कथासरित्सागरः — तृतीयस्तरङ्गः

तृतीयस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो वासवदत्ता सा वत्सराजं समीपगम् ।
विजने सचिवैर्युक्तमन्येद्युरिदमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Then, on another day, Vāsavadattā spoke these words to Vatsarāja, who was accompanied by his ministers in a private place.

४.३.२

यतः प्रभृति गर्भो ऽयमार्यपुत्र धृतो मया ।
ततः प्रभृति तद्रक्षा तीव्रा मां हृदि बाधते ॥

Summary AI "O Noble Prince! Ever since I have conceived this child, the intense anxiety for its protection has been weighing heavily upon my heart."

४.३.३

अद्य तच्चिन्तया चाहं सुप्ता निशि कथंचन ।
जाने दृष्टवती कंचित्स्वप्ने पुरुषमागतम् ॥

Summary AI "Today, having fallen asleep with difficulty due to that worry, I perceive that I saw a certain man approaching in a dream."

४.३.४

भस्माङ्गरागसितया शेखरीकृतचन्द्रया ।
पिशङ्गजटया मूर्त्या शोभितं शूलहस्तया ॥

Summary AI "He was resplendent in a form white with ash-smear, wearing the moon as a crest, with reddish matted hair, and a trident in hand."

४.३.५

स च मामभ्युपेत्यैव सानुकम्प इवावदत् ।
पुत्रि गर्भकृते चिन्ता न कार्या काचन त्वया ॥

Summary AI "Approaching me, he spoke with compassion: 'O daughter, you should not harbor any anxiety regarding your pregnancy.'"

४.३.६

अहं तवैनं रक्षामि दत्तो ह्येष मयैव ते ।
किंचान्यच्छृणु वच्म्येव तव प्रत्ययकारणम् ॥

Summary AI "'I shall protect him for you, for this child was indeed given to you by me. Furthermore, listen; I shall tell you something else to inspire your confidence.'"

श्वः कापि नारी विज्ञप्तिहेतोर्युष्मानुपैष्यति ।

४.३.७

अवष्टभ्यैव साक्षेपमाकर्षन्ती निजं पतिम् ।
पञ्चभिस्तनयैर्युक्ता बहुबन्धुजनावृता ॥

Summary AI "'A woman, accompanied by five sons and surrounded by many relatives, will come dragging her own husband and holding him with insults.'"

४.३.८

सा च दुश्चारिणी योषित्स्वबान्धवबलात्पतिम् ।
तं घातयितुमिच्छन्ती सर्वं मिथ्या ब्रवीति तत् ॥

Summary AI "'That wicked woman, desiring to have her husband killed through the strength of her kinsmen, tells nothing but lies.'"

४.३.९

त्वं चात्र पुत्रि वत्सेशं पूर्वं विज्ञापयेस्तथा ।
तस्याः सकाशात्स यथा साधुर्मुच्येत कुस्त्रियः ॥

Summary AI "'O daughter, you must inform Vatsarāja beforehand so that the virtuous man may be released from that evil woman.'"

४.३.१०

इत्यादिश्य गते तस्मिन्नन्तर्धानं महात्मनि ।
प्रबुद्धा सहसैवाहं बिभाता च विभावरी ॥

Summary AI "Having commanded thus, when that Great Soul vanished, I suddenly woke up, and the night had dawned."

४.३.११

एवमुक्ते तया देव्या शर्वानुग्रहवादिनः ।
तत्रासन्विस्मिताः सर्वे संवादापेक्षिमानसाः ॥

Summary AI When the Queen spoke thus, all those present, discussing the favor of Śarva, were astonished, their minds awaiting the fulfillment of the dream's details.

४.३.१२

तस्मिन्नेव क्षणे चात्र प्रविश्यार्तानुकम्पिनम् ।
वत्सराजं प्रतीहारमुख्यो ऽकस्माद्व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI At that very moment, the chief doorkeeper entered and suddenly made a request to Vatsarāja, who is compassionate toward the distressed.

४.३.१३

आगता देव विज्ञप्त्यै कापि स्त्री बान्धवैर्वृता ।
पञ्चपुत्रान्गृहीत्वा स्वमाक्षिप्य विवशं पतिम् ॥

Summary AI "O King! A certain woman has arrived to make a petition, surrounded by kinsmen, bringing five sons, and dragging her helpless husband while insulting him."

४.३.१४

तच्छ्रुत्वा नृपतिर्देवीस्वप्नसंवादविस्मितः ।
प्रवेश्यतामिहैवेति प्रतीहारं तमादिशत् ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the King, amazed by the correspondence with the Queen's dream, ordered the doorkeeper: "Let her be admitted right here."

४.३.१५

स्वप्नसत्यत्वसंजातसत्पुत्रप्राप्तिनिश्चयः ।
देवी वासवदत्तापि सा संप्राप परां मुदम् ॥

Summary AI Queen Vāsavadattā also attained supreme joy, gaining certainty about obtaining an excellent son due to the dream proving true.

४.३.१६

अथ द्वारोन्मुखैः सर्वैर्वीक्ष्यमाणा सकौतुकम् ।
प्रतीहाराज्ञया योषिद्भर्तृयुक्ता विवेश सा ॥

Summary AI Then, watched with curiosity by everyone facing the door, that woman entered with her husband by the order of the doorkeeper.

४.३.१७

प्रविश्याश्रितदैन्या च यथाक्रमकृतानतिः ।
अथ संसदि राजानं सदेवीकं व्यजिज्ञपत् ॥

Summary AI Entering and assuming a pitiful appearance, she performed her salutations in order and then petitioned the King, who was seated with the Queen in the assembly.

४.३.१८

अयं निरपराधाया मम भर्ता भवन्नपि ।
न प्रयच्छत्यनाथाया भोजनाच्छादनादिकम् ॥

Summary AI "Even though he is my husband, he does not provide food, clothing, and other necessities to me, who am innocent and helpless."

४.३.१९

इत्युक्तवत्यां तस्यां च स तद्भर्ता व्यजिज्ञपत् ।
देव मिथ्या वदत्येषा सबन्धुर्मद्वधैषिणी ॥

Summary AI When she had spoken thus, her husband petitioned: "O King! This woman, along with her relatives, desires my death and speaks falsely."

४.३.२०

आ वत्सरान्तं सर्वं हि दत्तमस्या मयाग्रतः ।
एतद्बन्धव एवान्ये तटस्था मे ऽत्र साक्षिणः ॥

Summary AI "Indeed, everything was given by me to her in advance for the whole year. Her own relatives and other neutral bystanders are my witnesses in this matter."

४.३.२१

एवं विज्ञापितस्तेन राजा स्वयमभाषत ।
देवीस्वप्ने कृतं साक्ष्यं देवेनैवात्र शूलिना ॥

Summary AI Informed thus by him, the King spoke. He remarked that Lord Śiva himself had provided testimony regarding the Queen's dream.

४.३.२२

तत्किं साक्षिभिरेषैव निग्राह्या स्त्री सबन्धवा ।
इति राज्ञोदिते ऽवादीद्धीमान्यौगन्धरायणः ॥

Summary AI The King questioned the need for witnesses, stating the woman and her kin should be punished. Hearing this, the wise Yaugandharāyaṇa spoke.

४.३.२३

तथापि साक्षिवचनात्कार्यं देव यथोचितम् ।
लोको ह्येतदजानानो न प्रतीयात्कथंचन ॥

Summary AI Yaugandharāyaṇa advised that proper action must follow witness testimony, for without public knowledge of the facts, the world would never believe the verdict.

४.३.२४

तच्छ्रुत्वा साक्षिणो राज्ञा तथेत्यानाय्य तत्क्षणम् ।
पृष्टाः शशंसुस्ते चात्र तां मिथ्यावादिनीं स्त्रियम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the King summoned the witnesses at once. When questioned, they confirmed that the woman was indeed a liar.

४.३.२५

ततः प्रख्यातसद्भर्तृद्रोहामेतां सबान्धवाम् ।
सपुत्रां च स वत्सेशः स्वदेशान्निरवासयत् ॥

Summary AI Consequently, the King of Vatsa exiled the woman, who was notorious for betraying her virtuous husband, along with her kinsmen and sons from his kingdom.

४.३.२६

विससर्ज च तं साधुं तद्भर्तारं दयार्द्रधीः ।
विवाहान्तरपर्याप्तं वितीर्य विपुलं वसु ॥

Summary AI With a heart melted by compassion, the King dismissed her virtuous husband after granting him abundant wealth sufficient for another marriage.

४.३.२७

पुमांसमाकुलं क्रूरा पतितं दुर्दशावटे ।
जीवन्तमेव कुष्णाति काकीव कुकुटुम्बिनी ॥

Summary AI A cruel and wicked wife torments a distressed man fallen into the pit of misfortune, devouring him alive just as a female crow pecks at a victim.

४.३.२८

स्निग्धा कुलीना महती गृहिणी तापहारिणी ।
तरुच्छायेव मर्गस्था पुण्यैः कस्यापि जायते ॥

Summary AI An affectionate, noble, and virtuous wife who removes all sorrow is obtained by a man only through great merit, like the shade of a tree found by a traveler on a path.

४.३.२९

इति चैतत्प्रसङ्गेन वदन्तं तं महीपतिम् ।
वसन्तकः स्थितः पार्श्वे कथापटुरवोचत ॥

Summary AI As the King spoke these words in context, the witty storyteller Vasantaka, standing nearby, addressed him.

४.३.३०

किं च देव विरोधो वा स्नेहो वापीह देहिनाम् ।
प्राग्जन्मवासनाभ्यासवशात्प्रायेण जायते ॥

Summary AI "O King, enmity or affection among embodied beings in this world generally arises due to the habitual impressions carried over from previous births."

४.३.३१

तथा च श्रूयतामत्र कथेयं वर्ण्यते मया ।
आसीद्विक्रमचण्डाख्यो वाराणस्यां महीपतिः ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, listen to this story I am about to tell. There once was a King in Vārāṇasī named Vikramacaṇḍa."

४.३.३२

तस्याभूद्वल्लभो भृत्यो नाम्ना सिंहपराक्रमः ।
यो रणेष्विव सर्वेषु द्यूतेष्वप्यसमो जयी ॥

Summary AI He had a favorite servant named Siṃhaparākrama, who was an unparalleled victor in all gambling matches just as he was in battles.

४.३.३३

तस्याभवच्च विकृता वपुषीवाशये ऽप्यलम् ।
ख्याता कलहकारीति नाम्नान्वर्थेन गेहिनी ॥

Summary AI He had a wife notorious by the apt name Kalahakārī, who was as extremely deformed in her disposition as she was in her body.

४.३.३४

स तस्याः सततं भूरि राजतो द्यूततस्तथा ।
प्राप्य प्राप्य धनं धीरः सर्वमेव समर्पयत् ॥

Summary AI That resolute man would constantly hand over all the abundant wealth he acquired from the King and from gambling to her.

४.३.३५

सा तु तस्य समुत्पन्नपुत्रत्रययुता शठा ।
तथापि क्षणमप्येकं न तस्थौ कलहं विना ॥

Summary AI Although she had borne him three sons, that deceitful woman could not remain for even a single moment without picking a quarrel.

४.३.३६

बहिः पिबसि भुङ्क्षे च नैव किंचिद्ददासि नः ।
इत्यारटन्ती ससुता सा तं नित्यमतापयत् ॥

Summary AI Screaming alongside her sons, "You drink and eat outside and give us nothing!" she tormented him daily.

४.३.३७

प्रसाद्यमानाप्याहारपानवस्त्रैरहर्निशम् ।
दुरन्ता भोगतृष्णेव भृशं जज्वाल तस्य सा ॥

Summary AI Even when appeased day and night with food, drink, and clothes, she blazed with anger at him like an endless thirst for enjoyment.

४.३.३८

ततः क्रमेण तन्मन्युखिन्नस्त्यक्त्वैव तद्गृहम् ।
स विन्ध्यवासिनीं द्रष्टुमगात्सिंहपराक्रमः ॥

Summary AI Eventually, distressed by her constant anger, Siṃhaparākrama left his home and went to see the Goddess Vindhyavāsinī.

४.३.३९

सा तं स्वप्ने निराहारस्थितं देवी समादिशत् ।
उत्तिष्ठ पुत्र तामेव गच्छ वाराणसीं पुरीम् ॥

Summary AI As he remained there without food, the Goddess commanded him in a dream, "Rise, my son, and go back to that very city of Vārāṇasī."

४.३.४०

तत्र सर्वमहानेको यो ऽस्ति न्यग्रोधपादपः ।
तन्मूलात्खन्यमानात्त्वं स्वैरं निधिमवाप्स्यसि ॥

Summary AI "There you will find a single, massive banyan tree. By digging at its root, you shall easily obtain a treasure."

४.३.४१

तन्मध्याल्लप्स्यसे चैकं नभःखण्डमिव च्युतम् ।
पात्रं गरुडमाणिक्यमयं निस्त्रिंशनिर्मलम् ॥

Summary AI From the midst of that treasure, you will obtain a vessel made of emeralds, pure as a sword and looking like a fallen fragment of the sky.

४.३.४२

तत्रार्पितेक्षणो द्रक्ष्यस्यन्तः प्रतिमितामिव ।
सर्वस्य जन्तोः प्राग्जातिं या स्याज्जिज्ञासिता तव ॥

Summary AI Casting your gaze upon it, you will see reflected within the previous birth of any creature you desire to know about.

४.३.४३

तेनैव बुद्ध्वा भार्यायाः पूर्वजातिं तथात्मनः ।
अवाप्तार्थः सुखी तत्र गतखेदो निवत्स्यसि ॥

Summary AI By learning your wife's and your own former births through that vessel, your goal achieved and grief gone, you will live there happily.

४.३.४४

एवमुक्तश्च देव्या स प्रबुद्धः कृतपारणः ।
वाराणसीं प्रति प्रायात्प्रातः सिंहपराक्रमः ॥

Summary AI Thus addressed by the goddess, the hero Siṃhaparakrama woke up, performed his morning rites, and set out for Vārāṇasī.

४.३.४५

गत्वा च तां पुरीं प्राप्य तस्मान्न्यग्रोधमूलतः ।
लेभे निधानं तन्मध्यात्पात्रं मणिमयं महत् ॥

Summary AI Reaching that city and finding the treasure at the base of the banyan tree, he obtained a large vessel made of gems from its midst.

४.३.४६

अपश्यच्चात्र जिज्ञासुः पात्रे पूर्वत्र जन्मनि ।
घोराम् ऋक्षीं स्वभार्यां तामात्मानं च मृगाधिपम् ॥

Summary AI Curious, he saw in that vessel that in their previous birth, his wife was a terrible she-bear and he himself was a lion.

४.३.४७

पूर्वजातिमहावैरवासनानिश्चलं ततः ।
बुद्ध्वा भार्यात्मनोर्द्वेषं शोकमोहौ मुमोच सः ॥

Summary AI Realizing that the hatred between him and his wife was fixed due to the latent impressions of great enmity from their previous lives, he abandoned his grief and delusion.

४.३.४८

अथ बह्वीः परिज्ञातास्तत्र पात्रप्रभावतः ।
प्राग्जन्मभिन्नजातीयाः परिहृत्यैव कन्यकाः ॥

Summary AI Through the power of the vessel, he examined and rejected many maidens who were found to be of different species in their previous births.

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