कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

गौरीनवपरिष्वङ्गे विभोः स्वेदाम्बु पातु वः ।
नेत्राग्निभीत्या कामेन वारुणस्त्रमिवाहितम् ॥

Summary AI May the sweat of Lord Śiva, shed during his fresh embrace of Gaurī, protect you; it appeared as if Kāma had discharged the Varuṇa weapon out of fear of the fire from the Lord's eye.

२.१.२

कैलासे धूर्जटेर्वक्त्रात्पुष्पदन्तं गणोत्तमम् ।
तस्माद्वररुचीभूतात्काणभूतिं च भूतले ॥

Summary AI Hear this wonderful tale of the Vidyādharas, which originated from the mouth of Śiva on Kailāsa, passed to the supreme Gaṇa Puṣpadanta, and from him, in the form of Vararuci, reached Kāṇabhūti on earth.

२.१.३

काणभूतेर्गुणाढ्यं च गुणाढ्यात्सातवाहनम् ।
यत्प्राप्तं शृणुतेदं तद्विद्याधरकथाद्भुतम् ॥

Summary AI Listen to this marvelous story of the Vidyādharas, which passed from Kāṇabhūti to Guṇāḍhya, and then from Guṇāḍhya reached King Sātavāhana.

२.१.४

अस्ति वत्स इति ख्यातो देशो दर्पोपशान्तये ।
स्वर्गस्य निर्मितो धात्रा प्रतिमल्ल इव क्षितौ ॥

Summary AI There is a land famous as Vatsa, created on earth by the Creator as a rival to heaven, as if to humble the pride of the celestial realm.

२.१.५

कौशाम्बी नाम तत्रास्ति मध्यभागे महापुरी ।
लक्ष्मीविलासवसतिर्भूतलस्येव कर्णिका ॥

Summary AI In the center of that land lies the great city named Kauśāmbī, the abode of Lakṣmī’s sports and the very pericarp of the earth-lotus.

२.१.६

तस्यां राजा शतानीकः पाण्डवान्वयसंभवः ।
जनमेजयपुत्रो ऽभूत्पौत्रो राज्ञः परीक्षितः ॥

Summary AI In that city lived King Śatānīka, born of the Pāṇḍava lineage, the son of Janamejaya and the grandson of King Parīkṣit.

२.१.७

अभिमन्युप्रपौत्रश्च यस्यादिपुरुषो ऽर्जुनः ।
त्रिपुरारिभुजस्तम्भदृष्टदोर्दण्डविक्रमः ॥

Summary AI He was the great-grandson of Abhimanyu, and his ancestor was Arjuna, whose prowess of arm was witnessed by the pillar-like arms of Śiva, the enemy of Tripura.

२.१.८

कलत्रं भूरभूत्तस्य राज्ञी विष्णुमती तथा ।
एका रत्नानि सुषुवे न तावदपरा सुतम् ॥

Summary AI The earth was his wife, as was Queen Viṣṇumatī; while one bore him jewels, the other had not yet borne him a son.

२.१.९

एकदा मृगयासङ्गाद्भ्राम्यतश्चास्य भूपतेः ।
अभूच्छाण्डिल्यमुनिना समं परिचयो वने ॥

Summary AI Once, while the king was wandering in the forest due to his addiction to hunting, he became acquainted with the sage Śāṇḍilya.

२.१.१०

सो ऽस्य पुत्रार्थिनो राज्ञः कौशाम्बीमेत्य साधितम् ।
मन्त्रपूतं चरुं राज्ञीं प्राशयन्मुनिसत्तमः ॥

Summary AI That best of sages, coming to Kauśāmbī, made the queen consume a consecrated sacrificial offering prepared for the king who desired a son.

२.१.११

ततस्तस्य सुतो जज्ञे सहस्रानीकसंज्ञकः ।
शुशुभे स पिता तेन विनयेन गुणो यथा ॥

Summary AI Subsequently, a son named Sahasrānīka was born to him; that father shone with his son just as a virtue shines with modesty.

२.१.१२

युवराजं क्रमात्कृत्वा शतानीको ऽथ तं सुतम् ।
संभोगैरेव राजाभून्न तु भूभारचिन्तनैः ॥

Summary AI Then Śatānīka, having duly appointed his son as the crown prince, lived as a king devoted only to enjoyments and no longer to the anxieties of the burden of the earth.

२.१.१३

अथासुरैः समं युद्धे प्राप्ते साहायकेच्छया ।
दूतस्तस्मै विसृष्टो ऽभूद्राज्ञे शक्रेण मातलिः ॥

Summary AI When a war with the Asuras broke out, Indra, desiring assistance, dispatched Mātali as a messenger to that king.

२.१.१४

ततो युगंधराख्यस्य हस्ते धूर्यस्य मन्त्रिणः ।
सुप्रतीकाभिधानस्य मुख्यसेनापतेश्च सः ॥

Summary AI Then he placed his son and the kingdom in the hands of the pre-eminent minister named Yugandhara and the chief commander named Supratīka.

२.१.१५

समर्प्य पुत्रं राज्यं च निहन्तुमसुरान्रणे ।
शक्रान्तिकं शतानीकः सह मातलिना ययौ ॥

Summary AI Having entrusted his son and the kingdom to them, Śatānīka went with Mātali to the presence of Indra in order to slay the Asuras in battle.

२.१.१६

असुरान्यमदंष्ट्रादीन्बहून्पश्यति वासवे ।
हत्वा तत्रैव सङ्ग्रामे प्राप मृत्युं स भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI While Indra looked on, that king, having slain many Asuras like Yamadaṃṣṭra and others, met his death in that very battle.

२.१.१७

मातल्यानीतदेहं च देवी तं नृपमन्वगात् ।
राजलक्ष्मीश्च तत्पुत्रं सहस्रानीकमाश्रयत् ॥

Summary AI The queen followed that king whose body was brought back by Mātali, and the royal fortune then took refuge in his son Sahasrānīka.

२.१.१८

चित्रं तस्मिन्समारूढे पित्र्यं सिंहासनं नृपे ।
भरेण सर्वतो राज्ञां शिरांसि नतिमाययुः ॥

Summary AI It was a marvel that when that king ascended his father's throne, the heads of all other kings everywhere bowed down under the weight of his majesty.

२.१.१९

ततः शक्रः सुहृत्पुत्रं विपक्षविजयोत्सवे ।
स्वर्गं सहस्रानीकं तं निनाय प्रेष्य मातलिम् ॥

Summary AI Then Indra, during the festival celebrating the victory over the enemy, sent Mātali and brought Sahasrānīka, the son of his friend, to heaven.

२.१.२०

स तत्र नन्दने देवान्क्रीडतः कामिनीसखान् ।
दृष्ट्वा स्वोचितभार्यार्थी राजा शोकमिवाविशत् ॥

Summary AI There in the Nandana grove, seeing the gods sporting with their beloved consorts, the king, longing for a wife worthy of himself, felt as if he were overcome by sorrow.

२.१.२१

विज्ञायैतमभिप्रायं तमुवाचाथ वासवः ।
राजन्नलं विषादेन वाञ्छेयं तव सेत्स्यति ॥

Summary AI Understanding his intent, Vāsava said to him: "O King, enough with despair; this desire of yours shall be fulfilled."

२.१.२२

उत्पन्ना हि क्षितौ भार्या तुल्या ते पूर्वनिर्मिता ।
इमं च शृणु वृत्तान्तमत्र ते वर्णयाम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI Indeed, a wife worthy of you has been born on earth, predestined for you. Listen to this account which I shall describe to you now.

२.१.२३

पुरा पितामहं द्रष्टुमगच्छं तत्सभामहम् ।
विधूमो नाम पश्चाच्च ममैको वसुरागमत् ॥

Summary AI Long ago, I went to the assembly of Pitāmaha to see him. Afterwards, a certain Vasu named Vidhūma arrived following me.

२.१.२४

स्थितेष्वस्मासु तत्रैव विरिञ्चं द्रष्टुमप्सराः ।
आगादलम्बुषा नाम वातविस्रंसितांशुका ॥

Summary AI While we remained there, an apsaras named Alambuṣā arrived to see Viriñca, her garment disarrayed by the wind.

२.१.२५

तां दृष्ट्वैव स कामस्य वशं वसुरुपागमत् ।
साप्यप्सरा झगित्यासीत्तद्रूपाकृष्टलोचना ॥

Summary AI Upon seeing her, that Vasu fell under the sway of desire. That apsaras also immediately had her eyes captivated by his form.

२.१.२६

तदालोक्य ममापश्य न्मुखं कमलसंभवः ।
अभिप्रायं विदित्वास्य तावहं शप्तवान्क्रुधा ॥

Summary AI Seeing that, the lotus-born Brahmā looked at my face. Understanding the intent, I cursed them both in anger.

२.१.२७

मर्त्यलोके ऽवतारो ऽस्तु युवयोरविनीतयोः ।
भविष्यथश्च तत्रैव युवां भार्यापती इति ॥

Summary AI "Let there be an incarnation of you two ill-behaved ones in the mortal world; and there, you two shall become husband and wife."

२.१.२८

स वसुस्त्वं समुत्पन्नः सहस्रानीकभूपते ।
शतानीकस्य तनयो भूषणं शशिनः कुले ॥

Summary AI O King Sahasrānīka, you are that Vasu, born as the son of Śatānīka, an ornament in the Lunar dynasty.

२.१.२९

साप्यप्सरा अयोध्यायां कृतवर्मनृपात्मजा ।
जाता मृगावती नाम सा ते भार्या भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI That apsaras has also been born in Ayodhyā as the daughter of King Kṛtavarman, named Mṛgāvatī; she shall be your wife.

२.१.३०

इतीन्द्रवाक्यपवनैरुद्भूतो हृदि भूपतेः ।
सस्नेहे तस्य झगिति प्राज्वलन्मदनानलः ॥

Summary AI Thus, fanned by the winds of Indra’s words, the fire of love suddenly blazed in the king’s heart, which was full of affection.

२.१.३१

ततः संमान्य शक्रेण प्रेषितस्तद्रथेन सः ।
सह मातलिना राजा प्रतस्थे स्वां पुरीं प्रति ॥

Summary AI Then, honored by Śakra and sent in his chariot, the king set out toward his own city along with Mātali.

२.१.३२

गच्छन्तं चाप्सराः प्रीत्या तमुवाच तिलोत्तमा ।
राजन्वक्ष्यामि ते किंचित्प्रतीक्षस्व मनागिति ॥

Summary AI As he was departing, the apsaras Tilottamā said to him with affection: "O King, I wish to tell you something; wait a moment."

२.१.३३

तदश्रुत्वैव हि ययौ स तां ध्यायन्मृगावतीम् ।
ततः सा लज्जिता कोपात्तं शशाप तिलोत्तमा ॥

Summary AI Thinking of Mṛgāvatī, he departed without hearing her words. Consequently, Tilottamā, feeling slighted, cursed him out of anger.

२.१.३४

यया हृतमना राजन्न शृणोषि वचो मम ।
तस्याश्चतुर्दशसमा वियोगस्ते भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI "O King, since your mind is so stolen by her that you do not hear my words, you shall suffer a separation from her for fourteen years."

२.१.३५

मातलिस्तच्च शुश्राव स च राजा प्रियोत्सुकः ।
ययौ रथेन कौशाम्बीमयोध्यां मनसा पुनः ॥

Summary AI Mātali heard that curse, but the king, eager for his beloved, traveled to Kauśāmbī by chariot while his mind remained in Ayodhyā.

२.१.३६

ततो युगंधरादिभ्यो मन्त्रिभ्यो वासवाच्छ्रुतम् ।
मृगावतीगतं सर्वं शशंसोत्सुकया धिया ॥

Summary AI Then, with an eager mind, he related everything concerning Mṛgāvatī that he had heard from Vāsava to his ministers, headed by Yugaṃdhara.

२.१.३७

याचितुं तां स कन्यां च तत्पितुः कृतवर्मणः ।
अयोध्यां प्राहिणोद्दूतं कालक्षेपासहो नृपः ॥

Summary AI Unable to bear any delay, the king dispatched an envoy to Ayodhyā to ask for the maiden from her father, Kṛtavarman.

२.१.३८

कृतवर्मा च तद्दूताच्छ्रुत्वा संदेशमभ्यधात् ।
हर्षाद्देव्यै कलावत्यै ततः साप्येनमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Having heard the message from the envoy, Kṛtavarman joyfully informed Queen Kalāvatī, who then spoke to him in turn.

२.१.३९

राजन्सहस्रानीकाय देयावश्यं मृगावती ।
इममर्थं च मे स्वप्ने जाने को ऽप्यवदद्द्विजः ॥

Summary AI "O King, Mṛgāvatī must certainly be given to Sahasrānīka; I know that some brāhmaṇa spoke of this matter to me in a dream."

२.१.४०

अथ हृष्टो मृगावत्या नृत्तगीतादिकौशलम् ।
रूपं चाप्रतिमं तस्मै दूतायादर्शयन्नृपः ॥

Summary AI Then, the delighted king showed the envoy Mṛgāvatī’s peerless beauty and her skill in dance, song, and other arts.

२.१.४१

ददौ तां च स कान्तानां कलानामेकमास्पदम् ।
कृतवर्मा सुतां तस्मै राज्ञे मूर्तिमिवैन्दवीम् ॥

Summary AI Kṛtavarma gave his daughter, who was a unique abode of the lovely arts and resembled an embodiment of moonlight, to that king.

२.१.४२

परस्परगुणावाप्त्यै स श्रुतप्रज्ञयोरिव ।
अभूत्सहस्रानीकस्य मृगावत्याश्च संगमः ॥

Summary AI The union of Sahasrānīka and Mṛgāvatī occurred for the mutual acquisition of each other's virtues, just like the union of learning and wisdom.

२.१.४३

अथ तस्याचिराद्राज्ञो मन्त्रिणां जज्ञिरे सुताः ।
जज्ञे युगंधरस्यापि पुत्रो यौगन्धरायणः ॥

Summary AI Soon after, sons were born to the ministers of that king; Yaugandharāyaṇa was born as the son of Yugaṃdhara.

२.१.४४

सुप्रतीकस्य पुत्रश्च रुमण्वानित्यजायत ।
यो ऽस्य नर्मसुहृत्तस्य पुत्रो ऽजनि वसन्तकः ॥

Summary AI Supratīka's son was born as Rumaṇvān, and Vasantaka was born as the son of the king's companion in jests.

२.१.४५

ततस्तस्यापि दिवसैः सहस्रानीकभूपतेः ।
बभार गर्भमापाण्डुमुखी राज्ञी मृगावती ॥

Summary AI After some days, Queen Mṛgāvatī, with a pale face, conceived a child for King Sahasrānīka.

२.१.४६

ययाचे साथ भर्तारं दर्शनातृप्तलोचनम् ।
दोहदं रुधिरापूर्णलीलावापीनिमज्जनम् ॥

Summary AI She then requested her husband, whose eyes were never satiated by looking at her, for the fulfillment of her pregnancy craving: bathing in a pleasure-pool filled with blood.

२.१.४७

स चेच्छां पूरयन्राज्ञ्या लाक्षादिरसनिर्भराम् ।
चकार धार्मिको राजा वापीं रक्तावृतामिव ॥

Summary AI Fulfilling the queen's wish, the righteous king prepared a pool filled with the juice of lac and other substances, making it appear as if it were covered with blood.

२.१.४८

तस्यां स्नान्तीमकस्माच्च लाक्षालिप्तां निपत्य ताम् ।
गरुडान्वयजः पक्षी जहारामिषशङ्कया ॥

Summary AI While she was bathing in it and smeared with lac, a bird of Garuḍa's lineage suddenly swooped down and carried her away, mistaking her for a piece of flesh.

२.१.४९

पक्षिणा क्वापि नीतां तामन्वेष्टुमिव तत्क्षणम् ।
ययौ सहस्रानीकस्य धैर्यं विह्वलचेतसा ॥

Summary AI At that moment, as she was carried away to some unknown place by the bird, King Sahasrānīka's fortitude departed, as if to search for her, leaving him overwhelmed.

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