summary AI When the panic caused by the Rākṣasīs had subsided and she had regained her breath after a moment, Padmāvatī also saw that Muktāphalaketu.

१७.३.३९

जगन्नेत्रोत्सवाकारं स्त्रीजनोन्माददायिनम् ।
एकीकृत्येन्दुकंदर्पौ विधिनेव विनिर्मितम् ॥

Summary AI He possessed a form that was a festival for the eyes of the world, causing infatuation in women, as if fashioned by the Creator by merging the Moon and Kandarpa.

१७.३.४०

ततो लजानतमुखी सखीं स्वैरमभाषत ।
भद्रमस्यास्तु यामीतः परपूरुषपार्श्वतः ॥

Summary AI Then, with her face bowed in modesty, she spoke softly to her friend, "May he be well; I shall depart from the presence of this stranger."

१७.३.४१

एवं वदन्त्यां तस्यां च सा मुक्ताफलकेतुना ।
बाला किमियमाहेति तेनापृच्छ्यत तत्सखी ॥

Summary AI While she was speaking thus, Muktāphalaketu asked her friend, "What did this maiden say?"

१७.३.४२

साप्युवाच सुकन्येयं दत्ताशीः प्राणदस्य ते ।
एह्यन्यपुरुषोपान्ताद्व्रजाव इति वक्ति माम् ॥

Summary AI She replied, "This noble maiden, having bestowed blessings upon you for saving her life, is telling me, 'Come, let us depart from the proximity of another man.'"

१७.३.४३

तच्छ्रुत्वा संभ्रमान्मुक्ताफलकेतुरुवाच ताम् ।
केयं कस्य सुता दत्ता कस्मै वा शुभकर्मणे ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, Muktāphalaketu hurriedly asked her, "Who is she? Whose daughter is she, and to which virtuous person has she been betrothed?"

१७.३.४४

इति पृष्टा च सा तेन तद्वयस्या तमब्रवीत् ।
इयं पद्मावती नाम कन्या सुभग नः सखी ॥

Summary AI Questioned thus by him, her companion replied to him, "O handsome one, this is our friend, a maiden named Padmāvatī."

१७.३.४५

गन्धर्वाधिपतेः पद्मशेखरस्यात्मसंभवा ।
आदिष्टो ऽस्याः पतिर्मुक्ताफलकेतुश्च शंभुना ॥

Summary AI "She is the daughter of Padmaśekhara, the lord of the Gandharvas. Śambhu has ordained Muktāphalaketu to be her husband."

१७.३.४६

पुत्रो विद्याधरेन्द्रस्य चन्द्रकेतोर्जगत्प्रियः ।
सहायो देवराजस्य विद्युद्ध्वजविनाशकृत् ॥

Summary AI "[He is] the world-beloved son of Candrake-tu, the king of the Vidyādharas, an ally of the king of gods, and the destroyer of Vidyuddhvaja."

१७.३.४७

आकाङ्क्षन्ती जयं तस्य भर्तुः संख्ये पितुस्तथा ।
गौर्यायतनमद्यैतत्तपोर्थमियमागता ॥

Summary AI "Desiring the victory of her future husband and her father in battle, she has come today to this temple of Gaurī to perform penance."

१७.३.४८

श्रुत्वैतद्राजपुत्रीं तां चन्द्रकेतुसुतानुगाः ।
दिष्ट्या देवि स एवायं तव भर्तेत्यनन्दयन् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the followers of Candrake-tu's son gladdened the princess, saying, "O Queen, by good fortune, this very person is your husband."

१७.३.४९

ततो ऽन्योन्यपरिज्ञानहर्षपूर्णे निजात्मनि ।
युक्तं तद्यन्न मातः स्म तौ कुमारीवरावुभौ ॥

Summary AI Then, their hearts being filled with joy at the mutual recognition, it was fitting that the maiden and her suitor did not lose consciousness.

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