कथासरित्सागरः — चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः

चतुर्थस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो लावाणकात्तस्मादन्येद्युः सचिवैः सह ।
वत्सराजः स कौशाम्बीं प्रतस्थे दयितान्वितः ॥

Summary AI Then, on another day, Vatsarāja set out from Lāvāṇaka for Kauśāmbī, accompanied by his ministers and his beloved wives.

३.४.२

प्रसस्रे च लसन्नादैस्तस्यापूरितभूतलैः ।
बलैरसमयोद्वेलजलराशिजलैरिव ॥

Summary AI His army, filling the earth with brilliant sounds, surged forward like the waters of the ocean overflowing out of season.

३.४.३

उपमा नृपतेस्तस्य गजेन्द्रस्थस्य गच्छतः ।
भवेद्यदि रविर्यायाद्गगने सोदयाचलः ॥

Summary AI The king moving on a great elephant was comparable to the sun traveling through the sky together with the rising mountain, Udayācala.

३.४.४

स सितेनातपत्रेण कृतच्छायो बभौ नृपः ।
जितार्कतेजःप्रीतेन सेव्यमान इवेन्दुना ॥

Summary AI Shaded by a white umbrella, the king appeared as if being served by the moon, which was delighted that the sun's brilliance had been eclipsed.

३.४.५

तेजस्विनं स्वकक्षाभिस्तं सर्वोपरिवर्तिनम् ।
सामन्ताः परितो भ्रेमुर्ध्रुवं ग्रहगणा इव ॥

Summary AI The feudal lords moved around that brilliant king, who stood above all, in their respective orbits like the planets circling the sun.

३.४.६

पश्चात्करेणुकारूढे देव्यौ द्वे तस्य रेजतुः ।
श्रीभुवावनुरागेण साक्षादनुगते इव ॥

Summary AI Behind him, his two queens mounted on a female elephant shone as if the goddesses Śrī and Bhū had followed him in person out of affection.

३.४.७

त्वङ्गत्तुरंगसंघातखुराग्राङ्कनखक्षता ।
पथि तस्याभवद्भूमिरुपभुक्तेव भूपतेः ॥

Summary AI On the road, the earth, marked by the hoof-tips of the galloping horses like nail-scratches, seemed as if she had been enjoyed by the king.

३.४.८

एवं वत्सेश्वरो गच्छन्स्तूयमानः स बन्दिभिः ।
दिनैः कतिपयैः प्राप कौशाम्बीं विततोत्सवाम् ॥

Summary AI Thus, praised by bards as he traveled, the Lord of Vatsa reached Kauśāmbī, which was filled with widespread festivities, in a few days.

३.४.९

ध्वजरक्तांशुकच्छन्ना गवाक्षोत्फुल्ललोचना ।
प्रद्वारदर्शितोत्तुङ्गपूर्णकुम्भकुचद्वया ॥

Summary AI The city was covered with the red cloth of flags, with wide-open eyes in the form of windows, and featured high, full jars displayed at the gates like pairs of breasts.

३.४.१०

जनकोलाहलानन्दसंलापा सौधहासिनी ।
सा प्रवासागते पत्यौ तत्कालं शुशुभे पुरी ॥

Summary AI Resounding with joyful chatter and laughing through its white mansions, the city shone brilliantly as her husband returned from his journey.

३.४.११

देवीद्वयानुयातश्च स राजा प्रविवेश ताम् ।
पौरस्त्रीणां च को ऽप्यासीत्तत्र तद्दर्शनोत्सवः ॥

Summary AI Accompanied by his two queens, the king entered the city; there arose an indescribable festival of sight for the townswomen as they gazed upon him.

३.४.१२

अपूरि हारिहर्म्यस्थरामाननशतैर्नभः ।
देवीमुखजितस्येन्दोः सैन्यैः सेवागतैरिव ॥

Summary AI The sky was filled with hundreds of faces of beautiful women on the mansions, appearing like the moon's armies coming to serve him after being defeated by the queens' faces.

३.४.१३

वातायनगताश्चान्याः पश्यन्त्यो ऽनिमिषेक्षणाः ।
चक्रुः सकौतुकायातविमानस्थात्सरोभ्रमम् ॥

Summary AI Other women looking out from windows with unblinking eyes created the illusion of apsaras who had arrived in divine chariots out of curiosity.

३.४.१४

काश्चिद्गवाक्षजालाग्रलग्नपक्ष्मललोचनाः ।
असृजन्निव नाराचपञ्जराणि मनोभुवः ॥

Summary AI Some women, with their fringed eyes fixed at the lattices of the windows, seemed to be creating cages of iron arrows for the god of love, Manobhu.

३.४.१५

एकस्याः स्रोत्सुका दृष्टिर्नृपालोकविकस्वरा ।
श्रुतेः पार्श्वमपश्यन्त्यास्तदाख्यातुमिवाययौ ॥

Summary AI The eager gaze of one woman, blooming at the sight of the king, reached toward her ear as if to describe his beauty to the ear that could not see him.

३.४.१६

द्रुतागतायाः कस्याश्चिन्मुहुरुच्छ्वसितौ स्तनौ ।
कञ्चुकादिव निर्गन्तुमीषतुस्तद्दिदृक्षया ॥

Summary AI The repeatedly heaving breasts of a woman who had arrived in haste seemed to desire to burst out of her bodice in their eagerness to see him.

३.४.१७

अन्यस्याः संभ्रमच्छिन्नहारमुक्ताकणा बभुः ।
गलन्तो हृदयस्येव हर्षबाष्पाम्बुसीकराः ॥

Summary AI The pearl-drops from the necklace of another woman, broken in her excitement, shone like the spray of joy-tears falling from her heart.

३.४.१८

यद्यस्यामाचरेत्पापमग्निर्लावाणके ततः ।
प्रकाशको ऽप्यसावन्धं तमो जगति पातयेत् ॥

Summary AI If the fire had truly committed a sin against her at Lāvāṇaka, then despite being a source of light, it would have cast the world into blind darkness.

३.४.१९

इति वासवदत्तां च दृष्ट्वा स्मृत्वा च तत्तथा ।
दाहप्रवादं सोत्कण्ठा इव काश्चिद्बभाषिरे ॥

Summary AI Having seen Vāsavadattā and remembering the rumors of her death by fire, some women spoke thus with a sense of longing.

३.४.२०

दिष्ट्या न लज्जिता देवी सपत्न्या सखितुल्यया ।
इति पद्मावतीं वीक्ष्य वयस्या जगदे ऽन्यया ॥

Summary AI "Fortunately, the queen is not put to shame by her co-wife, who is like a friend," said one female companion to another upon seeing Padmāvatī.

३.४.२१

नूनं हरमुरारिभ्यां न दृष्टं रूपमेतयोः ।
किमन्यथा भजेतां तौ बहुमानमुमाश्रियौ ॥

Summary AI Surely the forms of these two queens were not seen by Hara and Murāri; otherwise, why would they hold Umā and Śrī in such high regard?

३.४.२२

इत्यूचुरपरास्ते द्वे दृष्ट्वा देव्यौ परस्परम् ।
क्षिपन्त्यः प्रमदोत्फुल्ललोचनेन्दीवरस्रजः ॥

Summary AI Thus spoke the other women, casting garlands of their lotus-like eyes wide open with joy, as they looked at the two queens.

३.४.२३

एवं वत्सेश्वरः कुर्वञ्जनतानयनोत्सवम् ।
स्वमन्दिरं सदेवीकः प्राविशत्कृतमङ्गलः ॥

Summary AI Thus, creating a festival for the eyes of the people, the King of Vatsa, accompanied by his queens and having performed auspicious rites, entered his palace.

३.४.२४

प्रभाते याब्जसरसो याब्धेरिन्दूदये तथा ।
तत्कालं तस्य सा कापि शोभाभूद्राजवेश्मनः ॥

Summary AI Like the splendor of a lotus pond at dawn or that of the ocean at moonrise, an indescribable beauty then graced the royal palace.

३.४.२५

क्षणादपूरि सामन्तमङ्गलोपायनैश्च तत् ।
सूचयद्भिरिवाशेषभूपालोपायनागमम् ॥

Summary AI Instantly, the palace was filled with auspicious gifts from feudal lords, as if signaling the future arrival of tributes from all kings.

३.४.२६

संमान्य राजलोकं च वत्सराजः कृतोत्सवः ।
चित्तं सर्वजनस्येव विवेशान्तःपुरं ततः ॥

Summary AI Having celebrated the festival and honored the gathered kings, the King of Vatsa entered the inner apartments just as he had entered the hearts of all people.

३.४.२७

देव्योर्मध्यस्थितस्तत्र रतिप्रीत्योरिव स्मरः ।
पानादिलीलया राजा दिनशेषं निनाय सः ॥

Summary AI Situated between the two queens like Smara between Rati and Prīti, the King spent the remainder of the day in pastimes such as drinking.

३.४.२८

अपरेद्युश्च तस्यैको नृपस्यास्थानवर्तिनः ।
मन्त्रिणां संनिधौ विप्रो द्वारि चक्रन्द कश्चन ॥

Summary AI On the following day, as the King sat in his assembly, a certain Brāhmaṇa cried out at the gate in the presence of the ministers.

३.४.२९

अब्रह्मण्यमटव्यां मे पापैर्गोपालकैः प्रभो ।
पुत्रस्य चरणोच्छेदो विहितः कारणं विना ॥

Summary AI "O Lord! An outrage! In the forest, wicked cowherds have cut off the feet of my son without any cause."

३.४.३०

तच्छ्रुत्वा तत्क्षणं द्वित्रान्वष्टभ्यानाय्य भूपतिः ।
गोपालकान्स पप्रच्छ ततस्ते ऽप्येवमब्रुवन् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the King immediately had two or three cowherds seized and brought before him; he questioned them, and they replied thus.

३.४.३१

देव गोपालका भूत्वा क्रीडामो विजने वयम् ।
तत्रैको देवसेनाख्यो मध्ये गोपालको ऽस्ति नः ॥

Summary AI "O King, we play together as cowherds in a lonely place; among us, there is a cowherd named Devasena."

३.४.३२

एकदेशे च सो ऽटव्यामुपविष्टः शिलासने ।
राजा युष्माकमस्मीति वक्त्यस्माननुशास्ति च ॥

Summary AI "Seated on a stone throne in a part of the forest, he says, 'I am your King,' and he commands us."

३.४.३३

अस्मन्मध्ये च केनापि तस्याज्ञा न विलङ्घ्यते ।
एवं गोपालको ऽरण्ये राज्यं स कुरुते प्रभो ॥

Summary AI "Among us, no one ever violates his command. O Lord, that cowherd thus rules a kingdom in the forest."

३.४.३४

अद्य चैतस्य विप्रस्य तनयस्तेन वर्त्मना ।
गच्छन्गोपालराजस्य प्रणामं तस्य नाकरोत् ॥

Summary AI "Today, this Brāhmaṇa's son, passing by that way, did not offer a prostration to that cowherd-king."

३.४.३५

मा गास्त्वमप्रणम्येति राजादेशेन जल्पतः ।
अस्मान्विधूय सो ऽयासीच्छासितो ऽपि हसन्बटुः ॥

Summary AI "Though commanded by the King's order not to leave without bowing, that boy brushed us aside and went away laughing, despite being warned."

३.४.३६

ततस्तस्याविनीतस्य पादच्छेदेन निग्रहम् ।
कर्तुं गोपालराजेन वयमाज्ञापिता बटोः ॥

Summary AI "Then, we were ordered by the cowherd-king to punish that ill-behaved boy by cutting off his feet."

३.४.३७

धावित्वा च ततो ऽस्माभिश्छिन्नो ऽस्य चरणः प्रभो ।
अस्मादृशः प्रभोराज्ञां को ऽतिलङ्घयितुं क्षमः ॥

Summary AI "O Lord, we then ran and cut off his feet. For who among those like us is capable of defying the command of their master?"

३.४.३८

एवं गोपालकै रज्ञि विज्ञप्ते संप्रधार्य तत् ।
यौगन्धरायणो धीमान्राजानं विजने ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI When the cowherds had thus informed the King, the wise Yaugandharāyaṇa, having reflected on it, spoke to the King in private.

३.४.३९

नूनं निधानादियुतं तत्स्थानां यत्प्रभावतः ।
गोपालको ऽपि प्रभवत्येवं तत्तत्र गम्यताम् ॥

Summary AI "Surely that place contains a hidden treasure or the like, by whose power even a cowherd behaves with such authority; therefore, let us go there."

३.४.४०

इत्युक्तो मन्त्रिणा राजा कृत्वा गोपालकान्पुरः ।
ययौ तदटवीस्थानं ससैन्यः सपरिच्छदः ॥

Summary AI Advised thus by his minister, the King, placing the cowherds in front, went to that forest location with his army and retinue.

३.४.४१

परीक्ष्य भूमिं यावच्च खन्यते तत्र कर्मिभिः ।
अधस्तात्तावदुत्तस्थौ यक्षः शैलमयाकृतिः ॥

Summary AI While workers excavated the ground after a thorough inspection, a Yakṣa with a mountain-like appearance rose from beneath the earth.

३.४.४२

सो ऽब्रवीच्च मया राजन्निदं यद्रक्षितं चिरम् ।
पितामहनिखातं ते निधानं स्वीकुरुष्व तत् ॥

Summary AI The Yakṣa said, "O King, please accept this treasure buried by your grandfather, which I have guarded for a very long time."

३.४.४३

इति वत्सेशमुक्त्वा च तत्पूजां प्रतिगृह्य च ।
यक्षस्तिरो ऽभूत्खाते च महानाविरभून्निधिः ॥

Summary AI After addressing Vatseśa and accepting his worship, the Yakṣa vanished, and a magnificent treasure was revealed in the pit.

३.४.४४

अलभ्यत महार्हं च रत्नसिंहासनं ततः ।
भवन्त्युदयकाले हि सत्कल्याणपरम्पराः ॥

Summary AI A highly valuable jewel-throne was then discovered; indeed, at the time of rising prosperity, a series of auspicious events naturally occur.

३.४.४५

ततः कृत्स्नं समादाय निधानं स कृतोत्सवः ।
तान्प्रशास्य च गोपालान्वत्सेशः स्वपुरीं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Having celebrated and taken the entire treasure, the joyful Vatseśa praised the cowherds and returned to his own city.

३.४.४६

तत्रारुणमणिग्रावकिरणप्रसरैः प्रभोः ।
प्रतापाक्रमणं दिक्षु भविष्यदिव दर्शयत् ॥

Summary AI The throne, with the spreading rays of its rubies, seemed to demonstrate the King's future conquest of all directions through his prowess.

३.४.४७

रौप्याङ्कुरमुखप्रोतमुक्तासंततिदन्तुरम् ।
मुहुर्हासमिवालोच्य तन्मस्त्रिमतिविस्मयम् ॥

Summary AI It appeared jagged with rows of pearls fixed on silver tips, resembling a frequent smile that filled the ministers' minds with wonder.

३.४.४८

ददृशुस्तन्नृपानीतं हेमसिंहासनं जनाः ।
ननन्दुश्च हतानन्ददुन्दुभिध्वानसुन्दरम् ॥

Summary AI The people saw the golden throne brought by the King, accompanied by the beautiful sound of festive drums, and they rejoiced.

३.४.४९

मन्त्रिणो ऽप्युत्सवं चक्रुर्जयं निश्चित्य भूपतेः ।
आमुखापातिकल्याणं कार्यसिद्धिं हि शंसति ॥

Summary AI The ministers also celebrated, certain of the King's victory, as an auspicious omen at the start portends the success of the endeavor.

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