कथासरित्सागरः — द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः

द्वितीयस्तरङ्गः ।

अत्रान्तरे द्विजयुवा शक्तिदेवः स दुर्मनाः ।
अचिन्तयदभिप्रेतराजकन्यावमानितः ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, the young brāhmaṇa named Śaktideva, feeling dejected after being insulted by the princess he desired, reflected on his situation.

५.२.२

मयेह मिथ्याकनकपुरीदर्शनवादिना ।
विमानना परं प्राप्ता न त्वसौ राजकन्यका ॥

Summary AI "By falsely claiming to have seen Kanakapurī, I have only earned great humiliation, but I have not won the hand of that princess."

५.२.३

तदेतत्प्राप्तये तावद्भ्रमणीया मही मया ।
यावत्सा नगरी दृष्टा प्राणैर्वापि गतं मम ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, to attain her, I must wander the earth until that city is found or until my life itself departs."

५.२.४

तां हि दृष्ट्वा पुरीमेत्य तत्पणोपार्जितं न चेत् ।
लभेय राजतनयामेनां किं जीवितेन तत् ॥

Summary AI "If, even after finding that city and returning, I do not obtain this princess who is to be won by that wager, then what is the use of living?"

५.२.५

एवं कृतप्रतिज्ञः सन्वर्धमानपुरात्ततः ।
दक्षिणां दिशमालम्ब्य स प्रतस्थे तदा द्विजः ॥

Summary AI Having made this vow, the brāhmaṇa then set out from the city of Vardhamānapura, heading toward the southern direction.

५.२.६

क्रमेण गच्छंश्च प्राप सो ऽथ विन्ध्यमहाटवीम् ।
विवेश च निजां वाञ्छामिव तां गहनायताम् ॥

Summary AI Traveling gradually, he reached the great Vindhya forest and entered its dense expanse, which was as deep and vast as his own desire.

५.२.७

तस्यां च मारुताधूतमृदुपादपपल्लवैः ।
वीजयन्त्यामिवात्मानं तप्तमर्ककरोत्करैः ॥

Summary AI In that forest, which seemed to fan itself with the soft leaves of trees shaken by the wind, as if to cool itself from the scorching rays of the sun.

५.२.८

भूरिचौरपराभूतिदुःखादिव दिवानिशम् ।
क्रोशन्त्यां तीव्रसिंहादिहन्यमानमृगारवैः ॥

Summary AI The forest seemed to cry out day and night through the screams of deer being killed by fierce lions, as if lamenting the distress caused by numerous thieves.

५.२.९

स्वच्छन्दीच्छलदुद्दाममहामरुमरीचिभिः ।
जिगीषन्त्यामिवात्युग्राण्यपि तेजांसि भास्वतः ॥

Summary AI With the unrestrained and rising heat-waves of the great desert, the forest appeared to be trying to conquer even the most intense brilliance of the sun.

५.२.१०

जलसंहतिहीनायामप्यहो सुलभापदि ।
सततोल्लङ्घ्यमानायामपि दूरीभवद्भुवि ॥

Summary AI Alas! Though the land was devoid of water bodies and full of readily available dangers, it seemed to stretch further away even as it was constantly traversed.

५.२.११

दिवसैर्दूरमध्वानमतिक्रम्य ददर्श सः ।
एकान्ते शीतलस्वच्छसलिलं सुमहत्सरः ॥

Summary AI After traveling a great distance over several days, he beheld a very large lake with cool, clear water in a secluded spot.

५.२.१२

पुण्डरीकोच्छ्रितच्छत्त्रं प्रोल्लसद्धंसचामरम् ।
कुर्वाणमिव सर्वेषां सरसामधिराजताम् ॥

Summary AI With blooming white lotuses serving as raised umbrellas and graceful swans as waving whisks, the lake seemed to assert sovereignty over all other lakes.

५.२.१३

तस्मिन्स्नानादि कृत्वा च तत्पार्श्वे पुनरुत्तरे ।
अपश्यदाश्रमपदं सफलस्निग्धपादपम् ॥

Summary AI After bathing there and performing other rites, he saw a hermitage on its northern side, filled with trees laden with fruit and glossy foliage.

५.२.१४

तत्राश्वत्थतरोर्मूले निषण्णं तापसैर्वृतम् ।
स सूर्यतपसं नाम स्थविरं मुनिमैक्षत ॥

Summary AI There, seated at the foot of a sacred fig tree and surrounded by ascetics, he saw an aged sage named Sūryatapas.

५.२.१५

स्ववयोब्दशतग्रन्थिसंख्ययेवाक्षमालया ।
जराधवलकर्णाग्रसंश्रयिण्या विराजितम् ॥

Summary AI The sage shone with a rosary hanging from the tips of his ears, which were white with age; it was as if the beads counted the hundreds of years of his life.

५.२.१६

प्रणामपूर्वकं तं च मुनिमभ्याजगाम सः ।
तेनाप्यतिथिसत्कारैर्मुनिना सो ऽभ्यनन्द्यत ॥

Summary AI He approached the sage with a prostration, and he was welcomed by the sage with the traditional rites of hospitality due to a guest.

५.२.१७

अपृच्छ्यत च तेनैव संविभज्य फलादिभिः ।
कुतः प्राप्तो ऽसि गन्तासि क्व च भद्रोच्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI After sharing fruits and other food with him, the sage asked, "O auspicious one, where have you come from and where are you going? Please tell me."

५.२.१८

वर्धमानपुरात्तावद्भगवन्नहमागतः ।
गन्तुं प्रवृत्तः कनकपुरीमस्मि प्रतिज्ञया ॥

Summary AI "O venerable one, I have come from Vardhamānapura and have set out to reach the city of Kanakapurī because of a vow."

५.२.१९

न जाने क्व भवेत्सा तु भगवान्वक्तु वेत्ति चेत् ।
इति तं शक्तिदेवो ऽपि स प्रह्वो मुनिमभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI "I do not know where it might be. If your lordship knows, please tell me," said the humble Śaktideva to the sage.

५.२.२०

वत्स वर्षशतान्यष्टौ ममाश्रमपदे त्विह ।
अतिक्रान्तानि न च सा श्रुतापि नगरी मया ॥

Summary AI "My child, eight hundred years have passed for me in this hermitage, yet I have not even heard of that city."

५.२.२१

इति तेनापि मुनिना गदितः स विषादवान् ।
पुनरेवाब्रवीत्तर्हि मृतो ऽस्मि क्ष्मां भ्रमन्निह ॥

Summary AI Being told thus by that sage, the dejected Śaktideva spoke again, "In that case, I am as good as dead while wandering here on this earth."

५.२.२२

ततः क्रमेण ज्ञातार्थः स मुनिस्तमभाषत ।
यदि ते निश्चयस्तर्हि यदहं वच्मि तत्कुरु ॥

Summary AI Then, having gradually understood the matter, the sage said to him, "If you are determined, then do what I say."

५.२.२३

अस्ति काम्पिल्यविषयो योजनानां शतेष्वितः ।
त्रिषु तत्रोत्तराख्यश्च गिरिस्तत्रापि चाश्रमः ॥

Summary AI Three hundred yojanas from here lies the region of Kāmpilya; there is a mountain named Uttara, and upon it, a hermitage.

५.२.२४

तत्रार्यो ऽस्ति मम भ्राता ज्येष्ठो दीर्घतपा इति ।
तत्पार्श्वं व्रज जानीयात्स वृद्धो जातु तां पुरीम् ॥

Summary AI My elder brother, the noble Dīrghatapas, resides there. Go to him; being aged, he might perhaps know of that city.

५.२.२५

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तथेत्युक्त्वा जातास्थस्तत्र तां निशाम् ।
नीत्वा प्रतस्थे स प्रातः शक्तिदेवो द्रुतं ततः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this and saying "so be it," Śaktideva, filled with hope, spent the night there and set out quickly from that place in the morning.

५.२.२६

क्लेशातिक्रान्तकान्तारशतश्चासाद्य तं चिरात् ।
काम्पिल्यविषयं तस्मिन्नारुरोहोत्तरे गिरौ ॥

Summary AI Having crossed hundreds of forests with great difficulty, he finally reached the Kāmpilya region and climbed that Uttara mountain.

५.२.२७

तत्र तं दीर्घतपसं मुनिमाश्रमवर्तिनम् ।
दृष्ट्वा प्रणम्य च प्रीतः कृतातिथ्यमुपाययौ ॥

Summary AI Seeing the sage Dīrghatapas in the hermitage, he bowed to him and, being pleased, accepted his hospitality.

५.२.२८

व्यजिज्ञपच्च कनकपुरीं राजसुतोदिताम् ।
प्रस्थितो ऽहं न जानामि भगवन्क्वास्ति सा पुरी ॥

Summary AI He informed the sage about Kanakapurī, mentioned by the princess, saying, "O Holy One, I have set out for it, but I do not know where that city is."

५.२.२९

सा च मे ऽवश्यगन्तव्या ततस्तदुपलब्धये ।
ऋषिणा सूर्यतपसा प्रेषितो ऽस्मि तवान्तिकम् ॥

Summary AI "I must certainly go there; therefore, to find it, I have been sent to you by the sage Sūryatapas."

५.२.३०

इत्युक्तवन्तं तं शक्तिदेवं सो ऽप्यब्रवीन्मुनिः ।
इयता वयसा पुत्र पुरी साद्य श्रुता मया ॥

Summary AI To Śaktideva who spoke thus, the sage replied, "My son, in all my years, I have only heard of that city today."

५.२.३१

देशान्तरागतैः कैः कैर्जातः परिचयो च मे ।
न च तां श्रुतवानस्मि दूरे तद्दर्शनं पुनः ॥

Summary AI "I have met many people coming from various lands, yet I have never heard of it, let alone seeing it."

५.२.३२

जानाम्यहं च नियतं दवीयसि तया क्वचित् ।
भाव्यं द्वीपान्तरे वत्स तत्रोपायं च वच्मि ते ॥

Summary AI "My child, I am certain it must exist in some very distant island; I shall tell you the means to reach there."

५.२.३३

अस्ति वारिनिधेर्मध्ये द्वीपमुत्स्थलसंज्ञकम् ।
तत्र सत्यव्रताख्यो ऽस्ति निषादाधिपतिर्धनी ॥

Summary AI "In the middle of the ocean lies an island named Utsthala; there lives a wealthy chief of the Niṣādas called Satyavrata."

५.२.३४

तस्य द्वीपान्तरेष्वस्ति सर्वेष्वपि गतागतम् ।
तेन सा नगरी जातु भवेद्दृष्टा श्रुतापि वा ॥

Summary AI "He travels to and from all the other islands; perhaps he has seen or at least heard of that city."

५.२.३५

तस्मात्प्रयाहि जलधेरुपकण्ठप्रतिष्ठितम् ।
नगरं प्रथमं तावद्विटङ्कपुरसंज्ञकम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, first go to the city named Vitaṅkapura, situated on the shore of the ocean."

५.२.३६

ततः केनापि वणिजा समं प्रवहणेन तत् ।
निषादस्यास्पदं गच्छ द्वीपं तस्येष्टसिद्धये ॥

Summary AI "From there, for the fulfillment of your desire, travel by ship with some merchant to that island, the abode of the Niṣāda."

५.२.३७

इत्युक्तस्तेन मुनिना शक्तिदेवः स तत्क्षणम् ।
तथेत्युक्त्वा तमामन्त्र्य प्रयाति स्म तदाश्रमात् ॥

Summary AI Being told this by the sage, Śaktideva immediately said "so be it," and taking leave of him, departed from that hermitage.

५.२.३८

कालेन प्राप्य चोल्लङ्घ्य देशान्क्रोशान्वहंश्च सः ।
वारिधेस्तीरतिलकं तद्विटङ्कपुरं परम् ॥

Summary AI Crossing various lands and traversing many leagues over time, he reached that supreme city, Vitaṅkapura, the ornament of the ocean's shore.

५.२.३९

तस्मिन्समुद्रदत्ताख्यमुत्स्थलद्वीपयायिनम् ।
अन्विष्य वणिजं तेन सह सख्यं चकार सः ॥

Summary AI There, searching for a merchant named Samudradatta who was bound for the island of Utsthala, he made friends with him.

५.२.४०

तदीयं यानपात्रं च समं तेनाधिरुह्य सः ।
तत्प्रीतिपूर्णपाथेयः प्रतस्थे ऽम्बुधिवर्त्मना ॥

Summary AI Boarding the merchant's ship along with him, provided with provisions through the merchant's affection, he set out on the path across the ocean.

५.२.४१

ततो ऽल्पदेशे गन्तव्ये समुत्तस्थावशङ्कितम् ।
कालो विद्युल्लताजिह्वो गर्जन्पर्जन्यराक्षसः ॥

Summary AI Then, when only a small distance remained to be traversed, a cloud-demon resembling death, thundering and possessing lightning for its tongue, suddenly arose.

५.२.४२

लघूनुन्नमयन्भावान्गुरूनप्यवपातयन् ।
ववौ विधेरिवारम्भः प्रचण्डश्च प्रभञ्जनः ॥

Summary AI A fierce gale blew like the onset of fate, lifting light objects while casting down even heavy ones.

५.२.४३

वाताहताश्च जलधेरुदतिष्ठन्महोर्मयः ।
आश्रयाभिभवक्रोधादिव शैलाः सपक्षकाः ॥

Summary AI Struck by the wind, great waves of the ocean rose up like winged mountains, appearing as if filled with rage due to the assault on their sanctuary.

५.२.४४

ययौ च तत्प्रवहणं क्षणमूर्ध्वमधः क्षणम् ।
उच्छ्रायपातपर्यायं दर्शयद्धनिनामिव ॥

Summary AI That ship tossed upwards one moment and downwards the next, as if displaying the alternating cycles of rise and fall experienced by the wealthy.

५.२.४५

क्षणान्तरे च वणिजामाक्रन्दैस्तीव्रपूरितम् ।
भरादिव तदुत्पत्य वहनं समभज्यत ॥

Summary AI In an instant, filled with the piercing cries of the merchants, the vessel leaped up as if from a great burden and shattered.

५.२.४६

भग्ने च तस्मिंस्तत्स्वामी स वणिक्पतितो ऽम्बुधौ ।
तीर्णश्च फलकारूढः प्राप्यान्यद्वहनं चिरात् ॥

Summary AI When the ship broke, its owner, the merchant, fell into the ocean but eventually survived by clinging to a plank and reaching another vessel.

५.२.४७

शक्तिदेवं पतन्तं तु तं व्यात्तमुखकन्दरः ।
अपरिक्षतसर्वाङ्गं महामत्स्यो निगीर्णवान् ॥

Summary AI As Śaktideva was falling, a massive fish with a cavernous open mouth swallowed him whole, yet his body remained entirely unharmed.

५.२.४८

स च मत्स्यो ऽब्धिमध्येन तत्कालं स्वेच्छया चरन् ।
उत्स्थलद्वीपनिकटं जगाम विधियोगतः ॥

Summary AI Moving freely through the ocean at that time, the fish, guided by fate, approached the vicinity of Utsthala island.

५.२.४९

तत्र तस्यैव कैवर्तपतेः सत्यव्रतस्य सः ।
शफरग्राहिभिर्भृत्यैः प्राप्य दैवादगृह्यत ॥

Summary AI There, by chance, the fish was caught by the servants of Satyavrata, the chief of the fishermen.