कथासरित्सागरः — चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः

चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः ।

अत्रान्तरे स वत्सेशप्रतिदूतस्तदब्रवीत् ।
गत्वा प्रतिवचश्चण्डमहासेनाय भूभृते ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, the messenger sent in response by the King of Vatsa arrived and delivered the reply to King Caṇḍamahāsena.

२.४.२

सो ऽपि चण्डमहासेनस्तच्छ्रुत्वैव व्यचिन्तयत् ।
स तावदिह नायाति मानी वत्सेश्वरो भृशम् ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing this, King Caṇḍamahāsena reflected that the highly proud King of Vatsa would certainly not come there of his own accord.

२.४.३

कन्या हि तत्र न प्रेष्या भवेदेवं हि लाघवम् ।
तस्माद्बद्ध्वैव तं युक्त्या नृपमानाययाम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI He reasoned that sending his daughter to Vatsa would be a mark of disrespect and humiliation. Therefore, he decided to bring the king by capturing him through a clever stratagem.

२.४.४

इति संचिन्त्य संमन्त्र्य स राजा मन्त्रिभिः सह ।
अकारयत्स्वसदृशं महान्तं यन्त्रहस्तिनम् ॥

Summary AI Having deliberated with his ministers, the king had a large mechanical elephant constructed that looked exactly like a real one.

२.४.५

तं चान्तर्वीरपुरुषैः कृत्वा छन्नैरधिष्ठितम् ।
विन्ध्याटव्यां स निदधे राजा यन्त्रमयं गजम् ॥

Summary AI The king filled the hollow mechanical elephant with hidden warriors and placed it in the Vindhya forest.

२.४.६

तत्र तं चारपुरुषाः पश्यन्ति स्म विदूरतः ।
गजबन्धरसासक्तवत्सराजोपजीविनः ॥

Summary AI The spies serving the King of Vatsa, who was known for his passion for capturing wild elephants, spotted it from a distance.

२.४.७

ते च त्वरितमागत्य वत्सराजं व्यजिज्ञपन् ।
देव दृष्टो गजो ऽस्माभिरेको विन्ध्यवने भ्रमन् ॥

Summary AI Returning quickly, they informed the King of Vatsa, "O Lord, we have seen a solitary elephant roaming in the Vindhya forest."

२.४.८

अस्मिन्नियति भूलोके नैव यो ऽन्यत्र दृश्यते ।
वर्ष्मणा व्याप्तगगनो विन्ध्याद्रिरिव जङ्गमः ॥

Summary AI They described it as a creature unseen elsewhere in this world, its massive body filling the sky like a moving Vindhya mountain.

२.४.९

ततश्चारवचः श्रुत्वा वत्सराजो जहर्ष सः ।
तेभ्यः सुवर्णलक्षं च प्रददौ पारितोषिकम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing the spies' report, the King of Vatsa was delighted and rewarded them with a hundred thousand gold pieces.

२.४.१०

तं चेद्गजेन्द्रं प्राप्स्यामि प्रतिमल्लं नडागिरेः ।
ततश्चण्डमहासेनो वश्यो भवति मे ध्रुवम् ॥

Summary AI He thought that if he could capture this elephant, a rival to Naḍāgiri, then King Caṇḍamahāsena would surely become his vassal.

२.४.११

ततो वासवदत्तां तां स स्वयं मे प्रयच्छति ।
इति संचिन्तयन्सो ऽथ राजा तामनयन्निशाम् ॥

Summary AI He passed the night dreaming that the king would then personally offer him his daughter, Vāsavadattā.

२.४.१२

प्रातश्च मन्त्रिवचनं न्यकृत्वा गजतृष्णया ।
पुरस्कृत्यैव तांश्चारान्ययौ विन्ध्याटवीं प्रति ॥

Summary AI In the morning, ignoring the advice of his ministers due to his obsession with the elephant, he set out for the Vindhya forest, led by those spies.

२.४.१३

प्रस्थानलग्नस्य फलं कन्यालाभं सबन्धनम् ।
यदूचुर्गणकास्तस्य तत्स नैव व्यचारयत् ॥

Summary AI He did not even consider the astrologers' prediction that the result of his departure at that moment would be both his capture and the winning of a maiden.

२.४.१४

प्राप्य विन्ध्याटवीं तस्य गजस्य क्षोभशङ्कया ।
वत्सराजः स सैन्यानि दूरादेव न्यवारयत् ॥

Summary AI Upon reaching the Vindhya forest, the King of Vatsa kept his army at a distance for fear of startling the elephant.

२.४.१५

चारमात्रसहायस्तु वीणां घोषवतीं दधत् ।
निजव्यसनविस्तीर्णां तां विवेश महाटवीम् ॥

Summary AI Accompanied only by the spies and carrying his lute, Ghoṣavatī, he entered the great forest driven by his passion.

२.४.१६

विन्ध्यस्य दक्षिणे पार्श्वे दूराचारैः प्रदर्शितम् ।
गजं सत्यगजाभासं तं ददर्श स भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI On the southern slope of the Vindhyas, the king saw the elephant pointed out by the spies, which looked exactly like a real one.

२.४.१७

एकाकी वादयन्वीणां चिन्तयन्बन्धनानि सः ।
मधुरध्वनि गायंश्च शनैरुपजगाम तम् ॥

Summary AI Alone, playing his lute and singing sweetly while contemplating how to bind the beast, he slowly approached it.

२.४.१८

गान्धर्वदत्तचित्तत्वात्संध्याध्वान्तवशाच्च सः ।
न तं वनगजं राजा मायागजमलक्षयत् ॥

Summary AI Absorbed in his music and obscured by the evening twilight, the king failed to perceive that it was a phantom elephant rather than a real forest dweller.

२.४.१९

सो ऽपि हस्ती तमुत्कर्णतालो गीतरसादिव ।
उपेत्योपेत्य विचलन्दूरमाकृष्टवान्नृपम् ॥

Summary AI The elephant, with ears pricked as if relishing the music, kept moving away as the king approached, drawing him deep into the forest.

२.४.२०

ततो ऽकस्माच्च निर्गत्य तस्माद्यन्त्रमयाद्गजात् ।
वत्सेश्वरं तं संनद्धाः पुरुषाः पर्यवारयन् ॥

Summary AI Then, suddenly, armed men emerged from within the mechanical elephant and surrounded the King of Vatsa.

२.४.२१

तान्दृष्ट्वा नृपतिः कोपादाकृष्टच्छुरिको ऽथ सः ।
अग्रस्थान्योधयन्नन्यैरेत्य पश्चादगृह्यत ॥

Summary AI Seeing them, King Vatsarāja, drawing his dagger in anger, fought those in front, but was then seized from behind by others who approached him.

२.४.२२

संकेतमिलितैश्चान्यैर्योधास्तैः सैनिकैः सह ।
निन्युर्वत्सेश्वरं चण्डमहासेनान्तिकं च तम् ॥

Summary AI Together with other soldiers who had gathered at the signal, the warriors led the Lord of Vatsa into the presence of Caṇḍamahāsena.

२.४.२३

सो ऽपि चण्डमहासेनो निर्गयाग्रे कृतादरः ।
वत्सेशेन समं तेन विवेशोज्जयिनीं पुरीम् ॥

Summary AI Caṇḍamahāsena also came out to meet him, showing respect, and entered the city of Ujjayinī together with the Lord of Vatsa.

२.४.२४

स तत्र तदृशे पौरैरवमानकलङ्कितः ।
शशीव लोचनानन्दो वत्सराजो नवागतः ॥

Summary AI There, the newly arrived Vatsarāja was seen by the citizens like a moon giving joy to the eyes, even though he was stained by the disgrace of capture.

२.४.२५

ततो ऽस्य गुणरागेण वधमाशङ्क्य तत्र ते ।
पौराः संभूय सकलाश्चक्रुर्मरणनिश्चयम् ॥

Summary AI Then, fearing his execution due to their affection for his virtues, all those citizens gathered together and resolved to die if he were killed.

२.४.२६

न मे वत्सेश्वरो वध्यः संधेय इति तान्ब्रुवन् ।
सो ऽथ चण्डमहासेनः पौरान्क्षोभादवारयत् ॥

Summary AI Then Caṇḍamahāsena, telling them, "The Lord of Vatsa is not to be killed by me, but rather to be reconciled," restrained the citizens from their agitation.

२.४.२७

ततो वासवदत्तां तां सुतां तत्रैव भूपतिः ।
वत्सराजाय गान्धर्वशिक्षाहेतोः समर्पयत् ॥

Summary AI Subsequently, the king handed over his daughter Vāsavadattā to Vatsarāja in that very place for the purpose of instruction in the Gandharva art of music.

२.४.२८

उवाच चैनं गान्धर्वं त्वमेतां शिक्षय प्रभो ।
ततः प्राप्स्यसि कल्याणं मा विषादं कृथा इति ॥

Summary AI And he said to him: "O Lord, teach her music; then you shall attain welfare; do not be despondent."

२.४.२९

तस्य दृष्ट्वा तु तां कन्यां वत्सराजस्य मानसम् ।
तथा स्नेहाक्तमभवन्न यहा मन्युमैक्षत ॥

Summary AI But upon seeing that maiden, Vatsarāja's mind became so saturated with affection that it no longer perceived any resentment.

२.४.३०

तस्याश्च चक्षुर्मनसी सह तं प्रति जग्मतुः ।
ह्रिया चक्षुर्निववृत्ते मनस्तु न कथंचन ॥

Summary AI Her eyes and mind both went towards him together; through modesty her eyes turned back, but her mind did not return by any means.

२.४.३१

अथ वासवदत्तां तां गापयंस्तद्गतेक्षणः ।
तत्र गान्धर्वशालायां वत्सराज उवास सः ॥

Summary AI Then Vatsarāja dwelt there in the music hall, making Vāsavadattā sing while his gaze was fixed upon her.

२.४.३२

अङ्के घोषवती तस्य कण्ठे गीतश्रुतिस्तथा ।
पुरो वासवदत्ता च तस्थौ चेतोविनोदिनी ॥

Summary AI The lute Ghoṣavatī was in his lap, the sound of song was in his throat, and before him stood Vāsavadattā, the delighter of his heart.

२.४.३३

सा च वासवदत्तास्य परिचर्यापराभवत् ।
तक्ष्मीरिव तदेकाग्रा बद्धस्याप्यनपायिनी ॥

Summary AI And Vāsavadattā became devoted to his service, remaining constant like the goddess Lakṣmī focused solely on him, even though he was a prisoner.

२.४.३४

अत्रान्तरे च कौशाम्ब्यां वत्सराजानुगे जने ।
आवृत्ते तं प्रभुं बुद्ध्वा बद्धं राष्ट्रं प्रचुक्षुभे ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, when the followers of Vatsarāja returned to Kauśāmbī and realized their lord was imprisoned, the kingdom was thrown into a state of agitation.

२.४.३५

उज्जयिन्यामवस्कन्दं दातुमैच्छन्समन्ततः ।
वत्सेश्वरानुरागेण क्रुद्धाः प्रकृतयस्तदा ॥

Summary AI Out of devotion to the Lord of Vatsa, the enraged subjects then desired to launch an assault on Ujjayinī from all sides.

२.४.३६

नैव चण्डमहासेनो बलसाध्यो महान्हि सः ।
न चैवं वत्सराजस्य शरीरे कुशलं भवेत् ॥

Summary AI Caṇḍamahāsena cannot be overcome by force, for he is powerful; moreover, in such a situation, the safety of Vatsarāja's person would be at risk.

२.४.३७

तस्मान्न युक्तो ऽवस्कन्दो बुद्धिसाध्यमिदं पुनः ।
इति प्रकृतयः क्षोभान्नवार्यन्त रुमण्वता ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, an assault is not proper; rather, this matter must be achieved through intellect." Thus, the subjects were restrained from their agitation by Rumaṇvat.

२.४.३८

ततो ऽनुरक्तमालोक्य राष्ट्रमव्यभिचारि तत् ।
रुमण्वदादीनाह स्म धीरो यौगन्धरायणः ॥

Summary AI Then, seeing that the kingdom was devoted and unwavering, the wise Yaugandharāyaṇa spoke to Rumaṇvat and the others.

२.४.३९

इहैव सर्वैर्युष्माभिः स्थातव्यं सततोद्यतैः ।
रक्षणीयमिदं राष्ट्रं काले कार्यश्च विक्रमः ॥

Summary AI "All of you must remain right here, constantly prepared; this kingdom must be protected, and valor should be displayed at the proper time."

२.४.४०

वसन्तकद्वितीयश्च गत्वाहं प्रज्ञया स्वया ।
वत्सेशं मोचयित्वा तमानयामि न संशयः ॥

Summary AI "I, accompanied by Vasantaka, will go and release the Lord of Vatsa through my own wisdom and bring him back; of this there is no doubt."

२.४.४१

जलाहतौ विशेषेण वैद्युताग्नेरिव द्युतिः ।
आपदि स्फुरति प्रज्ञा यस्य धीरः स एव हि ॥

Summary AI Verily, he alone is a wise man whose intellect shines forth in times of calamity, much like the flash of lightning that gleams even more intensely when struck by water.

२.४.४२

प्राकारभञ्जनान्योगांस्तथा निगडभञ्जनान् ।
अदर्शनप्रयोगांश्च जाने ऽहमुपयोगिनः ॥

Summary AI "I am familiar with useful methods for breaking down walls, as well as techniques for shattering fetters and rituals for becoming invisible," said Yaugandharāyaṇa.

२.४.४३

इत्युक्त्वा प्रकृतीः कृत्वा हस्तन्यस्ता रुमण्वतः ।
यौगन्धरायणः प्रायात्कौशाम्ब्याः सवसन्तकः ॥

Summary AI Having said this and placed the subjects in the care of Rumaṇvat, Yaugandharāyaṇa set out from Kauśāmbī accompanied by Vasantaka.

२.४.४४

प्रविवेश च तेनैव सह विन्ध्यमहाटवीम् ।
स्वप्रज्ञामिव सत्ताढ्यां स्वनीतिमिव दुर्गमाम् ॥

Summary AI Along with him, he entered the great Vindhya forest, which was as full of living beings as his own intellect is of reality, and as difficult to traverse as his own political schemes.

२.४.४५

तत्र वत्सेशमित्त्रस्य विन्ध्यप्राग्भारवासिनः ।
गृहं पुलिन्दकाख्यस्य पुलिन्दाधिपतेरगात् ॥

Summary AI There, he went to the residence of the Pulinda chief named Pulindaka, a friend of the King of Vatsa, who lived on the slopes of the Vindhyas.

२.४.४६

तं सज्जं स्थापयित्वा च पहा तेनागमिष्यतः ।
वत्सराजस्य रक्षार्थं भूरिसैन्यसमन्वितम् ॥

Summary AI He stationed the chief there, well-prepared with a large army, to protect the King of Vatsa when he would eventually return by that same route.

२.४.४७

गत्वा वसन्तकसखस्ततो यौगन्धरायणः ।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालश्मशानं प्राप स क्रमात् ॥

Summary AI Then, accompanied by his friend Vasantaka, Yaugandharāyaṇa proceeded and in due course reached the Mahākāla cemetery in Ujjayinī.

२.४.४८

विवेश तच्च वेतालैः क्रव्यगन्धिभिरावृतम् ।
इतस्ततस्तमः श्यामैश्चिताधूमैरिवापरैः ॥

Summary AI He entered that place, which was filled with flesh-scented Vetālas who appeared like dark columns of funeral smoke moving to and fro.

२.४.४९

तत्रैनं दर्शनप्रीतो मित्त्रभावाय तत्क्षणम् ।
योगेश्वराख्यो वृतवानभ्येत्य ब्रह्मराक्षसः ॥

Summary AI There, a Brahmarākṣasa named Yogeśvara, pleased by the sight of him, approached and immediately chose him for friendship.