कथासरित्सागरः — तृतीयस्तरङ्गः

तृतीयस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः स वत्सराज्यं च प्राप्य पित्रा समर्पितम् ।
कौशाम्ब्यवस्थितः सम्यक्छशासोदयनः प्रजाः ॥

Summary AI After receiving the kingdom of Vatsa handed over by his father, King Udayana, residing in Kauśāmbī, ruled his subjects well.

२.३.२

यौगन्धरायणाद्येषु भरं विन्यस्य मन्त्रिषु ।
बभूव स शनै राजा सुखेष्वेकान्ततत्परः ॥

Summary AI Entrusting the burden of administration to ministers like Yaugandharāyaṇa, the king gradually became exclusively devoted to pleasures.

२.३.३

सदा सिषेवे मृगयां वीणां घोषवतीं च ताम् ।
दत्तां वासुकिना पूर्वं नक्तंदिनमवादयत् ॥

Summary AI He constantly indulged in hunting and played the lute named Ghoṣavatī, which had been previously gifted to him by Vāsuki, day and night.

२.३.४

तत्तन्त्रीकलनिर्ह्रादमोहमन्त्रवशीकृतान् ।
अनिनाय च संयम्य सदा मत्तान्वनद्विपान् ॥

Summary AI He would capture and lead away wild elephants in rut, having enchanted them with the sweet sounds of the lute strings, which acted like a hypnotic spell.

२.३.५

स वारनारीवक्त्रेन्दुप्रतिमालम्कृतां सुराम् ।
मन्त्रिणां च मुखच्छायां वत्सराजः समं पपौ ॥

Summary AI King Vatsarāja drank wine adorned with the reflections of the moon-like faces of courtesans, while simultaneously drinking in the expressions of his ministers.

२.३.६

कुलरूपानुरूपा मे भार्या क्वापि न विद्यते ।
एका वासवदत्ताख्या कन्यका श्रूयते परम् ॥

Summary AI He thought, "There is no wife to be found anywhere worthy of my lineage and beauty; however, I hear of a single maiden named Vāsavadattā."

२.३.७

कथं प्राप्येत सा चेति चिन्तामेकामुवाह सः ।
सो ऽपि चण्डमहासेन उज्जयिन्यामचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI He carried this single anxiety: "How can she be obtained?" Meanwhile, King Caṇḍamahāsena also reflected similarly in Ujjayinī.

२.३.८

तुल्यो मद्दुहितुर्भर्ता जगत्यस्मिन्न विद्यते ।
अस्ति चोदयनो नाम विपक्षः स च मे सदा ॥

Summary AI Caṇḍamahāsena thought, "In this world, there is no husband equal to my daughter; there is a king named Udayana, but he is always my adversary."

२.३.९

तत्कथं नाम जामाता वश्यश्च नियतं भवेत् ।
उपायस्त्वेक एवास्ति यदटव्यां भ्रमत्यसौ ॥

Summary AI "How then can he surely become my son-in-law and be brought under my control? There is only one way, since he wanders in the forest."

२.३.१०

एकाकी द्विरदान्बध्नन्मृगयाव्यसनी नृपः ।
तेन च्छिद्रेण तं युक्त्यावष्टभ्यानाययाम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI "The king, addicted to hunting, wanders alone binding elephants. Through that weakness, I shall seize him by a stratagem and bring him here."

२.३.११

गान्धर्वज्ञस्य तस्यैतां सुतां शिष्यीकरोमि च ।
ततश्चास्यां स्वयं तस्य चक्षुः स्निह्येदसंशयम् ॥

Summary AI "I will make this daughter his pupil, as he is an expert in music. Then, undoubtedly, his heart will naturally become attached to her."

२.३.१२

एवं स मम जामाता वश्यश्च नियतं भवेत् ।
नान्यो ऽस्त्युपायः को ऽप्यत्र येन वश्यो भवेच्च सः ॥

Summary AI "In this way, he will certainly become my son-in-law and be subject to me. There is no other means by which he can be brought under control."

२.३.१३

इति संचिन्त्य तत्सिद्ध्यै स गत्वा चण्डिकागृहम् ।
चण्डीमभ्यर्च्य तुष्टाव चक्रे ऽस्या उपयाचितम् ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus, to achieve his goal, he went to the temple of Caṇḍikā, worshipped and praised the goddess, and made a vow to her.

२.३.१४

एतत्संपत्स्यते राजन्नचिराद्वाञ्छितं तव ।
इति शुश्राव तत्रासावशरीरां सरस्वतीम् ॥

Summary AI "O King, this desire of yours will soon be fulfilled," thus he heard a bodiless divine voice there.

२.३.१५

ततस्तुष्टः समागत्य बुद्धदत्तेन मन्त्रिणा ।
सह चण्डमहासेनस्तमेवार्थमचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Then, being pleased, Caṇḍamahāsena returned and deliberated upon that very matter with his minister Buddhadatta.

२.३.१६

मानोद्धतो वीतलोभो रक्तभृत्यो महाबलः ।
असाध्यो ऽपि स सामादेः साम्ना तावन्निरूप्यताम् ॥

Summary AI "Though he is proud, free from greed, has loyal servants, and is very powerful—making him difficult to manage—let us first test him with conciliation."

२.३.१७

इति संमन्त्र्य स नृपो दूतमेकं समादिशत् ।
गच्छ मद्वचनाद्ब्रूहि वत्सराजमिदं वचः ॥

Summary AI Having consulted thus, the king commanded a messenger, saying, "Go and speak these words to Vatsarāja on my behalf."

२.३.१८

मत्पुत्री तव गान्धर्वे शिष्या भवितुमिच्छति ।
स्नेहस्ते ऽस्मासु चेत्तत्वं तामिहैवैत्य शिक्षय ॥

Summary AI "My daughter wishes to become your pupil in music. If you have any affection for us, then come here and teach her."

२.३.१९

इत्युक्त्वा प्रेषितस्तेन दूतो गत्वा न्यवेदयत् ।
कौशाम्ब्यां वत्सराजाय संदेशं तं तथैव सः ॥

Summary AI Having been sent with these words, the messenger went to Kauśāmbī and delivered that message to Vatsarāja exactly as told.

२.३.२०

वत्सराजो ऽपि तच्छ्रुत्वा दूतादनुचितं वचः ।
यौगन्धरायणस्येदमेकान्ते मन्त्रिणो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Hearing those improper words from the messenger, King Vatsarāja spoke to his minister Yaugandharāyaṇa in private.

२.३.२१

किमेतत्तेन संदिष्टं सदर्पं मम भूभुजा ।
एवं संदिशतस्तस्य को ऽभिप्रायो दुरात्मनः ॥

Summary AI Vatsarāja questioned what arrogant message the king had sent him and what the intention of that wicked-minded person was in sending such a message.

२.३.२२

इत्युक्तो वत्सराजेन तदा यौगन्धरायणः ।
उवाचैनं महामन्त्रीं स स्वामिहितनिष्ठुरः ॥

Summary AI Being thus addressed by Vatsarāja, the great minister Yaugandharāyaṇa, who was firm in his devotion to his master's welfare, spoke to him.

२.३.२३

भुवि व्यसनिताख्यातिः प्ररूढा ते लतेव या ।
इदं तस्या महाराज कषायकटुकं फलम् ॥

Summary AI O Great King, your reputation for being addicted to pleasures has grown like a vine on this earth; this current situation is the bitter and astringent fruit of that reputation.

२.३.२४

स हि त्वां रागिणं मत्वा कन्यारत्नेन लोभयन् ।
नीत्वा चण्डमहासेनो बद्ध्वा स्वीकर्तुमिच्छति ॥

Summary AI For Caṇḍamahāsena, considering you to be a man of passions, intends to lure you with the jewel of a daughter, capture you, and bring you under his control.

२.३.२५

तन्मुञ्च व्यसनानि त्वं सुखेन हि परैर्नृपाः ।
सीदन्तस्तेषु गृह्यन्ते खातेष्विव वनद्विपाः ॥

Summary AI Therefore, abandon your vices; for kings who are sunk in them are easily captured by enemies, just as wild elephants are caught in pitfalls.

२.३.२६

इत्युक्तो मन्त्रिणा धीरः प्रतिदूतं व्यसर्जयत् ।
स वत्सराजस्तं चण्डमहासेननृपं प्रति ॥

Summary AI Having been thus advised by his minister, the wise Vatsarāja dispatched a counter-messenger back to King Caṇḍamahāsena.

२.३.२७

संदिदेश च यद्यस्ति वाञ्छा मच्छिष्यतां प्रति ।
त्वत्पुत्र्यास्तदिहैवैषा भवता प्रेष्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI He sent a message saying, "If your daughter desires to become my pupil, then she should be sent here by you."

२.३.२८

एवं कृत्वा च सचिवान्वत्सराजो जगाद सः ।
यामि चण्डमहासेनमिह बद्ध्वानयामि तम् ॥

Summary AI After doing this, Vatsarāja said to his ministers, "I will go and bring that Caṇḍamahāsena here in bonds."

२.३.२९

तच्छ्रुत्वा तमुवाचाग्र्यो मन्त्री यौगन्धरायणः ।
न चैतच्छक्यते राजन्कर्तुं नैव च युज्यते ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the chief minister Yaugandharāyaṇa said to him, "O King, this is neither possible to achieve nor is it appropriate to do."

२.३.३०

स हि प्रभाववान्राजा स्वीकार्यश्च तव प्रभो ।
तथा च तद्गतं सर्वं शृण्विदं कथयामि ते ॥

Summary AI O Lord, for that king is powerful and should be won over by you; listen as I tell you everything related to him.

२.३.३१

अस्तीहोज्जयिनी नाम नगरी भूषणं भुवः ।
हसन्तीव सुधाधौतैः पासादैरमरावतीम् ॥

Summary AI There is a city here named Ujjayinī, the ornament of the earth, which seems to laugh at Amarāvatī with its white-plastered palaces.

२.३.३२

यस्यां वसति विश्वेशो महाकालवपुः स्वयम् ।
शिथिलीकृतकैलासनिवासव्यसनो हरः ॥

Summary AI In that city dwells Hara, the Lord of the Universe, in the form of Mahākāla, having relaxed his habit of residing on Mount Kailāsa.

२.३.३३

तस्यां महेन्द्रवर्माख्यो राजाभूद्भूभृतां वरः ।
जयसेनाभिधानो ऽस्य बभूव सदृशः सुतः ॥

Summary AI In that city lived a king named Mahendravarman, the best among rulers; he had a worthy son named Jayasena.

२.३.३४

जयसेनस्य तस्याथ पुत्रो ऽप्रतिमदोर्बलः ।
समुत्पन्नो महासेननामा नृपतिकुञ्जरः ॥

Summary AI Then, to that Jayasena was born a son named Mahāsena, a lion among kings, possessing incomparable strength of arms.

२.३.३५

सो ऽथ राजा स्वराज्यं तत्पालयन्समचिन्तयत् ।
न मे खड्गो ऽनुरूपो ऽस्ति न च भार्या कुलोद्गता ॥

Summary AI While ruling his kingdom, that king thought to himself, "I do not possess a sword worthy of me, nor a wife of noble birth."

२.३.३६

इति संचिन्त्य स नृपश्चण्डिकागृहमागमत् ।
तत्रौतिष्ठन्निराहारो देवीमाराधयंश्चिरम् ॥

Summary AI Reflecting thus, the king went to the temple of Caṇḍikā and remained there without food for a long time, worshiping the Goddess.

२.३.३७

उत्कृत्याथ स्वमांसानि होमकर्म स चाकरोत् ।
ततः प्रसन्ना साक्षात्स देवी चण्डी तमभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI He then performed a fire sacrifice by cutting off his own flesh; thereupon, the Goddess Caṇḍī appeared in person and, being pleased, spoke to him.

२.३.३८

प्रीतास्मि ते गृहाणेमं पुत्र खड्गोत्तमं मम ।
एतत्प्रभावाच्छत्रूणामजेयस्त्वं भविष्यसि ॥

Summary AI "My son, I am pleased with you; take this excellent sword of mine. By its power, you shall be invincible to your enemies."

२.३.३९

किं चाङ्गारवतीं नाम कन्यां त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरीम् ।
अङ्गारकासुरसुतां शीघ्रं भार्यामवाप्स्यसि ॥

Summary AI "Furthermore, you shall soon obtain as your wife the maiden named Aṅgāravatī, the daughter of the demon Aṅgāraka, who is the most beautiful woman in the three worlds."

२.३.४०

अतीव चण्डं कर्मेह कृतं चैतद्यतस्त्वया ।
अतश्चण्डमहासेन इत्याख्या ते भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI "Because you have performed such a fierce deed here, you shall henceforth be known by the name Caṇḍamahāsena."

२.३.४१

इत्युक्त्वा दत्तखड्गा सा देवी तस्य तिरो ऽभवत् ।
राज्ञः संकल्पसंपत्तिहृष्टिराविरभूत्पुनः ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus and granted the sword, the goddess disappeared from his sight. The king's joy, arising from the fulfillment of his resolve, manifested once again.

२.३.४२

स खड्गो मत्तहस्तीन्द्रो नडागिरिरिति प्रभो ।
द्वे तस्य रत्ने शक्रस्य कुलिशैरावणाविव ॥

Summary AI O Lord, that sword and the lordly elephant named Naḍāgiri were his two treasures, just like the thunderbolt and Airāvaṇa are to Śakra.

२.३.४३

तयोः प्रभावात्सुखितः कदाचित्सो ऽथ भूपतिः ।
अगाच्चण्डमहासेनो मृगयायै महाटवीम् ॥

Summary AI Then, one day, King Caṇḍamahāsena, empowered by those two treasures, went to a great forest for hunting.

२.३.४४

अतिप्रमाणं तत्रैकं वराहं घोरमैक्षत ।
नैशं तम इवाकाण्डे दिवा पिण्डत्वमागतम् ॥

Summary AI There, he saw a single formidable boar of extraordinary size, resembling the darkness of night gathered into a solid mass unexpectedly during the day.

२.३.४५

स वराहः शरैरस्य तीक्ष्णैरप्यकृतव्रणः ।
आहत्य स्यन्दनं राज्ञः पलाय्य बिलमाविशत् ॥

Summary AI That boar, remaining uninjured even by the king's sharp arrows, struck the royal chariot and, fleeing, entered a cave.

२.३.४६

राजापि रथमुत्सृज्य तमेवानुसरन्क्रुधा ।
धनुर्द्वितीयस्तत्रैव प्राविशत्स बिलान्तरम् ॥

Summary AI The king also abandoned his chariot and, pursuing the boar in anger with only his bow as a companion, entered that same cave.

२.३.४७

दूरं प्रविश्य चापश्यत्कान्तं पुरवरं महत् ।
सविस्मयो न्यषीदच्च तदन्तर्दीर्घिकातटे ॥

Summary AI Having entered deep within, he beheld a magnificent and beautiful city, and in amazement, he sat down by the bank of a long pond inside it.

२.३.४८

तत्रस्थः कन्यकामेकामपश्यत्स्त्रीशतान्विताम् ।
संचरन्तीं स्मरस्येव धैर्यनिर्भेदिनीमिषुम् ॥

Summary AI While staying there, he saw a maiden accompanied by hundreds of women; she moved like the arrow of Smara that pierces through one's fortitude.

२.३.४९

सापि प्रेमरसासारवर्षिणा चक्षुषा मुहुः ।
स्नपयन्तीव राजानं शनकैस्तमुपागमत् ॥

Summary AI She too, as if bathing the king with her eyes showering a torrent of the nectar of love, slowly approached him.

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