कथासरित्सागरः — द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः

द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः पूर्वोक्तया युक्त्या वत्सराजं सवल्लभम् ।
यौगन्धरायणाद्यास्ते निन्युर्लावाणकं प्रति ॥

Summary AI Then, Yaugandharāyaṇa and the others, employing the previously devised strategy, escorted King Vatsarāja along with his beloved Vāsavadattā toward Lāvāṇaka.

३.२.२

स राजा प्राप तं देशं सैन्यघोषेण मूर्च्छता ।
अभिवाञ्छितसंसिद्धिं वदन्तमिव मन्त्रिणाम् ॥

Summary AI The King reached that region, which, with the swelling roar of his army, seemed to proclaim the successful fulfillment of his ministers' desires.

३.२.३

तत्र प्राप्तं विधित्वा च वत्सेशं सपरिच्छदम् ।
अवस्कन्दभयाशङ्की चकम्पे मगधेश्वरः ॥

Summary AI Having learned that the Lord of Vatsa had arrived there with his entire retinue, the King of Magadha trembled, fearing a sudden assault.

३.२.४

यौगन्धरायणोपान्तं सद्बुद्धिर्विससर्ज च ।
स दूतं सो ऽपि सन्मन्त्री कार्यज्ञो ऽभिननन्द तम् ॥

Summary AI The wise King of Magadha dispatched a messenger to Yaugandharāyaṇa; that noble minister, knowing his duty, welcomed the messenger warmly.

३.२.५

वत्सेश्वरो ऽपि निवसंस्तस्मिन्देशे दवीयसीम् ।
आखेटकार्थमटवीमटति स्म दिने दिने ॥

Summary AI Residing in that region, the Lord of Vatsa used to wander daily into the distant forest for the sake of hunting.

३.२.६

एकस्मिन्दिवसे तस्मिन्राजन्याखेटकं गते ।
कर्तव्यसंविदं कृत्वा गोपालकसमन्वितः ॥

Summary AI One day, while the King was away hunting, the wise Yaugandharāyaṇa, accompanied by Gopālaka, formulated a plan of action.

३.२.७

यौगन्धरायणो धीमान्सरुमण्वद्वसन्तकः ।
देव्या वासवदत्ताया विजने निकटं ययौ ॥

Summary AI The wise Yaugandharāyaṇa, along with Rumaṇvat and Vasantaka, approached Queen Vāsavadattā in a secluded spot.

३.२.८

तत्र तां राजकार्ये ऽत्र साहाय्ये ततदुक्तिभिः ।
प्रह्वामभ्यर्थयामास भ्रात्रा पूर्वं प्रबोधिताम् ॥

Summary AI There, he requested her assistance in this state affair with persuasive words; she, having been previously prepared by her brother, was humble and ready to comply.

३.२.९

सानुमेने च विरहक्लेशदायि तदामनः ।
किं नाम न सहन्ते हि भर्तृभक्ताः कुलाङ्गनाः ॥

Summary AI She consented to the plan despite the pain of separation it would cause; for what indeed will devoted wives of noble family not endure for their husbands?

३.२.१०

ततस्तां ब्राह्मणीरूपां देवीं यौगन्धरायणः ।
स चकार कृती दत्त्वा योगं रूपविवर्तनम् ॥

Summary AI Then, the clever Yaugandharāyaṇa, using a magic art to change appearances, transformed the Queen into a woman of the Brāhmaṇa caste.

३.२.११

वसन्तकं च कृतवान्काणं बटुकरूपिणम् ।
आत्मना च तथैवाभूत्स्थविरब्राह्मणाकृतिः ॥

Summary AI He disguised Vasantaka as a one-eyed Brāhmaṇa lad, while he himself assumed the appearance of an elderly Brāhmaṇa.

३.२.१२

तथारूपां गृहीत्वाथ तां देवीं स महामतिः ।
वसन्तकसखः स्वैरं प्रतस्थे मगधान्प्रति ॥

Summary AI Then that wise minister, taking the Queen in her disguise and accompanied by Vasantaka, set out leisurely toward the kingdom of Magadha.

३.२.१३

तथा वासवदत्ता सा स्वगृहान्निर्गता सती ।
अगाच्चित्तेन भर्तारं पन्थानं वपुषा पुनः ॥

Summary AI Thus, having left her home, Vāsavadattā went toward her husband in her thoughts, but followed the road with her physical body.

३.२.१४

तन्मन्दिरमथादीप्य दहनेन रुमण्वता ।
हा हा वसन्तकयुता देवी दग्धेत्यघोष्यत ॥

Summary AI Then, after Rumaṇvat set the palace on fire, it was loudly proclaimed: "Alas! The Queen, along with Vasantaka, has been consumed by the flames!"

३.२.१५

तथा च दहनाक्रन्दौ समं तत्रोदतिष्ठताम् ।
शनैः शशाम दहनो न पुनः क्रन्दितध्वनिः ॥

Summary AI The fire and the cries of lamentation rose up together; the fire eventually died down, but the sound of wailing did not cease.

३.२.१६

यौगन्धरायणः सो ऽथ सह वासवदत्तया ।
वसन्तकेन च प्राप मगधाधिपतेः पुरम् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, Yaugandharāyaṇa, along with Vāsavadattā and Vasantaka, reached the capital city of the King of Magadha.

३.२.१७

तत्रोद्यानगतां दृष्ट्वा समं ताभ्यामुपाययौ ।
पद्मावतीं राजसुतां वार्यमाणो ऽपि रक्षिभिः ॥

Summary AI Having spotted the princess Padmāvatī in a garden, he approached her with his two companions, despite the efforts of the guards to stop them.

३.२.१८

पद्मावत्याश्च दृष्टैव ब्राह्मणीरूपधारिणिम् ।
देवीं वासवदत्तां तां दृशोः प्रीतिरजायत ॥

Summary AI As soon as Padmāvatī saw Queen Vāsavadattā in her Brāhmaṇa disguise, a feeling of deep affection arose in her eyes.

३.२.१९

सा रक्षिणो निषिध्यैव ततो यौगन्धरायणम् ।
आनाययद्राजकन्या ब्राह्मणाकृतिमन्तिकम् ॥

Summary AI The princess then stopped the guards and had Yaugandharāyaṇa, who appeared as a Brāhmaṇa, brought close to her.

३.२.२०

पप्रच्छ च महाब्रह्मन्का ते बाला भवत्यसौ ।
किमर्थमागतो ऽसीति सो ऽपि तां प्रयभाषत ॥

Summary AI She asked, "O great Brāhmaṇa, who is this young woman to you, and for what purpose have you come?" He then replied to her.

३.२.२१

इत्यमावन्तिका नाम राजपुत्री सुता मम ।
अस्याश्च भर्ता व्यसनी त्यक्त्वेमां कुत्रचिद्गतः ॥

Summary AI This princess named Āvantikā is my daughter. Her husband, a man of vices, has abandoned her and gone to some unknown place.

३.२.२२

तदेतां स्थापयाम्यद्य तव हस्ते यशस्विनि ।
यावत्तमानयाम्यस्या गत्वान्विष्याचिरात्पतिम् ॥

Summary AI Therefore, O illustrious one, I entrust her to your care today until I can quickly go, find, and bring back her husband.

३.२.२३

भ्राता काणबटुश्चायमिहैवास्याः समीपगा ।
तिष्ठत्वेकाकिनीभावदुःखं येन न यात्यसौ ॥

Summary AI Let her brother, this Kāṇabaṭu, also remain here near her, so that she does not suffer the sorrow of being alone.

३.२.२४

इत्युक्त्वा राजतनयामङ्गीकृतवचास्तया ।
तामामन्त्र्य स सन्मन्त्री द्रुतं लावाणकं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus and obtained her consent, the excellent minister took leave of the princess Padmāvatī and quickly departed for Lāvāṇaka.

३.२.२५

ततो वासवदत्तां तां स्थितामावन्तिकाख्यया ।
वसन्तकं चानुगतं तं काणबटुरूपिणम् ॥

Summary AI Then, there was Vāsavadattā, residing under the name Āvantikā, and Vasantaka, who followed her in the guise of the dwarf Kāṇabaṭu.

३.२.२६

सहादाय कृतोदारसत्कारा स्नेहशालिनी ।
पद्मावती स्वभवनं विवेश बहुकौतुकम् ॥

Summary AI Taking them both with her, the affectionate Padmāvatī, having offered them generous hospitality, entered her palace with great curiosity.

३.२.२७

तत्र वासवदत्ता च प्रविष्टा चित्रभित्तिषु ।
पश्यन्ती रामचरिते सीतां सेहे निजव्यथाम् ॥

Summary AI Once inside, Vāsavadattā endured her own grief by looking at the paintings of Sītā in the depictions of Rāma’s life on the palace walls.

३.२.२८

आकृत्या सौकुमार्येण शयनासनसौष्ठवैः ।
शरीरसौरभेणापि नीलोत्पलसुगन्धिना ॥

Summary AI Through her form, her delicacy, her refined manner of sitting and reclining, and even her bodily fragrance as sweet as blue lotuses...

३.२.२९

तामुत्तमां विनिश्चित्य महार्हैरात्मनः समैः ।
पद्मावती यथाकाममुपचारैरुपाचरत् ॥

Summary AI Recognizing her as an excellent lady, Padmāvatī treated her with great honor and precious services, as if she were her own equal.

३.२.३०

अचिन्तयच्च काप्येषा छन्ना नूनमिह स्थिता ।
गूढा किं द्रौपदी नासीद्विराटवसताविति ॥

Summary AI She thought to herself: 'Surely someone great is staying here in disguise. Was not Draupadī similarly hidden in the dwelling of Virāṭa?'

३.२.३१

अथ वासवदत्तास्याश्चक्रे देव्याः प्रसङ्गतः ।
अम्लानमालातिलकौ वत्सेशात्पूर्वशिक्षितौ ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, Vāsavadattā, as the occasion arose, fashioned for the princess unfading garlands and forehead marks, skills she had previously been taught by the King of Vatsa.

३.२.३२

तद्भूषितां च दृष्ट्वा तां माता पद्मावतीं रहः ।
पप्रच्छ मालातिलकौ केनेमौ निर्मिताविति ॥

Summary AI Seeing Padmāvatī adorned with these, her mother asked her in private: 'By whom were these garlands and forehead marks made?'

३.२.३३

ऊचे पद्मावती चैनामत्र मन्मन्दिरे स्थिता ।
काचिदावन्तिका नाम तया कृतमिदं मम ॥

Summary AI Padmāvatī replied to her: 'A certain lady named Āvantikā, who is staying here in my palace, has made these for me.'

३.२.३४

तच्छ्रुत्वा सा बभाषे तां माता पुत्रि न तर्हि सा ।
मानुषी कापि देवी सा यस्या विज्ञानमीदृशम् ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing that, her mother said: 'Daughter, she is then no human, but some goddess, since her knowledge is of such a degree.'

३.२.३५

देवता मुनयश्चापि वञ्चनार्थं सतां गृहे ।
तिष्ठन्त्येव तथा चैतामन्त्र पुत्रि कथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI Gods and sages often stay in the homes of the virtuous for the sake of deception. Therefore, my daughter, listen to this story regarding that.

३.२.३६

बभूव कुन्तिभोजाख्यो राजा तस्यापि वेश्मनि ।
आगत्य तस्थौ दुर्वासा वञ्चनैकरसो मुनिः ॥

Summary AI There was once a king named Kuntibhoja. In his palace, the sage Durvāsas, who delighted solely in testing others, came and stayed.

३.२.३७

स तस्य परिचर्यार्थं राजा कुन्तीं निजां सुताम् ।
आदिदेश मुनिं सापि यत्नेनोपचचार तम् ॥

Summary AI That king appointed his own daughter, Kuntī, to attend to the sage. She, in turn, served him with great diligence.

३.२.३८

एकदा स मुनिः कुन्तीं जिज्ञासुः सन्नभाषत ।
परमान्नं पचेः शीघ्रं स्नात्वा यावदुपैम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI One day, wishing to test her, the sage said to Kuntī: 'Cook some rice-pudding quickly while I go and bathe.'

३.२.३९

इत्युक्त्वा त्वरितं स्नात्व स चर्षिर्भोक्तुमाययौ ।
कुन्ती तदन्नपूर्णां च तस्मै पात्रीमढौकयत् ॥

Summary AI Having said this, the sage quickly bathed and returned for his meal. Kuntī then offered him a vessel filled with that rice-pudding.

३.२.४०

अतितप्तेन चान्नेन ज्वलन्तीमिव तां मुनिः ।
मवा हस्तग्रहायोग्यां कुन्त्या पृष्थे दृशं ददौ ॥

Summary AI Thinking the vessel, which was as if flaming from the extremely hot food, to be impossible to hold by hand, the sage cast his gaze upon the back of Kuntī.

३.२.४१

सापि पृष्ठेन तां पात्रीं दधौ लब्धाशया मुनेः ।
ततः स बुभुजे स्वेच्छं कुन्तीपृष्ठं त्वदह्यत ॥

Summary AI Having received instructions from the sage, Kuntī held the vessel on her back. Then he ate at his pleasure, while Kuntī's back was burning.

३.२.४२

दह्यमानापि गाढं सा यत्तस्थावविकारिणी ।
तेन तुष्टो मुनिर्भुक्त्वा ददौ तस्यास्ततो वरम् ॥

Summary AI Although she was severely burnt, she remained unmoved. The sage, pleased by this after finishing his meal, then granted her a boon.

३.२.४३

इत्यासीत्स मुनिस्तत्र तदेषावन्तिकापि ते ।
तद्वदेव स्थिता कापि तत्त्वमाराधयेरिमाम् ॥

Summary AI Thus was that sage; similarly, this Āvantikā remains with you as someone special, therefore you should serve her.

३.२.४४

इति मातुर्मुखाच्छ्रुत्वा पद्मावत्यन्यरूपिणीम् ।
तत्र वासवदत्तां तां सुतरां बह्वमन्यत ॥

Summary AI Hearing this from her mother’s mouth, Padmāvatī held the disguised Vāsavadattā in even greater esteem.

३.२.४५

सापि वासवदत्तात्र निजनाथविनाकृता ।
तस्थौ विधुरविच्छाया निशीथस्थेव पद्मिनी ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, separated from her lord, Vāsavadattā remained there, lusterless and distressed like a lotus at midnight.

३.२.४६

वसन्तकविकाराश्च ते ते बालोचिता मुहुः ।
मुखे तस्या वियोगिन्याः स्मितस्यावसरं ददुः ॥

Summary AI The various childish antics of Vasantaka repeatedly provided occasions for a smile on the face of that separated lady.

३.२.४७

अत्रान्तरे ऽतिदूरासु भ्रान्त्वाखेटकभूमिषु ।
वत्सराजश्चिरादागात्सायं लावाणकं पुनः ॥

Summary AI In the meantime, after wandering through far-off hunting grounds, Vatsarāja finally returned to Lāvāṇaka in the evening.

३.२.४८

भस्मीकृतमपश्यच्च तत्रान्तःपुरमग्निना ।
देवीं दग्धां च शुश्राव मन्त्रिभ्यः सवसन्तकाम् ॥

Summary AI There he saw the harem reduced to ashes by fire, and heard from the ministers that the Queen, along with Vasantaka, had been burnt.

३.२.४९

श्रुत्वैव चापतद्भूमौ मोहेन हृतचेतनः ।
तद्दुःखानुभवक्लेशमपाकर्तुमिवेच्छता ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing this, his consciousness was snatched away by a swoon, as if wishing to ward off the pain of experiencing that grief, and he fell to the ground.

Other texts to read

पञ्चतन्त्रम् विष्णुशर्मा

कादम्बरीसंग्रहः कृष्णमाचार्यः

About

Resources

Connect