कथासरित्सागरः — चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः

चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः ।

अत्रान्तरे स गन्धर्वराजः स्वनगरं पुनः ।
प्रविष्टो विततस्फूर्जदुत्सवः पद्मशेखरः ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, the Gandharva king Padmaśekhara, celebrating with grand and resplendent festivities, re-entered his own city.

१७.४.२

तज्जयाशंसया तप्ततपसं गिरिजाश्रमे ।
बुद्ध्वा भार्यामुखात्पद्मावतीमानाययत्सुताम् ॥

Summary AI Learning from his wife that their daughter Padmāvatī was performing intense penance at the hermitage of Girijā to ensure his victory, the king had her brought back.

१७.४.३

उपागतां च तपसा विरहेण च तां कृशाम् ।
तनयां पादपतितां स जगादाशिषं ददत् ॥

Summary AI The king, offering his blessings, spoke to his daughter who had arrived emaciated from penance and the pain of separation, as she fell at his feet.

१७.४.४

वत्से मदर्थं विहितस्तपःक्लेशो महांस्त्वया ।
तदिद्याधरराजेन्द्रसुतं विद्युद्ध्वजान्तकम् ॥

Summary AI "Dear child, you have endured great hardship through penance for my sake. Therefore, may you obtain the son of the lord of Vidyādharas, the slayer of Vidyuddhvaja..."

१७.४.५

जगच्छरण्यं जयिनं व्यादिष्टं शंभुना स्वयम् ।
श्रीमुक्ताफलकेतुं तं शीघ्रं पतिमवाप्नुहि ॥

Summary AI "...the victorious refuge of the world, Śrī Muktāphalaketu, who was himself ordained by Śambhu. May you quickly obtain him as your husband."

१७.४.६

इति पित्रोदिते यावदास्ते सा विनतानना ।
राजानमाह तन्माता तावत्कुवलयावली ॥

Summary AI While she sat with her face downcast after her father spoke, her mother Kuvalayāvalī addressed the king.

१७.४.७

कथं स तादृगसुरस्त्रिलोकाभयदायिना ।
तेनार्यपुत्र निहतो राजपुत्रेण संयुगे ॥

Summary AI "Noble Lord, how was that formidable demon slain in battle by that prince, the granter of fearlessness to the three worlds?"

१७.४.८

तच्छ्रुत्वा वर्णयामास स राजा तस्य विक्रमम् ।
राजपुत्रस्य तं तस्यै सदेवासुरसंगरम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the king described to her that battle involving gods and demons, and the extraordinary valor of the prince.

१७.४.९

ततः पद्मावतीसख्या सा मनोहारिकाख्यया ।
तदीया राक्षसीयुग्मवधलीलाप्यकथ्यत ॥

Summary AI Then, Padmāvatī’s friend named Manoharika also recounted the prince's effortless and playful slaying of the pair of Rākṣasīs.

१७.४.१०

ततस्तस्य सुतायाश्च वृत्तमन्योन्यदर्शनम् ।
प्रीतिं च बुद्ध्वा तौ तोषं राजा राज्ञी च जग्मतुः ॥

Summary AI Upon learning of the meeting and mutual affection between the prince and their daughter, both the king and queen felt immense joy.

१७.४.११

ऊचतुश्च निगीर्णश्च येनासुरचमूचयः ।
अगस्त्येनेव जलधी राक्षस्यौ तस्य के इति ॥

Summary AI They remarked, "Who were those two Rākṣasīs to him, who swallowed the demonic host like Agastya swallowing the ocean?"

१७.४.१२

तया तत्पौरुषोत्कर्षवर्णनावात्यया च सः ।
पद्मावत्याः प्रजज्वाल सुतरां मदनानलः ॥

Summary AI Driven by the whirlwind of descriptions regarding his supreme heroism, the fire of Padmāvatī's love blazed even more intensely.

१७.४.१३

ततः पित्रोः सकाशात्सा निर्गता राजकन्यका ।
शुद्धान्तरत्नप्रासादमारोहत्सोत्सुका क्षणात् ॥

Summary AI The princess then left her parents' presence and, filled with longing, quickly ascended the jeweled palace within the inner apartments.

१७.४.१४

तत्र रत्नोम्भितस्तम्भबद्धमौक्तिकजालके ।
मनिकुट्टिमविन्यस्तसुखशय्यावरासने ॥

Summary AI There, in a place with pearl nets hung from jewel-studded pillars and comfortable beds and excellent seats arranged on gem-paved floors...

१७.४.१५

चिन्तितोपस्नमद्दिव्यनानाभोगमनोरमे ।
स्थिता साभ्यधिकं तेपे प्रेयोविरहवह्निना ॥

Summary AI ...delightful with various divine luxuries appearing at a mere thought, she stayed there, suffering intensely from the fire of separation from her beloved.

१७.४.१६

ददर्श च ततः पृष्ठाद्धेमद्रुमलताचितम् ।
रत्नवापीशताकीर्णं दिव्यमुद्यानमृद्धिमत् ॥

Summary AI From the back of the palace, she beheld a prosperous, divine garden filled with golden trees and creepers and hundreds of jeweled ponds.

१७.४.१७

दृष्ट्वा चाचिन्तयच्चित्रमिदमस्मपुरोत्तमम् ।
मज्जन्मभूमेर्भुवनादैन्दवादपि सुन्दरम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing it, she thought, "Wonderful! This best of our cities is more beautiful even than the world of Indra, the land of my birth."

१७.४.१८

हिमाद्रिमौलिमाणिक्यं न च दृष्टमिदं मया ।
नन्दनाभ्यधिकं यत्र पुरोपवनमीदृशम् ॥

Summary AI "I had not seen this ruby of the Himādri's crest, where there is such a city-garden surpassing the Nandana grove."

१७.४.१९

तदत्र गत्वा सच्छायशीतले विजने वरम् ।
विरहानलसंतापं शमयामि मनागिमम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, it is better that I go to this secluded, cool, and shady place to slightly alleviate this agony of the fire of separation."

१७.४.२०

इति संचिन्त्य सा बाला शनैरेकाकिनी ततः ।
युक्त्यावरुह्य गन्तुं तत्पुरोद्यानं प्रचक्रमे ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus, the young maiden then slowly and secretly descended alone and set out to reach that city garden.

१७.४.२१

पद्भ्यां गन्तुमशक्ता सा स्वविभूतेरुपस्थितैः ।
पक्षिभिर्वाहनीभूय तदुद्यानमनीयत ॥

Summary AI Unable to walk on foot, she was carried to that garden by birds that appeared through her own supernatural power, serving as her vehicles.

१७.४.२२

तत्रान्तः कदलीखण्डगृहे पुष्पास्तरोपरि ।
उपाविशच्छ्रूयमाणे दिव्यगेयादिनिःस्वने ॥

Summary AI There, inside a bower of plantain trees, she sat upon a bed of flowers while the sounds of celestial singing and music were being heard.

१७.४.२३

न च सात्र रतिं लेभे न तस्याः शाम्यति स्मरः ।
विना प्रियेण कामाग्निः प्रत्युतावर्धताधिकम् ॥

Summary AI She found no pleasure there, and her passion did not subside; on the contrary, without her beloved, the fire of love increased even more.

१७.४.२४

ततो दिदृक्षुश्चित्रस्थमपि तं प्रियमुत्सुका ।
साग्रहीच्चित्रफलकं वर्णवर्तीश्च सिद्धितः ॥

Summary AI Then, longing to see her beloved even if only in a painting, the anxious maiden obtained a picture-board and colored brushes through her mystical powers.

१७.४.२५

स्रष्टुं द्वितीयं धातापि नेष्टे यत्सदृशं पुनः ।
तमालिखेयं सोत्कण्ठा सन्नपाणिरहं कथम् ॥

Summary AI "How can I, with trembling hands and filled with longing, paint him whose likeness even the Creator himself cannot create a second time?"

१७.४.२६

तथाप्यात्मविनोदार्थमालिखामि यथा तथा ।
इति संचिन्त्य फलके सा तु यावत्तमालिखत् ॥

Summary AI Thinking, "Nevertheless, I shall paint him somehow or other for my own diversion," she began to paint him on the board.

१७.४.२७

तावत्तस्यास्तमुद्देशमाययौ चिन्वती सखी ।
सा मनोहारिका नाम तददर्शनविह्वला ॥

Summary AI Just then, her friend named Manohārikā, distressed by her absence, arrived at that spot while searching for her.

१७.४.२८

सा तामेकाकिनीं तत्र राजपुत्रीं लतागृहे ।
सचित्रफलकामुत्कामपश्यत्पृष्ठतः स्थिता ॥

Summary AI Standing behind her, she saw the princess alone in the creeper-bower, holding the picture-board and filled with longing.

१७.४.२९

पश्यामि तावत्किमियं करोत्येवमिहैकिका ।
इति संचिन्त्य तस्थौ च छन्ना सा तत्र तत्सखी ॥

Summary AI Thinking, "Let me see what she is doing here all alone," her friend remained hidden there.

१७.४.३०

तावत्सापि तमुद्दिश्य चित्राभिलिखितं प्रियम् ।
पद्मावती जगादैवमुदश्रुनयनोत्पला ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, Padmāvatī, with her lotus-like eyes brimming with tears, spoke thus to her beloved depicted in the painting.

१७.४.३१

द्रुजयानसुरान्हत्वा येनेन्द्रो रक्षितस्त्वया ।
आलापमात्रेण स मां कथं मारान्न रक्षसि ॥

Summary AI "Why do you, who protected Indra by slaying the invincible Asuras, not protect me from Māra even with a single word?"

१७.४.३२

कल्पद्रुमो ऽप्यदातृत्वं सुगतो ऽप्यदयालुताम् ।
आयाति मन्दपुण्यस्य सुवर्णमपिचाश्मताम् ॥

Summary AI "For one with little merit, even the wish-granting tree becomes ungenerous, the Compassionate One becomes pitiless, and even gold turns into stone."

१७.४.३३

स्मरज्वरानभिज्ञश्च नूनं वेत्सि न मद्व्यथाम् ।
दैत्याजितस्य पुष्पेषुः किं तपस्वी करोति ते ॥

Summary AI "Unfamiliar with the fever of love, you surely do not know my pain; what can the poor flower-arrowed god do to you, the conqueror of Daityas?"

१७.४.३४

किं वा वच्मि विधिर्वामो मम येनाश्रुणा दृशौ ।
पिदधन्नेच्छति प्रायाश्चित्रे ऽपि तव दर्शनम् ॥

Summary AI "Or what can I say? My fate is adverse, for by covering my eyes with tears, it seemingly does not desire me to see you even in a picture."

१७.४.३५

इत्युक्त्वा राजतनया सा प्रावर्तत रोदितुम् ।
छिन्नहारगलत्स्थूलमुक्ताभैरश्रुबिन्दुभिः ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus, the princess began to weep with teardrops that resembled large pearls falling from a broken necklace.

१७.४.३६

तत्क्षणं तामुपासर्पत्सा मनोहारिका सखी ।
साप्याछाद्यैव तच्चित्त्रं राजपुत्री जगाद ताम् ॥

Summary AI At that moment, her friend Manohārikā approached her; the princess, quickly covering the painting, spoke to her.

१७.४.३७

इयच्चिरं न दृष्टा त्वं सखि कुत्र स्थितास्यहो ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा विहसन्ती तां सा मनोहारिकाब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI "O friend, you haven't been seen for so long! Where have you been?" Hearing this, Manohārikā laughed and said to her.

१७.४.३८

त्वामेव सखि चिन्वाना चिरं भ्रान्तास्मि तत्त्वया ।
चित्रं किं छाद्यते दृष्टं मया चित्रमथ श्रुतम् ॥

Summary AI "O friend, I have been wandering for a long time searching for you. Why are you hiding the picture? I have both seen the painting and heard your words."

१७.४.३९

एवं तयोक्ता सख्या सा पद्मावत्यश्रुगद्गदम् ।
लज्जानतमुखी हस्ते गृहीत्वा तामभाषत ॥

Summary AI Thus addressed by her friend, Padmāvatī, with her face bowed in shame and voice choked with tears, took her hand and spoke.

१७.४.४०

सखि प्रागेव विदितं सर्वम्ते किं निगूह्यते ।
राजपुत्रेण तेनाहं तस्मिन्गौर्याश्रमे तदा ॥

Summary AI "O friend, everything is already known to you; why should it be hidden? At that time, in that hermitage of Gaurī, I was captivated by that prince."

१७.४.४१

उद्धृतापि महाघोरराक्षसीवह्निमध्यतः ।
दुर्वारविरहज्वाले निक्षिप्ता मदनास्नले ॥

Summary AI Though rescued from the midst of the fire of the terrible ogress, I have been cast into the fire of Madana, which possesses irresistible flames of separation.

१७.४.४२

तन्न जाने क्व गच्छामि कस्मै वच्मि करोमि किम् ।
आश्रये कमुपायं वा दुर्लभासक्तमानसा ॥

Summary AI Therefore, I know not where to go, whom to tell, or what to do. With my heart attached to one hard to attain, what means should I resort to?

१७.४.४३

इति ब्रुवाणां तां राजपुत्रीमाह स्म सा सखी ।
अभिष्वङ्गो ऽनुरूपो ऽयं स्थाने ते मनसः सखि ॥

Summary AI To the princess speaking thus, her friend said, "O friend, this attachment is worthy of you; it is appropriate for your heart."

१७.४.४४

इतरेतरशोभायै संयोगो युवयोः किल ।
नवचन्द्रकलाशार्वजटामुकुटयोरिव ॥

Summary AI The union of you two is indeed for mutual beauty, like the union of the new crescent moon and the matted hair crown of Śiva.

१७.४.४५

अधृतिश्चात्र मा भूत्ते ध्रुवं स भवतीं विना ।
न स्थास्यति त्वया किं स तथाभूतो न लक्षितः ॥

Summary AI Do not be impatient in this matter; he will certainly not exist without you. Did you not observe him to be in such a state?

१७.४.४६

स्त्रियो ऽपीच्छन्ति पुंभावं यां दृष्ट्वा रूपलोलुभाः ।
तस्यास्ते को भवेन्नार्थी तुल्यरूपः स किं पुनः ॥

Summary AI Even women, greedy for beauty, desire to be men upon seeing you; who then would not desire you? How much more so him, who is your equal in beauty?

१७.४.४७

शर्वो ऽप्यलीकवादी किं येनोक्तौ दंपती युवाम् ।
अदूरगे ऽप्यभीष्टे ऽर्थे को वार्तो भजते धृतिम् ॥

Summary AI Is even Śarva a speaker of falsehood, who declared you two to be husband and wife? What distressed person maintains patience even when the desired object is not far off?

१७.४.४८

तदाश्वसिहि भावी ते स एव नचिरात्पतिः ।
न त्वया दुर्लभः कश्चित्त्वं तु सर्वेण दुर्लभा ॥

Summary AI Therefore, take heart; he alone will soon become your husband. Nothing is hard for you to attain, but you are hard for everyone else to attain.

१७.४.४९

इत्युक्ता सा तया सख्या राजपुत्री जगाद ताम् ।
सखी यद्यपि जानामि तथापि करवाणि किम् ॥

Summary AI Thus addressed by her friend, the princess said to her, "O friend, although I know this, yet what shall I do?"

Other texts to read

नीलकण्ठविजयचम्पूः नीलकण्ठदीक्षितः

पञ्चतन्त्रम् विष्णुशर्मा

About

Resources

Connect