कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

मदघूर्णितवक्रोत्थैः सिन्दूरैश्छुरयन्महीम् ।
हेरम्बः पातु वो विघ्नान्स्वतेजोभिर्दहन्निव ॥

Summary AI May Heramba (Lord Ganeśa), who paints the earth with vermilion powder rising from his trunk swaying with intoxication and who seems to burn obstacles with his own radiance, protect you.

५.१.२

एवं स देवीसहितस्तस्थौ वत्सेश्वरस्तदा ।
नरवाहनदत्तं तमेकपुत्रं विवर्धयन् ॥

Summary AI Thus, the King of Vatsa, together with his queen, remained there at that time, bringing up his only son, Naravāhanadatta.

५.१.३

तद्रक्षाकातरं तं च दृष्ट्वा राजानमेकदा ।
यौगन्धरायणो मन्त्री विजनस्थितमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Once, seeing the King seated in private and anxious about the protection of his son, the minister Yaugandharāyaṇa spoke to him.

५.१.४

राजन्न राजपुत्रस्य कृते चिन्ताधुना त्वया ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्य विधातव्या कदाचन ॥

Summary AI O King, you should never worry about the prince Naravāhanadatta now.

५.१.५

असौ भगवता भावी भर्गेण हि भवद्गृहे ।
सर्वविद्याधराधीशचक्रवर्ती विनिर्मितः ॥

Summary AI For he has been destined by the divine Lord Bharga (Śiva) to be born in your house as the future sovereign emperor of all the Vidyādharas.

५.१.६

विद्याप्रभावादेतच्च बुद्ध्वा विद्याधराधिपाः ।
गताः पापेच्छवः क्षोभं हृदयैरसहिष्णवः ॥

Summary AI Having learned this through the power of their magic, the intolerant and malicious lords of the Vidyādharas became agitated in their hearts.

५.१.७

तद्विदित्वा च देवेन रक्षार्थं शशिमौलिना ।
एतस्य स्तम्भको नाम गणेशः स्थापितो निजः ॥

Summary AI Awareness of this led Lord Śiva, the moon-crested god, to station his own Gaṇa named Stambhaka for the prince's protection.

५.१.८

स च तिष्ठत्यलक्ष्यः सन्रक्षन्नेतं सुतं तव ।
एतच्च क्षिप्रमभ्येत्य नारदो मे न्यवेदयत् ॥

Summary AI He remains invisible while guarding your son; Nārada came quickly and informed me of this matter.

५.१.९

इति तस्मिन्वदत्येव मन्त्रिणि व्योममध्यतः ।
किरीटी कुण्डली दिव्यः खड्गी चावातरत्पुमान् ॥

Summary AI Even as the minister was speaking thus, a divine man wearing a diadem and earrings, and carrying a sword, descended from the middle of the sky.

५.१.१०

प्रणतं कल्पितातिथ्यं क्षणाद्वत्सेश्वरो ऽथ तम् ।
कस्त्वं किमिह ते कार्यमित्यपृच्छत्सकौतुकम् ॥

Summary AI Then the King of Vatsa, having offered hospitality to the man who bowed before him, curiously asked him after a moment: "Who are you, and what is your business here?"

५.१.११

सो ऽप्यवादीदहं मर्त्यो भूत्वा विद्याधराधिपः ।
संपन्नः शक्तिवेगाख्यः प्रभूताश्च ममारयः ॥

Summary AI He replied, "I was once a mortal and have now become a lord of the Vidyādharas named Śaktivega. I have many enemies."

५.१.१२

सो ऽहं प्रभावाद्विज्ञाय भाव्यस्मच्चक्रवर्तिनम् ।
भवतस्तनयं द्रष्टुमागतो ऽस्म्यवनीपते ॥

Summary AI "O Lord of the earth, having learned through my power about your son being our future emperor, I have come to see him."

५.१.१३

इत्युक्तवन्तं तं दृष्टभविष्यच्चक्रवर्तिनम् ।
प्रीतं वत्सेश्वरो हृष्टः पुनः पप्रच्छ विस्मयात् ॥

Summary AI Hearing him speak thus and seeing him pleased at having beheld the future emperor, the King of Vatsa, delighted and filled with wonder, questioned him again.

५.१.१४

विद्याधरत्वं प्राप्येत कथं कीदृग्विधं च तत् ।
त्वया च तत्कथं प्राप्तमेतत्कथय नः सखे ॥

Summary AI "Friend, how can the status of a Vidyādhara be attained, and what is it like? How did you achieve it? Tell us this."

५.१.१५

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं राज्ञः स तदा विनयानतः ।
विद्याधरः शक्तिवेगस्तमेवं प्रत्यवोचत ॥

Summary AI Upon hearing the King's words, the Vidyādhara Śaktivega, bowing with humility, replied to him in this manner.

५.१.१६

राजन्निहैव पूर्वे वा जन्मन्याराध्य शंकरम् ।
विद्याधरपदं धीरा लभन्ते तदनुग्रहात् ॥

Summary AI "O King, wise men attain the rank of a Vidyādhara by worshiping Lord Śaṅkara either in this very life or in a previous one, through his divine grace."

५.१.१७

तच्चानेकविधं विद्याखड्गमालादिसाधनम् ।
मया च तद्यथा प्राप्तं कथयामि तथा शृणु ॥

Summary AI "That rank is of various kinds and is achieved through means such as mystical knowledge, a magic sword, or a garland. Listen, as I tell you how I attained it."

५.१.१८

एवमुक्त्वा स्वसंबद्धां शक्तिवेगः स संनिधौ ।
देव्या वासवदत्तायाः कथामाख्यातवानिमाम् ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus, Śaktivega began to narrate this story concerning himself in the presence of Queen Vāsavadattā.

५.१.१९

अभवद्वर्धमानाख्ये पुरे भूतलभूषणे ।
नाम्ना परोपकारीति पुरा राजा परंतपः ॥

Summary AI Long ago, in a city named Vardhamāna, the ornament of the earth, there lived a king named Paropakārin, who was a scorcher of his enemies.

५.१.२०

तस्योन्नतिमतश्चाभून्महिषी कनकप्रभा ।
विद्युद्धाराधरस्येव सा तु निर्मुक्तचापला ॥

Summary AI To that exalted king, there was a queen named Kanakaprabhā. She was like lightning to a cloud, yet she was free from fickleness.

५.१.२१

तस्यां तस्य च कालेन देव्यामजनि कन्यका ।
रूपदर्पोपशान्त्यै या लक्ष्म्या धात्रेव निर्मिता ॥

Summary AI In time, a daughter was born to the King and that Queen, created by the Creator as if to subdue the pride of Lakṣmī regarding her own beauty.

५.१.२२

अवर्धत शनैः सा च लोकलोचनचन्द्रिका ।
पित्रा कनकरेखेति मातृनाम्ना कृतात्मजा ॥

Summary AI She grew up gradually, becoming moonlight to the eyes of the world; her father named her Kanakarekhā, after her mother’s name.

५.१.२३

एकदा यौवनस्थायां तस्यां राजा स तत्पिता ।
विजनोपस्थितां देवीं जगाद कनकप्रभाम् ॥

Summary AI Once, when she reached youth, her father, the King, spoke to Queen Kanakaprabhā while she was seated in a private place.

५.१.२४

वर्धमाना सहैवैतत्समानोद्वाहचिन्तया ।
एषा कनकरेखा मे हृदयं देवि बाधते ॥

Summary AI "O Queen, this Kanakarekhā, growing along with the constant worry of her marriage, torments my heart."

५.१.२५

स्थानप्राप्तिविहीना हि गीतिवत्कुलकन्यका ।
उद्वेजिनी परस्यापि श्रूयमाणैव कर्णयोः ॥

Summary AI Like a song that has not found its proper pitch, a high-born daughter who has not reached her proper place in her husband's home causes distress even to others merely upon being heard.

५.१.२६

विद्येव कन्यका मोहादपात्रे प्रतिपादिता ।
यशसे न न धर्माय जायेतानुशयाय तु ॥

Summary AI A daughter given to an unworthy person out of delusion, like knowledge imparted to an unfit student, leads neither to fame nor to merit, but only to regret.

५.१.२७

तत्कस्मै दीयते ह्येषा मया नृपतये सुता ।
को ऽस्याः समः स्यादिति मे देवि चिन्ता गरीयसी ॥

Summary AI "To which king should I give this daughter? Who could be a suitable match for her? O Queen, this is my great anxiety."

५.१.२८

तच्छ्रुत्वा सा विहस्यैवं बभाषे कनकप्रभा ।
त्वमेवमात्थ कन्या तु नेच्छत्युद्वाहमेव सा ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, Kanakaprabhā laughed and said, "You speak thus, but that girl does not desire marriage at all."

५.१.२९

अद्यैव नर्मणा सा हि कृतकृत्रिमपुत्रका ।
वत्से कदा विवाहं ते द्रक्ष्यामीत्युदिता मया ॥

Summary AI "Today, while she was playing with dolls, I jokingly said to her, 'Child, when shall I see your marriage?'"

५.१.३०

सा तच्छ्रुत्वैव साक्षेपमेवं मां प्रत्यवोचत ।
मा मैवमम्ब दातव्या नैव कस्मैचिदप्यहम् ॥

Summary AI "Hearing that, she replied to me indignantly, 'O Mother, do not say so! I am not to be given to anyone at all!'"

५.१.३१

मद्वियोगो न चादिष्टः कन्यैवास्मि सुशोभना ।
अन्यथा मां मृतां विद्धि किंचिदस्त्यत्र कारणम् ॥

Summary AI "'Separation from you is not ordained for me; I am well off as a maiden. Otherwise, know me to be dead; there is a certain reason for this.'"

५.१.३२

एवं तयोक्ता त्वत्पार्श्वं राजन्विग्नाहमागता ।
तन्निषिद्धविवाहायाः का वरस्य विचारणा ॥

Summary AI "O King, addressed thus by her, I have come to you distressed. Therefore, what is the point of considering a groom for one who has forbidden her own marriage?"

५.१.३३

इति राज्ञीमुखाच्छ्रुत्वा समुद्भ्रान्तः स भूपतिः ।
कन्यकान्तःपुरं गत्वा तामवादीत्तदा सुताम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this from the Queen, the King became bewildered and, going to the princess's quarters, spoke to his daughter.

५.१.३४

प्रार्थयन्ते ऽपि तपसा यं सुरासुरकन्यकाः ।
भर्तृलाभः कथं वत्से स निषिद्धः किल त्वया ॥

Summary AI "Child, how is it that you have forbidden the gain of a husband, which even the daughters of gods and demons seek through penance?"

५.१.३५

एतत्पितुर्वचः श्रुत्वा भूतलन्यस्तलोचना ।
तदा कनकरेखा सा निजगाद नृपात्मजा ॥

Summary AI Hearing these words of her father, the princess Kanakarekhā, with her eyes fixed on the ground, then spoke.

५.१.३६

तात नैवेप्सितस्तावद्विवाहो मम सांप्रतम् ।
तत्तातस्यापि किं तेन कार्यं कश्चात्र वो ग्रहः ॥

Summary AI "Father, I do not desire marriage at present. Therefore, what concern is it of yours, and why are you all so insistent?"

५.१.३७

इत्युक्तः स तया राजा दुहित्रा धीमतां वरः ।
परोपकारी स पुनरेवमेतामभाषत ॥

Summary AI Addressed thus by his daughter, the King, the best among the wise and a benefactor to others, spoke to her again in this manner.

५.१.३८

कन्यादानाद् ऋते पुत्रि किं स्यात्किल्बिषशान्तये ।
न च बन्धुपराधीना कन्या स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति ॥

Summary AI "Daughter, what else but the giving of a daughter in marriage can lead to the removal of sins? A maiden, being dependent on her kinsmen, does not deserve independence."

५.१.३९

जातैव हि परस्यार्थे कन्यका नाम रक्ष्यते ।
बाल्याद् ऋते विना भर्तुः कीदृक्तस्याः पितुर्गृहम् ॥

Summary AI "Indeed, a daughter is born for the sake of another and is protected for that purpose. Except for childhood, what is a father's house to her without a husband?"

५.१.४०

ऋतुमत्यां हि कन्यायां बान्धवा यान्त्यधोगतिम् ।
वृषली सा वरश्चास्या वृषलीपतिरुच्यते ॥

Summary AI "If a daughter reaches puberty unmarried, her kinsmen go to hell. She is then considered a low-caste woman (vṛṣalī), and her husband is called the husband of a vṛṣalī."

५.१.४१

इति तेनोदिता पित्रा राजपुत्री मनोगताम् ।
वाचं कनकरेखा सा तत्क्षणं समुदैरयत् ॥

Summary AI When addressed by her father in this manner, Princess Kanakarekhā immediately expressed the thoughts she had been harboring in her heart.

५.१.४२

यद्येवं तात तद्येन विप्रेण क्षत्रियेण वा ।
दृष्टा कनकपुर्याख्या नगरी कृतिना किल ॥

Summary AI "O Father, if that is so, then to whichever virtuous brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya the city named Kanakapurī has indeed been seen..."

५.१.४३

तस्मै त्वयाहं दातव्या स मे भर्ता भविष्यति ।
नान्यथा तात मिथ्यैव कर्तव्या मे कदर्थना ॥

Summary AI "...I should be given by you to him, and he shall become my husband. Otherwise, Father, this persistent harassment of me is simply in vain."

५.१.४४

एवं तयोक्ते सुतया स राजा समचिन्तयत् ।
दिष्ट्योद्वाहस्य तत्तावत्प्रसङ्गो ऽङ्गीकृतो ऽनया ॥

Summary AI When his daughter spoke these words, the King reflected to himself that, fortunately, she had at least accepted the prospect of marriage.

५.१.४५

नूनं च कारणोत्पन्ना देवीयं कापि मद्गृहे ।
इयत्कथं विजानाति बाला भूत्वान्यथा ह्यसौ ॥

Summary AI "Surely she is some goddess born in my house for a specific purpose; otherwise, how could she, being just a young girl, know so much?"

५.१.४६

इति संचिन्त्य तत्कालं तथेत्युक्त्वा च तां सुताम् ।
उत्थाय दिनकर्तव्यं स चकार महीपतिः ॥

Summary AI Having reflected thus, the King told his daughter "So be it," and then rose to perform his daily royal duties.

५.१.४७

अन्येद्युरास्थानगतो जगाद स च पार्श्वगान् ।
दृष्टा कनकपुर्याख्या पुरी युष्मासु केनचित् ॥

Summary AI The next day, while seated in his assembly, the King asked his attendants whether any among them had seen the city named Kanakapurī.

५.१.४८

येन दृष्टा च सा तस्मै विप्राय क्षत्रियाय वा ।
मया कनकरेखा च यौवराज्यं च दीयते ॥

Summary AI "To whichever brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya has seen that city, I shall grant the hand of Kanakarekhā and the office of crown prince (yauvarājyam)."

५.१.४९

श्रुतापि नैव सास्माभिर्दर्शने देव का कथा ।
इति ते चावदन्सर्वे अन्योन्याननदर्शिनः ॥

Summary AI "O King, we have not even heard of it, so what can be said of seeing it?" they all replied, looking at one another's faces in confusion.

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