कथासरित्सागरः — द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः

द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः ।

इत्युक्त्वा विक्रमादित्यदेवायास्थानवर्तिनि ।
अनङ्गदेवः पुनरप्येवं कथयति स्म सः ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus to King Vikramāditya while he was presiding in his court, Anaṅgadeva continued his narration.

१८.२.२

ततो भुक्तोत्तरं सा मां सखीमध्यस्थिताब्रवीत् ।
अनङ्गदेव सर्वं ते कथयाम्यधुना शृणु ॥

Summary AI Then, after finishing her meal, she sat among her friends and said to me, 'Anaṅgadeva, listen now as I tell you everything.'

१८.२.३

एषाहं धनदभ्रातुर्मणिभद्रस्य गेहिनी ।
दुन्दुभेर्यक्षराजस्य सुता मदनमञ्जरी ॥

Summary AI 'I am Madana-mañjarī, the daughter of the Yakṣa king Dundubhi and the wife of Maṇibhadra, the brother of Dhanada.'

१८.२.४

साहं तीरेषु सरितां शैलेषूपवनेषु च ।
मनोहरेषु व्यहरं भर्त्रा सह सुखं सदा ॥

Summary AI 'I used to wander happily with my husband along riverbanks, on mountains, and in beautiful groves.'

१८.२.५

एकदा च गताभूवमुज्जयिन्यामहं किल ।
उद्यानं मकरन्दाख्यं विहर्तुं वल्लभान्विता ॥

Summary AI 'Once, accompanied by my beloved, I went to a garden named Makaranda in Ujjayinī for recreation.'

१८.२.६

तत्र दैवादुषस्येकः खण्डकापालिकाधमः ।
विहारश्रमसंसुप्तप्रबुद्धां पश्यति स्म माम् ॥

Summary AI 'There, by chance at dawn, a vile and wretched Khaṇḍa-kāpālika saw me just as I had awakened from sleep caused by the fatigue of wandering.'

१८.२.७

स कामवशगः पापो भार्यात्वे होमकर्मणा ।
मन्त्रेण मां साधयितुं प्रावर्तिष्ट श्मशानगः ॥

Summary AI 'Overpowered by lust, that wicked man went to the cremation ground and began performing sacrificial rites with mantras to make me his wife.'

१८.२.८

तदहं स्वप्रभावेण बुद्ध्वा भर्त्रे न्यवेदयम् ।
तेनाप्यावेदितं भ्रातुर्ज्यायसो धनदस्य तत् ॥

Summary AI 'I perceived this through my own power and informed my husband, who then reported it to his elder brother, Dhanada.'

१८.२.९

धनाध्यक्षेण गत्वा च विज्ञप्तः कमलोद्भवः ।
स चापि भगवानेवं ब्रह्म ध्यात्वा तमभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI 'The lord of wealth approached and informed the lotus-born Brahmā. That Lord, after meditating on the Supreme, spoke to him thus.'

१८.२.१०

सत्यं स भ्रातृजायां ते कपाली हर्तुमुद्यतः ।
यक्षसाधनमन्त्राणां शक्तिस्तेषां हि तादृशी ॥

Summary AI "'It is true that the Kāpālika intends to abduct your brother's wife; for such is the power of those mantras used to subjugate Yakṣas.'"

१८.२.११

तया तु विक्रमादित्यो मन्त्रेणाकृष्यमाणया ।
आक्रन्दनीयो नृपतिः स रक्षिष्यति तां ततः ॥

Summary AI "'While being dragged away by the mantra, she must call out to King Vikramāditya; he will then protect her.'"

१८.२.१२

एतद्ब्रह्मवचो ऽभ्येत्य मद्भर्त्रे धनदो ऽब्रवीत् ।
मद्भर्ता मह्यमाह स्म कुमन्त्रचकितात्मने ॥

Summary AI 'Dhanada conveyed these words of Brahmā to my husband, who then told me, while my soul was terrified by the evil mantra.'

१८.२.१३

तावच्च क्रमसिद्धेन मन्त्रेणाकृष्टवान्स माम् ।
होमं कुर्वञ्श्मशानस्थः खण्डकापालिकः स्वतः ॥

Summary AI 'Meanwhile, that Khaṇḍa-kāpālika, staying in the cremation ground and performing a sacrifice, dragged me toward him by the power of the perfected mantra.'

१८.२.१४

अहं च मन्त्राकृष्टा तद्वित्रस्ता पितृकाननम् ।
प्रापमस्थिकपालाढ्यं भैरवं भूतसेवितम् ॥

Summary AI 'Dragged by the mantra and terrified, I reached the fearsome cemetery filled with bones and skulls and haunted by spirits.'

१८.२.१५

तत्रापश्यं च तं दुष्टकापालिकमहं तदा ।
हुताग्निमर्चितोत्तानशवाधिष्ठितमण्डलम् ॥

Summary AI 'There I saw that wicked Kāpālika, who had kindled the fire and was presiding over a mystic circle marked by a worshiped corpse lying on its back.'

१८.२.१६

स च कापालिकः प्राप्तां दृष्ट्वा मां दर्पमोहितः ।
अगात्कथंचिदाचान्तुं नदीं दैवाददूरगाम् ॥

Summary AI 'Seeing that I had arrived, the Kāpālika, deluded by pride, fortunately went to a nearby river to perform ceremonial rinsing.'

१८.२.१७

तत्क्षणं संमृतब्रह्मवचनाहमचिन्तयम् ।
किं नाक्रन्दामि राजानं स रात्रौ जात्विह भ्रमेत् ॥

Summary AI 'At that moment, remembering the words of Brahmā, I thought: Why should I not call out to the King? He might be wandering here tonight.'

१८.२.१८

इत्येतच्चिन्तयित्वोच्चैस्तत्राक्रन्दितवत्यहम् ।
परित्रायस्व मां देव विक्रमादित्य भूपते ॥

Summary AI 'Thinking this, I cried out loudly: O Lord Vikramāditya, King of the earth, protect me!'

१८.२.१९

जग्रद्रक्षामणे पश्य वलात्कुलवधूं सतीम् ।
गृहिणीं मणिभद्रस्य धनाध्यक्षानुजन्मनः ॥

Summary AI 'O jewel of the world's protection, behold a virtuous wife of noble family, the spouse of Maṇibhadra, the younger brother of the lord of wealth, being taken by force!'

१८.२.२०

दुन्दुभेस्तनयां यक्षीं नाम्ना मदनमञ्जरीम् ।
कापालिको ऽयं त्वद्राज्ये मां ध्वंसयितुमुद्यतः ॥

Summary AI 'This Kāpālika is intent on destroying me, a Yakṣī named Madana-mañjarī and daughter of Dundubhi, here in your kingdom!'

१८.२.२१

इत्याक्रन्दितवत्येव ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा ।
कृपाणपाणिमायान्तं तमद्राक्षमहं नृपम् ॥

Summary AI As I was thus crying out, I saw that King approaching, sword in hand, blazing as if with splendor.

१८.२.२२

स च मामवदद्भद्रे मा भैषीर्निवृता भव ।
अहं कापालिकादस्माद्रक्षामी भवतीं शुभे ॥

Summary AI He said to me, "O auspicious lady, do not fear; be at peace. I shall protect you from this Kāpālika."

१८.२.२३

को हि राज्ये ममाधर्ममीदृशं कर्तुमीश्वरः ।
इत्युक्त्वाग्निशिखं नाम वेतालं स समाह्वयत् ॥

Summary AI "Who indeed is able to commit such unrighteousness in my kingdom?" Having said this, he summoned a vetāla named Agniśikha.

१८.२.२४

स चाहूतो ज्वलन्नेवः पांशुरूर्ध्वशिरोरुहः ।
उपेत्यैवाब्रवीद्भूपं किं करोम्यादिशेति तम् ॥

Summary AI Summoned, the vetāla, blazing and dusty with hair standing erect, approached the King and asked, "What shall I do? Command me."

१८.२.२५

अथ राजाब्रवीदेषे परदारापहारकृत् ।
पापः कापालिको हत्वा भवता भक्ष्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI Then the King said, "This sinful Kāpālika, who abducts others' wives, should be killed and eaten by you."

१८.२.२६

ततः सो ऽग्निशिखस्तस्मिञ्शवे ऽर्चामण्डलस्थिते ।
प्रविश्याधावदुत्थाय प्रसारितभुजाननः ॥

Summary AI Then Agniśikha entered that corpse lying in the circle of worship and, rising with outstretched arms and open mouth, rushed forward.

१८.२.२७

अग्रहीज्जङ्घयोः पश्चात्तं चाचान्तपरागतम् ।
कापालिकं स वेतालः पलायनपरायणम् ॥

Summary AI That vetāla seized by the legs from behind the Kāpālika, who was attempting to flee after his power was exhausted.

१८.२.२८

नभसि भ्रामयित्वा च क्षिप्रमास्फोट्य च क्षितौ ।
देहं मनोरथं चैव सममस्य व्यचूर्णयत् ॥

Summary AI Whirling him in the air and then violently dashing him against the ground, he crushed the Kāpālika's body and his desires simultaneously.

१८.२.२९

हतं कापालिनं दृष्ट्वा भूतेष्वामिषगर्धिषु ।
आगाद्यमशिखो नाम वेतालस्तत्र दुर्मदः ॥

Summary AI Seeing the Kāpālika killed, a fierce vetāla named Yamaśikha arrived there among the spirits greedy for flesh.

१८.२.३०

एत्यैव तदगृह्णात्स कापालिककलेवरम् ।
ततः सो ऽग्निशिखः पूर्वो वेतालस्तम भाषत ॥

Summary AI Upon arriving, he seized the corpse of the Kāpālika; then the first vetāla, Agniśikha, spoke to him.

१८.२.३१

अरे श्रीविक्रमादित्यदेवस्यादेशतो मया ।
कापालिको ऽयं निहतो दुराचार त्वमस्य कः ॥

Summary AI "Hey! This Kāpālika was killed by me by the order of Lord Vikramāditya. You rogue, who are you to him?"

१८.२.३२

एतच्छ्रुत्वा यमशिखः प्राह त्वं ब्रूहि तर्हि मे ।
किंप्रभावः स राजेति ततः सो ऽग्निशिखो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Yamaśikha said, "Then tell me, what is the power of that King?" Then Agniśikha replied.

१८.२.३३

तत्प्रभावं न चेद्वेत्सि तदहं शृणु वच्मि ते ।
इहाभूड्डाकिनेयाख्यः सुधीरः कितवः पुरि ॥

Summary AI "If you do not know his power, then listen, I will tell you. In this city, there was a very resolute gambler named Dākineya."

१८.२.३४

स जातु हृतसर्वस्वः कितवैद्यूर्तमायया ।
अधिकावर्जितान्यार्थनिमित्तं तैरबध्यत ॥

Summary AI Once, having lost everything to gamblers through their deceptive tricks, he was bound by them for the sake of other money he owed.

१८.२.३५

अस्वत्वादददन्तं च तैरेव लगुडादिभिः ।
ताड्यमानो ऽवतस्थे च ग्रावभूतो मृतो यथा ॥

Summary AI Not giving the money because he possessed nothing, he remained like a stone, as if dead, while being beaten by them with clubs and other weapons.

१८.२.३६

ततः स सभ्यैः सर्वैस्तर्नीत्वा पापैः स चिक्षिपे ।
महान्धकूपे संभाव्य जीवतो ऽस्मात्प्रतिक्रियाम् ॥

Summary AI Then, those wicked gamblers, fearing some retaliation from him if he lived, took him and threw him into a deep, dark well.

१८.२.३७

स च तत्रातिगम्भीरे कितवो डाकिनेयकः ।
कूपे भ्रष्टो ददर्शो ऽग्नौ महान्तौ पुरुषावुभौ ॥

Summary AI That gambler Dākineya, having fallen into that very deep well, saw two great beings in a fire there.

१८.२.३८

तौ च तं पतितं साम्ना दृष्ट्वा भीतमपृच्छताम् ।
कस्त्वं कुतश्च कूपे ऽस्मिन्पतितो ऽस्युच्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI Seeing him fallen and terrified, the two asked him gently, "Who are you, and why have you fallen into this well? Tell us."

१८.२.३९

अथाश्वस्य स्ववृत्तान्तं द्यूतकारो निवेद्य सः ।
तावप्यपृच्छद्ब्रूतं मे कौ कुतश्च युवामिह ॥

Summary AI Then, regaining his composure and relating his story, the gambler asked them, "Tell me, who are you two and why are you here?"

१८.२.४०

तच्छ्रुत्वा तौ जगदतुः पुरुषाववटस्थितौ ।
आवामस्याः पुरो भद्र श्मशाने ब्रह्मराक्षसौ ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the two beings standing in the pit said, "O good sir, we are two brahmarākṣasas from the cemetery of this city."

१८.२.४१

अगृह्णीव च तावावामिहैव पुरि कन्यके ।
मुख्यमन्त्रिसुतामेकामन्यां मुख्यवणिक्सुताम् ॥

Summary AI We two seized two maidens right here in this city: one was the daughter of the chief minister and the other the daughter of the chief merchant.

१८.२.४२

न च मोचयितुं कश्चित्ते शक्नोति स्म कन्यके ।
मान्त्रिको दीप्तमन्त्रो ऽपि पृथ्व्यामस्मत्सकाशतः ॥

Summary AI No one on earth, not even a sorcerer possessing powerful spells, was able to rescue those two maidens from our presence.

१८.२.४३

बुद्ध्वाथ विक्रमादित्यदेवस्तत्पितृवत्सलः ।
तत्रागाद्यत्र कन्ये ते पित्रोः सख्यात्सह स्थिते ॥

Summary AI Then King Vikramādityadeva, who was well-disposed toward their fathers, learned of this and went to the place where the two maidens were held together due to their fathers' friendship.

१८.२.४४

तं दृष्ट्वैव नृपं मुक्त्वा कन्यके ते पलायितुम् ।
इच्छन्तावपि नैवावां ततो गन्तुमशक्नुवः ॥

Summary AI Upon merely seeing that king, though we wished to release the maidens and flee, we were completely unable to move from that spot.

१८.२.४५

आपश्याव दिशः सर्वा ज्वलन्तीस्तस्य तेजसा ।
ततो ऽबध्नात्स नृपतिर्दृष्ट्वा नौ स्वप्रभावतः ॥

Summary AI We saw all directions blazing with his radiance; then, seeing us, that king bound us by his own spiritual power.

१८.२.४६

जातमृत्युभयौ दीनौ वीक्ष्य चैवं समादिशत् ।
भोः पापावन्धकूपान्तर्वसतं वत्सरावधि ॥

Summary AI Seeing us miserable and fearing death, he commanded: "O wicked ones, dwell within this dark well for the duration of a year."

१८.२.४७

मुक्ताभ्यां च ततः कार्यं भवद्भ्यां नेदृशं पुनः ।
करिष्यतश्चेत्तदहं निग्रहीष्यामि वां ततः ॥

Summary AI "Once released, you must never do such a thing again; if you do, I shall then punish you both."

१८.२.४८

इत्यादिश्यान्धकूपे ऽत्र तेनावां क्षपिताविमौ ।
राज्ञा विषमशीलेन कृपया न विपादितौ ॥

Summary AI Having commanded thus, the king Viṣamaśīla cast us into this dark well; out of mercy, he did not put us to death.

१८.२.४९

अष्टभिर्दिवसैः कूपनिवासस्यास्य चावयोः ।
अवधिः पूर्यते वर्षादितो मुच्यावहे ततः ॥

Summary AI In eight days, the year-long term of our residence in this well will be completed, and then we shall be released from here.

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