कथासरित्सागरः — पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः

पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः ।

अथ वासवदत्ता सा शनैर्वत्सेश्वरं प्रति ।
गाढं बबन्ध सद्भावं पितृपक्षपराङ्मुखी ॥

Summary AI Then Vāsavadattā, turning away from her father's side, gradually developed a deep and sincere affection for Vatsarāja, the King of Vatsa.

२.५.२

ततो वत्सेशनिकटं पुनर्यौगन्धरायणः ।
विवेशादर्शनं कृत्वा सर्वानन्याञ्जनान्प्रति ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, Yaugandharāyaṇa made himself invisible to all other people and once again entered the presence of the King of Vatsa.

२.५.३

वसन्तकसमक्षं च विजने तं व्यजिज्ञपत् ।
राजन्बद्धो भवांश्चण्डमहासेनेन मायया ॥

Summary AI In a secluded spot, in the presence of Vasantaka, he informed the King: "O King, you have been held captive by Caṇḍamahāsena through mere trickery."

२.५.४

सुतां च दत्त्वा संमान्य त्वामयं मोक्तुमिच्छति ।
तदस्यैनां स्वयं हृत्वा गच्छामस्तनयां वयम् ॥

Summary AI "He intends to release you after giving his daughter's hand and honoring you. Therefore, we should depart by carrying off this daughter of his ourselves."

२.५.५

एवं ह्यस्य प्रतीकारो दृप्तस्य विहितो भवेत् ।
अपौरुषकृतं लोके नैव स्याल्लाघवं च वः ॥

Summary AI "In this way, a fitting retaliation against this arrogant king will be achieved, and you will not suffer the humiliation of a perceived lack of prowess in the world."

२.५.६

अस्ति चैतेन दत्तास्यास्तनयायाः करेणुका ।
राज्ञा वासवदत्ताया नाम्ना भद्रवती नृप ॥

Summary AI "O King, this monarch has given his daughter Vāsavadattā a female elephant named Bhadravatī."

२.५.७

सा चानुगन्तुं वेगेन शक्त्या नान्येन दन्तिना ।
मुक्त्वा नडागिरिं सो ऽपि तां दृष्टैव न युध्यते ॥

Summary AI "No other elephant has the power to overtake her in speed, except for Naḍāgiri, and even he will refuse to fight upon seeing her."

२.५.८

तस्यश्चाषाढको नाम हस्त्यारोहो ऽत्र विद्यते ।
स च दत्त्वा धनं भूरि स्वीकृत्य स्थापितो मया ॥

Summary AI "Her elephant-driver, named Āṣāḍhaka, is here. I have already secured his loyalty and stationed him by providing him with abundant wealth."

२.५.९

तदारुह्य करेणुं तां सह वासवदत्तया ।
सायुधेनापयातव्यं नक्तं गुप्तमितस्त्वया ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, you must escape from here secretly at night, well-armed, mounting that female elephant along with Vāsavadattā."

२.५.१०

इहत्यश्च महामात्रो द्विरदेङ्गितवित्तदा ।
मद्येन क्षीबतां नेयो नैतच्चेतयते यथा ॥

Summary AI "The local superintendent, who is an expert in elephant gestures, must then be made intoxicated with wine so that he does not perceive this escape."

२.५.११

पुलिन्दकस्य सख्युस्ते पार्श्वमग्रे च याम्यहम् ।
मार्गरक्षार्थमित्युक्त्वा ययौ यौगन्धरायणः ॥

Summary AI "I am going ahead to the side of your friend Pulindaka to protect the path." Having said this, Yaugandharāyaṇa departed.

२.५.१२

वत्सराजो ऽपि तत्सर्वं कर्तव्यं हृदये व्यधात् ।
अथ वासवदत्ता सा तस्यान्तिकमुपाययौ ॥

Summary AI Vatsarāja resolved in his heart to carry out everything as planned. Then Vāsavadattā approached his presence.

२.५.१३

ततस्तास्ताः सविस्रम्भाः कथाः कुर्वंस्तया सह ।
यौगन्धरायणोक्तं च तस्यै राजा शशंस सः ॥

Summary AI Then the King, engaging in various confidential conversations with her, related to her what Yaugandharāyaṇa had proposed.

२.५.१४

सा च तत्प्रतिपद्यैव निश्चित्य गमनं प्रति ।
आनाय्याषाढकं सज्जं हस्त्यारोहं चकार तम् ॥

Summary AI Accepting the plan immediately and deciding on the departure, she summoned Āṣāḍhaka and made the elephant-driver ready for the journey.

२.५.१५

देवपूजापदेशेन दत्त्वा मद्यं मदान्वितम् ।
सर्वधोरणसंयुक्तं महामारं च साकरोत् ॥

Summary AI Under the pretext of a religious ritual, she gave intoxicating wine and rendered the superintendent, along with all the mahouts, completely incapacitated.

२.५.१६

ततः प्रदोषे विलसन्मेघशब्दसमाकुले ।
आषाढकः करेणुं तां सज्जीकृत्यानिनाय सः ॥

Summary AI At nightfall, amidst the rumbling sounds of flashing storm clouds, Āṣāḍhaka prepared that female elephant and brought her forth.

२.५.१७

सज्ज्यमाना च सा शब्दं चकार करिणी किल ।
तं च हस्तिरुताभिज्ञो महामात्रो ऽथ सो ऽशृणोत् ॥

Summary AI While being readied, the female elephant made a specific sound. The superintendent, who understood the language of elephants, heard it.

२.५.१८

त्रिषष्टियोजनान्यद्य यास्यामीत्याह हस्तिनी ।
इत्युवाच स चोद्दाममदविस्खलिताक्षरम् ॥

Summary AI The elephant cried out, "Today I shall travel sixty-three yojana-s." The superintendent muttered this back in words faltering from extreme intoxication.

२.५.१९

विचारार्हं पुनस्तस्य मत्तस्याभून्न मानसम् ।
तच्च हस्तिपकाः क्षीबास्तद्वाक्यं नैव शुश्रुवुः ॥

Summary AI However, the mind of that drunken man was not capable of further reflection, and the intoxicated elephant-keepers did not even hear his words.

२.५.२०

ततश्च वत्सराजो ऽत्र वीणामादाय तां निजाम् ।
यौगन्धरायणात्प्राप्तैर्योगैः स्रंसितबन्धनः ॥

Summary AI Then Vatsarāja, taking up his own lute, freed himself from his bonds through the secret arts obtained from Yaugandharāyaṇa.

२.५.२१

उपनीतप्रहरणः स्वैरं वासवदत्तया ।
करेणुकायामारोहत्स तस्यां सवसन्तकः ॥

Summary AI Having been provided with weapons by Vāsavadattā, King Udayana, accompanied by Vasantaka, mounted that female elephant at his own will.

२.५.२२

ततो वासवदत्तापि सह काञ्चनमालया ।
सख्या रहस्यधारिण्या तस्यामेवारुरोह सा ॥

Summary AI Then, Vāsavadattā also mounted the same elephant along with her friend Kāñcanamālā, who was the confidante of her secrets.

२.५.२३

अथोज्जयिन्या निरगात्स हस्तिपकपञ्चमः ।
वत्सेशो निशि मत्तेभभिन्नप्राकारवर्त्मना ॥

Summary AI Then, the Lord of Vatsa departed from Ujjayinī at night through a breach in the rampart wall made by a mad elephant, accompanied by four others, including the elephant-driver.

२.५.२४

तत्स्थानरक्षिणौ वीरौ स्वैरं स हतवान्नृपः ।
वीरबाहुं तथा तालभटं राजसुतावुभौ ॥

Summary AI The King easily slew both the heroic princes, Vīrabāhu and Tālabhaṭa, who were guarding that position.

२.५.२५

ततः प्रतस्थे वेगेन स राजा दयितासखः ।
हृष्टः करेणुकारूढो दधत्याषाढके ऽङ्कुशम् ॥

Summary AI Then, accompanied by his beloved, the joyful King, mounted on the female elephant while Āṣāḍhaka held the goad, set out with speed.

२.५.२६

उज्जयिन्यां च तौ दृष्ट्वा हतौ प्राकाररक्षिणौ ।
राज्ञे न्यवेदयन्रात्रौ क्षुभिताः पुररक्षिणः ॥

Summary AI Seeing those two rampart-guards slain in Ujjayinī, the agitated city-guards reported the matter to the King during the night.

२.५.२७

सो ऽप्यन्विष्य क्रमाच्चण्डमहासेनः पलायितम् ।
हृतवासवदत्तं तं वत्सराजमबुध्यत ॥

Summary AI King Caṇḍamahāsena, having gradually investigated, realized that the King of Vatsa had fled, taking Vāsavadattā with him.

२.५.२८

तत्पुत्रः पालकाख्यो ऽथ जातकोलाहले पुरे ।
अन्वधावत्स वत्सेशमधिरुह्य नडागिरिम् ॥

Summary AI Then, as a tumult arose in the city, his son named Pālaka mounted the elephant Naḍāgiri and pursued the Lord of Vatsa.

२.५.२९

वत्सेशो ऽपि तमायान्तं पहि बाणैरयोधयत् ।
नडागिरिः करेणुं तां दृष्ट्वा न प्रजहार च ॥

Summary AI The Lord of Vatsa fought him with arrows on the path; however, the elephant Naḍāgiri, seeing that female elephant, did not attack.

२.५.३०

ततः स पालको भ्रात्रा पश्चादेत्य न्यवर्त्यत ।
गोपालकेन वाक्यज्ञः पितृकार्यानुरोधिना ॥

Summary AI Then Pālaka, who understood persuasive speech, was turned back by his brother Gopālaka, who arrived later and was acting in accordance with their father's interests.

२.५.३१

वत्सराजो ऽपि विस्रब्धं गन्तुं प्रववृते ततः ।
गच्छतश्चात्र शनकैः शर्वरी पर्यहीयत ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, the King of Vatsa proceeded to travel confidently; and as he journeyed slowly, the night passed away.

२.५.३२

ततो विन्ध्याटवीं प्राप्य मध्याह्ने तस्य भूपतेः ।
त्रिषष्टियोजनायाता तृषिताभूत्करेणुका ॥

Summary AI Then, having reached the Vindhya forest at midday, the King's female elephant, which had traveled sixty-three yojanas, became thirsty.

२.५.३३

अवतीर्णे सभार्ये च राज्ञि तस्मिञ्जलानि सा ।
पीत्वा तद्दोषतः प्राप पञ्चतां हस्तिनी क्षणात् ॥

Summary AI When the King had dismounted with his wife, that female elephant drank water and, due to the ill-effects of drinking while exhausted, died instantly.

२.५.३४

विषण्णो ऽथ स वत्सेशः सह वासवदत्तया ।
गगनादुद्गतामेतां शृणोति स्म सरस्वतीम् ॥

Summary AI Then the Lord of Vatsa, grieving along with Vāsavadattā, heard a voice rising from the sky.

२.५.३५

अहं मायावती नाम राजन्विद्याधराङ्गना ।
इयन्तं कालमभवं शापदोषेण हस्तिनी ॥

Summary AI "O King, I am a Vidyādhara woman named Māyāvatī. Due to the power of a curse, I remained a female elephant for this long."

२.५.३६

उपकारं च वत्सेश तवाद्य ऋतवत्यहम् ।
करिष्यामि च भूयो ऽपि त्वत्पुत्रस्य भविष्यतः ॥

Summary AI "O Lord of Vatsa, I have rendered you service today, and I shall also perform service for your future son."

२.५.३७

एषा वासवदत्ता च पत्नी ते नैव मानुषी ।
देवीयं कारणवशादवतीर्णा क्षिताविति ॥

Summary AI "This wife of yours, Vāsavadattā, is not a mere mortal; she is a goddess descended to earth due to a specific cause."

२.५.३८

ततः स हृष्टो व्यसृजद्विन्ध्यसानुं वसन्तकम् ।
पुलिन्दकाय सुहृदे वक्तुं स्वागमनं नृपः ॥

Summary AI Then the joyful King sent Vasantaka to the ridges of the Vindhya to inform his friend Pulindaka of his arrival.

२.५.३९

स्वयं च पादचारी सन्स शनैर्दयितान्वितः ।
तत्रैव गच्छन्नुत्थाय दस्युभिः पर्यवार्यत ॥

Summary AI Traveling on foot slowly with his beloved, the King was suddenly surrounded by bandits who rose up as he proceeded.

२.५.४०

धनुर्द्वितीयो दस्यूनां तेषां पञ्चोत्तरं शतम् ।
पुरो वासवदत्ताया वत्सराजः स चावधीत् ॥

Summary AI Accompanied only by his bow, the King of Vatsa slew one hundred and five of those bandits in front of Vāsavadattā.

२.५.४१

तत्क्षणं सो ऽस्य राज्ञो ऽत्र मित्त्रं चागात्पुलिन्दकः ।
यौगन्धरायणसखो वसन्तकपुरःसरः ॥

Summary AI At that moment, the king's friend Pulindaka, who was a friend of Yaugandharāyaṇa and was preceded by Vasantaka, arrived there.

२.५.४२

स तान्दस्यून्निवार्यान्यान्वत्सेशं प्रणिपत्य तम् ।
नयति स्म निजां पल्लीं भिल्लराजः सवल्लभम् ॥

Summary AI The Bhilla king, having warded off those other robbers and bowed to the King of Vatsa, led him along with his beloved to his own village.

२.५.४३

तत्र तां रात्रिमारण्यदर्भपाटितपादया ।
स वत्सेशो विशश्रास सह वासवदत्तया ॥

Summary AI There, the King of Vatsa rested for the night with Vāsavadattā, whose feet had been pricked by the forest grass.

२.५.४४

प्रातः सेनापतिश्चास्य रुमण्वान्प्रापदन्तिकम् ।
यौगन्धरायणेन प्राग्दूतं संप्रेष्य बोधितः ॥

Summary AI In the morning, his general Rumaṇvān arrived nearby, having been previously informed by Yaugandharāyaṇa through a messenger.

२.५.४५

अगाच्च कटकं सर्वं तथा व्याप्तदिगन्तरम् ।
यथा विन्ध्याटवी प्राप सा संबाधरसज्ञताम् ॥

Summary AI The entire army arrived, filling the quarters so completely that the Vindhya forest experienced the sensation of being overcrowded.

२.५.४६

प्रविश्य कटके तस्मिंस्तस्यामेवाटवीभुवि ।
तस्थावुज्जयिनीवार्तां ज्ञातुं वत्सेश्वरो ऽथ सः ॥

Summary AI Then, the King of Vatsa, entering that camp in that very forest region, stayed there to learn news from Ujjayinī.

२.५.४७

तत्रस्थं च तमभ्यागादुज्जयिन्या वणिक्तदा ।
यौगन्धरायणसुहृत्स चागत्याब्रवीदिदम् ॥

Summary AI Then, a merchant from Ujjayinī, a friend of Yaugandharāyaṇa, approached him as he stayed there and, arriving, spoke these words.

२.५.४८

देव चण्डमहासेनः प्रीतो जामातरि त्वयि ।
प्रेषितश्च प्रतीहारस्तेनेह भवदन्तिकम् ॥

Summary AI "O King, Caṇḍamahāsena is pleased with you as his son-in-law, and he has dispatched a chamberlain here to your presence."

२.५.४९

स चागच्छन्स्थितः पश्चादहमग्रत एव तु ।
प्रच्छन्नः सत्वरं देवं विज्ञापयितुमागतः ॥

Summary AI "He is coming and is currently behind; I, however, have come ahead in disguise to quickly inform the King."

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