कथासरित्सागरः — पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः

पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो वत्सेश्वरं प्राह तत्र यौगन्धरायणः ।
राजन्दैवानुकूल्यं च विद्यते पौरुषं च ते ॥

Summary AI Yaugandharāyaṇa then said to the King of Vatsa, "O King, you possess both divine favor and personal prowess."

३.५.२

नीतिमार्गे च वयमप्यत्र किंचित्कृतश्रमाः ।
तद्यथाचिन्तितं शीघ्रं कुरुष्व विजयं दिशाम् ॥

Summary AI "We too have exerted effort in the path of policy. Therefore, quickly carry out the conquest of the quarters as planned."

३.५.३

इत्युक्ते मन्त्रिमुख्येन राजा वत्सेश्वरो ऽब्रवीत् ।
अस्त्वेतद्बहुविघ्नास्तु सदा कल्याणसिद्धयः ॥

Summary AI When the chief minister spoke thus, King Vatsarāja replied, "Let it be so; however, the successful attainment of welfare is always fraught with many obstacles."

३.५.४

अतस्तदर्थं तपसा शंभुमाराधयाम्यहम् ।
विना हि तत्प्रसादेन कुतो वाञ्छितसिद्धयः ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, for that purpose, I shall propitiate Śambhu through penance. Indeed, without His grace, how can one's desired goals be achieved?"

३.५.५

तच्छ्रुत्वा च तपस्तस्य मन्त्रिणो ऽप्यनुमेनिरे ।
सेतुबन्धोद्यतस्याब्धौ रामस्येव कपीश्वराः ॥

Summary AI Hearing of his penance, the ministers also consented, just as the monkey chiefs did for Rāma when he was intent on building the bridge over the ocean.

३.५.६

ततस्तं सह देवीभ्यां सचिवैश्च तपःस्थितम् ।
त्रिरात्रोपोषितं भूपं शिवः स्वप्नं समादिशत् ॥

Summary AI Then, while the King was performing penance for three nights along with his queens and ministers, Lord Śiva appeared to him in a dream.

३.५.७

तुष्टो ऽस्मि ते तदुत्तिष्ठ निर्विघ्नं जयमाप्स्यसि ।
सर्वविद्याधराधीशं पुत्रं चैवाचिरादिति ॥

Summary AI "I am pleased with you; therefore, arise! You shall soon achieve victory without obstacles and obtain a son who will be the sovereign of all Vidyādharas."

३.५.८

ततः स बुबुधे राजा तत्प्रसादहृतक्लमः ।
अर्कांशुरचिताप्यायः प्रतिपच्चन्द्रमा इव ॥

Summary AI Then the King woke up, his exhaustion removed by the grace of Śiva, appearing like the new moon nourished by the rays of the sun.

३.५.९

आनन्दयच्च सचिवान्प्रातः स्वप्नेन तेन सः ।
व्रतोपवासक्लान्ते च देव्यौ द्वे पुष्पकोमले ॥

Summary AI In the morning, he gladdened his ministers and his two queens, who were delicate as flowers and weary from fasting, with the account of that dream.

३.५.१०

तत्स्वप्नवर्णनेनैव श्रोत्रपेयेन तृप्तयोः ।
तयोश्च विभवायैव जातः स्वाद्वौषधक्रमः ॥

Summary AI For the two queens, who were satisfied by hearing the description of the dream which was like nectar to the ears, it became a course of sweet medicine for their well-being.

३.५.११

लेभे स राजा तपसा प्रभावं पूर्वजैः समम् ।
पुण्यां पतिव्रतानां च तत्पत्न्यौ कीर्तिमापतुः ॥

Summary AI Through his penance, the King attained power equal to his ancestors, and his two wives attained the sacred fame of devoted wives.

३.५.१२

उत्सवव्यग्रपौरे च विहिते व्रतपारणे ।
यौगन्धरायणो ऽन्येद्युरिति राजानमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI When the citizens were occupied with festivities and the fast-breaking ritual was completed, Yaugandharāyaṇa spoke to the King on the following day.

३.५.१३

धन्यस्त्वं यस्य चैवेत्थं प्रसन्नो भगवान्हरः ।
तदिदानीं रिपूञ्जित्वा भज लक्ष्मीं भुजार्जिताम् ॥

Summary AI "You are blessed, for Lord Hara is thus pleased with you. Therefore, now conquer your enemies and enjoy the prosperity earned by your own might."

३.५.१४

सा हि स्वधर्मसंभूता भूभृतामन्वये स्थिरा ।
निजधर्मार्जितानां हि विनाशो नास्ति संपदाम् ॥

Summary AI "That wealth, born of one's own righteousness, remains stable in the lineage of kings; for there is no destruction of riches acquired through one's own duty."

३.५.१५

तथा च चिरभूमिष्ठो निधिः पूर्वजसंभृतः ।
प्रणष्टो भवता प्राप्तः किं चात्रैतां कथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI "Furthermore, you have recovered the lost ancestral treasure that had been buried for a long time; listen to this story regarding that."

३.५.१६

बभूव देवदासाख्यः पुरे पाटलिपुत्रके ।
पुरा कोऽपि वणिक्पुत्रो महाधनकुलोद्गतः ॥

Summary AI Formerly, in the city of Pāṭaliputra, there was a merchant's son named Devadāsa, born into a family of great wealth.

३.५.१७

अभवत्तस्य भार्या च नगरात्पौण्ड्रवर्धनात् ।
परिणीता समृद्धस्य कस्यापि वणिजः सुता ॥

Summary AI He had a wife who was the daughter of a wealthy merchant from the city of Pauṇḍravardhana.

३.५.१८

गते पितरि पञ्चत्वं क्रमेण व्यसनान्वितः ।
स देवदासो द्यूतेन सर्वं धनमहारयत् ॥

Summary AI After his father's death, Devadāsa gradually became addicted to vices and lost all his wealth through gambling.

३.५.१९

ततश्च तस्य सा भार्या दुःखदारिद्र्यदुःखिता ।
एत्य नीता निजं गेहं स्वपित्रा पौण्ड्रवर्धनम् ॥

Summary AI Consequently, his wife, suffering from the misery of poverty, was taken back to her own home in Pauṇḍravardhana by her father.

३.५.२०

शनैः सो ऽपि विपत्खिन्नः स्थातुमिच्छन्स्वकर्मणि ।
मूल्यार्थी देवदासस्तं श्वशुरं याचितुं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Eventually, Devadāsa, distressed by misfortune and wishing to resume his profession, went to his father-in-law to ask for capital.

३.५.२१

प्राप्तश्च संध्यासमये तत्पुरं पौण्ड्रवर्धनम् ।
रजोरूक्षं विवस्त्रं च वीक्ष्यात्मानमचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Arriving at the city of Pauṇḍravardhana at dusk, Devadāsa saw himself covered in dust and poorly dressed, and began to reflect.

३.५.२२

ईदृशः प्रविशामीह कथं श्वशुरवेश्मनि ।
वरं हि मानिनो मृत्युर्न दैन्यं स्वजनाग्रतः ॥

Summary AI He wondered how he could enter his father-in-law's house in such a state, believing that for a proud man, death is preferable to appearing wretched before relatives.

३.५.२३

इत्यालोच्यापणे गत्वा स क्वापि विपणेर्बहिः ।
नक्तं संकुचितस्तस्थौ तत्कालं कमलोपमः ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus, he went to the market and stayed outside a shop at night, shriveled like a lotus flower.

३.५.२४

क्षणाच्च तस्यां विपणौ प्रविशन्तं व्यलोकयत् ।
युवानं वणिजं कंचिदुद्घाटितकवाटकम् ॥

Summary AI After a moment, he saw a certain young merchant opening the door and entering that shop.

३.५.२५

क्षणान्तरे च तत्रैव निःशब्दपदमागताम् ।
द्रुतमन्तः प्रविष्टां च स्त्रियमेकां ददर्श सः ॥

Summary AI A moment later, he saw a woman arrive there silently and quickly enter the shop.

३.५.२६

ज्वलत्प्रदीपे यावच्च ददौ दृष्टिं तदन्तरे ।
प्रत्यभिज्ञातवांस्तावत्तां निजामेव गेहिनीम् ॥

Summary AI When he looked inside where a lamp was burning, he recognized the woman as his own wife.

३.५.२७

ततः सो ऽर्गलितद्वारां भार्यां तामन्यगामिनीम् ।
दृष्ट्वा दुःखाशनिहतो देवदासो व्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Seeing his wife with another man behind bolted doors, Devadāsa, struck by the thunderbolt of grief, began to contemplate.

३.५.२८

धनहीनेन देहो ऽपि हार्यते स्त्रीषु का कथा ।
निसर्गनियतं वासां विद्युतामिव चापलम् ॥

Summary AI He mused that even one's body is lost when wealth is gone, so what of women? Their fickleness is as natural as lightning.

३.५.२९

तदियं सा विपत्पुंसां व्यसनार्णवपातिनाम् ।
गतिः सेयं स्वतन्त्रायाः स्त्रियाः पितृगृहस्थितेः ॥

Summary AI This is the calamity of men falling into misfortune, and such is the conduct of an independent woman living in her father’s house.

३.५.३०

इति संचिन्तयंस्तस्या भार्यायाः स बहिः स्थितः ।
रतान्तविस्रम्भजुषः कथालापमिवाशृणोत् ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus while standing outside, he overheard the intimate conversation of his wife after her dalliance.

३.५.३१

उपेत्य च ददौ द्वारि स कर्णं सापि तत्क्षणम् ।
इत्यब्रवीदुपपतिं पापा तं वणिजं रहः ॥

Summary AI He drew closer and pressed his ear to the door; at that moment, that sinful woman spoke thus in secret to her merchant lover.

३.५.३२

शृण्विदं कथयाम्यद्य रहस्यं ते ऽनुरागिणी ।
मद्भर्तुर्वीरवर्माख्यः पुराभूत्प्रपितामहः ॥

Summary AI "Listen, my love, I will tell you a secret today. Long ago, my husband's great-grandfather was named Vīravarman."

३.५.३३

स्वगृहस्याङ्गणे तेन चत्वारः स्वर्णपूरिताः ।
कुम्भाश्चतुर्षु कोणेषु निगूढाः स्थापिता भुवि ॥

Summary AI "He buried four jars filled with gold in the four corners of the courtyard of his house."

३.५.३४

तदेकस्याः स्वभार्यायाः स चक्रे विदितं तदा ।
तद्भार्या चान्तकाले सा स्नुषायै तदवोचत ॥

Summary AI "He revealed it to one of his wives, and she, at the time of her death, told it to her daughter-in-law."

३.५.३५

सापि स्नुषायै मच्छ्वश्र्वे मच्छ्वश्रूरब्रवीच्च मे ।
इत्ययं मत्पतिकुले श्वश्रूक्रममुखागमः ॥

Summary AI "She told her daughter-in-law, my mother-in-law, and my mother-in-law told me. Thus, this secret has been passed through the mothers-in-law."

३.५.३६

स्वभर्तुस्तच्च न मया दरिद्रस्यापि वर्णितम् ।
स हि द्यूतरतो द्वेष्यस्त्वं तु मे परमः प्रियः ॥

Summary AI "I did not tell this to my husband, though he is poor, for he is a hateful gambler, while you are my greatest love."

३.५.३७

तत्तत्र गत्वा मद्भर्तुः सकाशात्तद्गृहं धनैः ।
क्रीत्वा तत्प्राप्य च स्वर्णमिहैत्य भज मां सुखम् ॥

Summary AI "Go there, buy that house from my husband, take the gold, and then return here to enjoy me happily."

३.५.३८

एवमुक्तः कुटिलया स तयोपपतिर्वणिक् ।
तुतोष तस्यै मन्वानो निधिं लब्धमयत्नतः ॥

Summary AI Addressed thus by that deceitful woman, the merchant lover was delighted, believing he had gained a treasure without effort.

३.५.३९

देवदासो ऽपि कुवधूवाक्शल्यैस्तैर्बहिर्गतः ।
कीलितामिव तत्कालं धनाशां हृदये दधौ ॥

Summary AI Devadāsa, pierced by the arrow-like words of his wicked wife, left and cherished in his heart a newfound hope for wealth.

३.५.४०

जगाम च ततः सद्यः पुरं पाटलिपुत्रकम् ।
प्राप्य च स्वगृहं लब्ध्वा निधानं स्वीचकार तत् ॥

Summary AI He immediately went to the city of Pāṭaliputra, reached his house, found the treasure, and took possession of it.

३.५.४१

अथाजगाम स वणिक्तद्भार्याच्छन्नकामुकः ।
तमेव देशं वाणिज्यव्याजेन निधिलोलुपः ॥

Summary AI Then that merchant, who was the secret lover of the wife and greedy for the hidden treasure, arrived at that very place under the pretext of conducting trade.

३.५.४२

देवदाससकाशाच्च क्रीणाति स्म स तद्गृहम् ।
देवदासो ऽपि मूल्येन भूयसा तस्य तद्ददौ ॥

Summary AI The merchant purchased the house from Devadāsa, and Devadāsa sold it to him for a very high price.

३.५.४३

ततो गृहस्थितिं कृत्वा युक्त्या श्वशुरवेश्मनः ।
स देवदासः शीघ्रं तामानिनाय स्वगेहिनीम् ॥

Summary AI Having made domestic arrangements, Devadāsa cleverly brought his wife back from her father-in-law's house.

३.५.४४

एवं कृते च तद्भार्याकामुकः स वणिक्शठः ।
अलब्धनिधिरभ्येत्य देवदासमुवाच तम् ॥

Summary AI When the rogue merchant, the wife's lover, failed to find the treasure, he approached Devadāsa and spoke.

३.५.४५

एतद्भवद्गृहं जीर्णं मह्यं न खलु रोचते ।
तद्देहि मे निजं मूल्यं स्वगृहं स्वीकुरुष्व च ॥

Summary AI He claimed that the old house did not please him and demanded his money back while asking Devadāsa to reclaim his property.

३.५.४६

इति जल्पंश्च स वणिग्देवदासश्च विब्रुवन् ।
उभौ विवादसक्तौ तौ राजाग्रमुपजग्मतुः ॥

Summary AI As the merchant argued and Devadāsa replied, both became engaged in a dispute and went before the King.

३.५.४७

तत्र स्वभार्यावृत्तान्तं वक्षःस्थविषदुःसहम् ।
देवदासो नरेन्द्राग्रे कृत्स्नमुद्गिरति स्म तम् ॥

Summary AI There, Devadāsa revealed the entire story of his wife, which was as painful as poison in his chest, to the King.

३.५.४८

ततश्चानाय्य तद्भार्यां तत्त्वं चान्विष्य भूपतिः ।
अदण्डयत्तं सर्वस्वं वणिजं पारदारिकम् ॥

Summary AI The King summoned the wife, investigated the truth, and punished the adulterous merchant by seizing all his property.

३.५.४९

देवदासो ऽपि कुवधूं कृत्व तां छिन्ननासिकाम् ।
अन्यां च परिणीयात्र तस्थौ लब्धनिधिः सुखम् ॥

Summary AI Devadāsa cut off the nose of his wicked wife and, having married another, lived happily with the discovered treasure.

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