कथासरित्सागरः — पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः

पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः ।

एवं पद्मावती यावत्तत्प्राप्त्यै संश्रिता तपः ।
तावत्स्वनगरं मुक्ताफलकेतुरवाप्य सः ॥

Summary AI While Padmāvatī was performing penance to obtain him, Muktāphalaketu reached his own city.

ब्रह्मशापवशासन्नमानुष्यावतरो भयात् ।
विद्याधरेन्द्रतनयः शरणं शिश्रिये शिवम् ॥

Summary AI Fearing the imminent human incarnation due to a Brāhmaṇa's curse, the son of the king of Vidyādharas took refuge in Śiva.

१७.५.३

तमर्चयंश्च तद्गर्भगृहाच्छुश्राव भारतीम् ।
मा भैषीर्न हि ते गर्भवासक्लेशो भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI While worshiping Him, he heard a voice from the inner sanctum: "Do not fear; you will not suffer the pain of staying in a womb."

१७.५.४

मानुष्ये नापि ते दुःखं भावि नापि चिरं स्थितिः ।
जनिष्यसे राजसुतो महाबलपराक्रमः ॥

Summary AI "Even in your human birth, you will neither experience sorrow nor stay long. You shall be born as a prince of great strength and valor."

१७.५.५

तपोधनान्मुनेः कृत्स्नमस्त्रग्राममवाप्स्यसि ।
मदीयः किंकराख्यश्च गणस्ते भवितानुजः ॥

Summary AI "You will obtain the entire collection of divine weapons from a sage rich in penance, and my attendant named Kiṅkara will become your younger brother."

१७.५.६

तत्सहायो रिपूञ्जित्वा कृत्वा कार्यं दिवौकसाम् ।
कर्तासि खेचरैश्वर्यं पद्मावत्या युतः पुनः ॥

Summary AI "With his help, you will conquer your enemies and fulfill the mission of the gods. Then, reunited with Padmāvatī, you will regain the sovereignty of the Vidyādharas."

१७.५.७

एवं श्रुत्वा गिरं बद्धधृतिः शापफलागमम् ।
प्रतीक्षमाण इव तं तस्थौ राजसुतो ऽथ सः ॥

Summary AI Hearing these words, the prince regained his composure and remained there, as if waiting for the effects of the curse to manifest.

१७.५.८

अत्रान्तरे कथासंधौ पूर्वस्यां नगरं दिशि ।
आसीद्देवसभं नाम जितदेवसभं श्रिया ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, at this point in the story, there was a city named Devasabha in the east, which surpassed the assembly of the gods in splendor.

१७.५.९

तत्र मेरुध्वजो नाम सार्वभौमो ऽभवन्नृपः ।
सहायो देवराजस्य देवासुररणागमे ॥

Summary AI There reigned a universal monarch named Merudhvaja, who was an ally of Indra, the king of gods, in the wars between gods and demons.

१७.५.१०

यस्य लोभो यशस्यासीन्न परस्वे महात्मनः ।
तैक्ष्ण्यं खड्गे न दण्डे तु भयं पापान्न शत्रुतः ॥

Summary AI That noble soul's only greed was for fame, not for others' wealth; his sharpness was in his sword, not in punishment; and his fear was of sin, not of enemies.

१७.५.११

कुटिलत्वं भ्रुवोः कोपे नाशये यस्य चाभवत् ।
मौर्वीकिणाङ्के पारुष्यं भुजे न वचने पुनः ॥

Summary AI His crookedness appeared only in his eyebrows during anger, never in his intentions; and harshness was found in the scars of the bowstring on his arm, never in his speech.

१७.५.१२

व्यधाद्युधि न कोषे तु यो दीनारातिरक्षणम् ।
रतिं च धर्मचर्यासु श्रद्दधे नाङ्गनासु यः ॥

Summary AI He protected the poor and even his enemies in battle, but did not hoard wealth in his treasury; he took delight in religious practices, not in women.

१७.५.१३

तस्याभूतामुभे चिन्ते भूपतेः सततं हृदि ।
एका पुत्रो न यत्तस्य तावदेको ऽप्यजायत ॥

Summary AI Two anxieties constantly troubled the king's heart: first, that not even a single son had been born to him yet.

१७.५.१४

द्वितीया चापि यत्पूर्वं देवासुरमहाहवात् ।
जग्मुः पातालमसुरा हतशेषाः पलाय्य ये ॥

Summary AI The second concern was regarding the demons who survived the great war between gods and demons and fled to the netherworld.

१७.५.१५

ते निर्गत्य ततो दूरात्सतीर्थायतनाश्रमान् ।
विनाश्यैव च्छलात्तस्य पातालमसकृद्ययुः ॥

Summary AI Those demons would emerge from afar and, through deceit, repeatedly destroy his holy places, temples, and hermitages before retreating back to the netherworld.

१७.५.१६

न च तान्प्राप स नृपः पातालव्योमचारिणः ।
तेजस्वी तेन संतेपे निःसपत्ने ऽपि भूतले ॥

Summary AI Though his earthly empire was without rivals, the glorious king could not reach those who moved through the sky and the netherworld, and thus he grieved.

१७.५.१७

एतच्चिन्ताकुलो जातु शक्रप्रहितसद्रथः ।
देवास्थानं ययौ सो ऽत्र चैत्रशुक्लदिनागमे ॥

Summary AI Once, troubled by these worries, he went to the assembly of the gods in a magnificent chariot sent by Śakra on the arrival of the bright half of Caitra.

१७.५.१८

शक्रस्य वत्सरारम्भे सर्वास्थानं तथाहि तत् ।
तद्रथेन स याति स्म राजा मेरुध्वजः सदा ॥

Summary AI For at the beginning of the year, Śakra holds a general assembly, and King Merudhvaja would always go there in that celestial chariot.

१७.५.१९

तदा तु तत्र दिव्यस्त्रीनृत्तगीताकुले ऽपि सः ।
संमानितो ऽपि शक्रेण निःश्वसन्नास्त भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI There, even amidst the dances and songs of celestial nymphs and being honored by Śakra, the king remained sighing due to his inner grief.

१७.५.२०

तद्दृष्ट्वा ज्ञातहृदयो देवराजो जगाद तम् ।
राजञ्जानाम्यहं यत्ते दुःखं तन्मा च भूत्तव ॥

Summary AI Seeing this, Indra, understanding his heart, said to him: "O King, I know the cause of your sorrow; may it trouble you no longer."

१७.५.२१

मुक्ताफलध्वजाख्यस्ते शिवांशो जनिता सुतः ।
एको गणावतारश्च द्वितीयो मलयध्वजः ॥

Summary AI A son named Muktāphaladhvaja, a partial incarnation of Śiva, will be born to you. One is an incarnation of a Gaṇa and the second is Malayadhvaja.

१७.५.२२

तपोधनान्मुनेर्विद्याः कामरूपं च वाहनम् ।
मुक्ताफलध्वजः प्राप्स्यत्यस्त्राणि च सहानुजः ॥

Summary AI Muktāphaladhvaja, along with his younger brother, will obtain spiritual sciences, a shape-shifting vehicle, and celestial weapons from the ascetic sage Tapodhana.

१७.५.२३

महापाशुपतास्त्रं च पुनः प्राप्य स दुर्जयः ।
करिष्यति वशे पृथ्वीं पातालं च हतासुरः ॥

Summary AI Having obtained the mighty Mahāpāśupata weapon, he will become invincible, slay the demons, and bring both the Earth and the underworld (Pātāla) under his control.

१७.५.२४

त्वं च व्योमचरावेतौ समहास्त्रौ गृहाण मे ।
वारणं काञ्चनगिरिं तथा काञ्चनशेखरम् ॥

Summary AI Take from me these two sky-roving elephants equipped with great weapons: Kāñcanagiri and Kāñcanaśekhara.

१७.५.२५

इत्युक्त्वास्त्रगजान्दत्त्वा प्रेषितः सो ऽथ वज्रिणा ।
आगान्मेरुध्वजो हृष्टो भूतले नगरं निजम् ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus and granted the weapons and elephants, Indra dismissed King Merudhvaja, who returned joyfully to his own city on Earth.

१७.५.२६

ते तु च्छलकृतावद्यास्तस्य पातालसंश्रयात् ।
खेचरत्वं गतस्यापि प्राप्या नासन्किलासुराः ॥

Summary AI Those demons, guilty of deceit, were unreachable even for the king who could now travel through the sky, as they had taken refuge in the depths of Pātāla.

१७.५.२७

ततः शक्राच्छ्रुतस्यासौ राजा पुत्रेच्छुराश्रमम् ।
तपोधनस्य तस्यर्षेर्ययौ दिव्येभवाहनः ॥

Summary AI Then, having heard Indra's words and desiring a son, the king set out for the hermitage of the sage Tapodhana, riding his divine elephant.

१७.५.२८

तत्राभिगम्य तमृषिं शक्रादेशं निवेद्य तम् ।
भगवन्नादिशोपायं शीघ्रं मे ऽत्रेति सो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Upon reaching the sage and informing him of Indra's command, the king requested, "O Blessed One, please instruct me quickly on the means to achieve this end."

१७.५.२९

स च तस्याचिरेणेष्टसिद्धये मुनिरादिशत् ।
व्रतमाराधनं शंभोः सभार्यस्य महीभुजः ॥

Summary AI To ensure the king's wish was fulfilled without delay, the sage prescribed a religious vow involving the worship of Śambhu, to be performed by the king alongside his wife.

१७.५.३०

स तेनाराधयामास व्रतेनोर्वीपतिः शिवम् ।
तुष्टः स च विभुः स्वप्ने तमेवमवदन्नृपम् ॥

Summary AI The king performed the worship of Śiva through that vow, and the gratified Lord appeared to him in a dream and spoke to the monarch.

१७.५.३१

उत्तिष्ठ राजन्प्राप्तासि क्रमेणैवाविलम्बितम् ।
शेषासुरविनाशाय द्वौ पुत्रावपराजितौ ॥

Summary AI "Rise, O King! To destroy the remaining demons, you shall soon obtain two invincible sons in due course."

१७.५.३२

एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रबुध्यैव प्रातरुक्त्वा मुनेश्च सः ।
सभार्यः पारणं कृत्वा राज स्वपुरमाययौ ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing this, the king woke up at dawn, informed the sage of the dream, broke his fast with his wife, and returned to his capital.

१७.५.३३

तत्र तस्य महादेवी राज्ञी मेरुध्वजस्य सा ।
ऋतुं दिनैः कतिपयैः प्रतिपेदे सुलक्षणा ॥

Summary AI There, the auspicious Queen Consort of King Merudhvaja attained her period of fertility after a few days.

१७.५.३४

तस्याः स गर्भे समभून्मुक्त्वा शापवशेन ताम् ।
वैद्याधरीं तनुम्मुक्ताफलकेतुरतर्कितम् ॥

Summary AI Muktāphalaketu, having abandoned his Vidyādhara body due to a curse, unexpectedly entered her womb.

१७.५.३५

सा च तस्य तनुस्तत्र निजे चन्द्रपुरे पुरे ।
विद्याप्रभावादम्लाना तस्थौ बान्धवरक्षिता ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, his original body remained unfaded in his own city of Candrapura, protected by his kinsmen through the power of magical sciences.

१७.५.३६

सापि मेरुध्वजस्यात्र राज्ञो देवसभे पुरे ।
राज्ञी सगर्भा संपद्य नन्दयामास तं पतिम् ॥

Summary AI In the city of Devasabha, the queen of King Merudhvaja became pregnant and brought great joy to her husband.

१७.५.३७

यथा यथा च सा राज्ञी जज्ञे गर्भभरालसा ।
तथा तथा स सोत्साहस्तस्याः पतिरभून्नृपः ॥

Summary AI As the queen grew increasingly weary from the weight of the pregnancy, her husband, the king, grew more and more enthusiastic.

१७.५.३८

प्राप्ते च समये पुत्रं सासूत स्मार्कसंनिभम् ।
बालमेवोग्रमहसं कुमारमिव पार्वती ॥

Summary AI When the time arrived, she gave birth to a son who shone like the sun and possessed fierce radiance from childhood, just as Pārvatī bore Kumāra.

१७.५.३९

बभूव चोत्सवः कृत्स्ने न परं वसुधातले ।
यावन्नभस्तले ऽप्यासीद्देवप्रहतदुन्दुभौ ॥

Summary AI A grand celebration took place not only on the entire Earth but also in the heavens, where the gods beat their celestial drums in joy.

१७.५.४०

स्वयमागान्मुनिश्चात्र दिव्यदृक्स तपोधनः ।
दिष्ट्या वर्धयितुं मेरुध्वजं तं पृथिवीपतिम् ॥

Summary AI The divine-sighted sage Tapodhana himself arrived there to congratulate King Merudhvaja on his good fortune.

१७.५.४१

तेन साकं स मुनिना नाम्ना शक्रोदितेन तम् ।
मुक्ताफलध्वजं चक्रे पुत्रं राजा कृतोत्सवः ॥

Summary AI After celebrating a festival, King Merudhvaja named his son Muktāphaladhvaja, using the name suggested by Indra, in the company of the sage.

१७.५.४२

ततो गते मुनौ तस्मिंस्तस्य संवत्सरान्तरे ।
राज्ञो द्वितीयस्तनयो राज्ञां तस्यामजायत ॥

Summary AI After the sage departed, a year later, a second son was born to the King from that same queen.

१७.५.४३

तं च नाम्ना स नृपतिश्चकार मलयध्वजम् ।
तथैव हर्षायातेन तेनैव मुनिना सह ॥

Summary AI The King named his second son Malayadhvaja, again in the company of that same sage who arrived joyfully for the occasion.

१७.५.४४

ततः संयतकः सो ऽपि शापात्तन्मन्त्रिणः सुतः ।
जज्ञे नाम पिता चास्य महाबुद्धिरिति व्यधात् ॥

Summary AI Then, due to a curse, Saṃyataka was also born as the son of the King’s minister, and his father named him Mahābuddhi.

१७.५.४५

ततस्तौ सिंहशावाभाववर्धेतां नृपात्मजौ ।
क्रमेण तेजसा सार्धं मन्त्रिपुत्रेण तेन च ॥

Summary AI Those two princes grew up alongside the minister’s son, shining with brilliance like lion cubs.

१७.५.४६

गतेष्वथाष्टमात्रेषु वर्षेषु स तपोधनः ।
एत्योपनयनं चक्रे राजसून्वोस्तयोर्मुनिः ॥

Summary AI When about eight years had passed, the ascetic sage arrived and performed the sacred thread ceremony (upanayana) for the two princes.

१७.५.४७

अष्टौ चान्यानि वर्षाणि विद्यासु च कलासु च ।
महास्त्रेषु च सर्वेषु विनीयेते स्म तेन तौ ॥

Summary AI For another eight years, they were trained by him in various sciences, arts, and all the great celestial weapons (mahāstra).

१७.५.४८

ततो युवानौ दृष्ट्वा तौ सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रयोधिनौ ।
पुत्रौ कृतिनमात्मानं मेने मेरुध्वजो नृपः ॥

Summary AI Seeing his two sons grown into youths proficient in all types of missiles and weapons, King Merudhvaja considered himself successful.

१७.५.४९

अथ तं स्वाश्रमं गन्तुमिच्छन्तं सो ऽब्रवीन्मुनिम् ।
अभीष्टा दक्षिणेदानीं भगवन्गृह्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI As the sage desired to return to his hermitage, the King said to him, "O Blessed One, please accept your desired sacrificial fee (dakṣiṇā) now."

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