कथासरित्सागरः — तृतीयस्तरङ्गः

तृतीयस्तरङ्गः ।

ततस्तत्रोत्स्थलद्वीपे प्रभाते तं मठस्थितम् ।
शक्तिदेवं स दाशेन्द्रः सत्यव्रत उपाययौ ॥

Summary AI Then, in the morning on the island of Utsthaladvīpa, the chief of fishermen, Satyavrata, approached Śaktideva, who was staying in a monastery.

५.३.२

स च प्राक्प्रतिपन्नः सन्नुपेत्यैनमभाषत ।
ब्रह्मंस्त्वदिष्टसिद्ध्यर्थमुपायश्चिन्तितो मया ॥

Summary AI Having previously agreed to help, Satyavrata approached him and said, "O Brāhmaṇa, I have devised a plan to achieve your desired goal."

५.३.३

अस्ति द्वीपवरं मध्ये रत्नकूटाख्यमम्बुधेः ।
कृतप्रतिष्ठस्तत्रास्ते भगवान्हरिरब्धिना ॥

Summary AI In the middle of the ocean is an excellent island named Ratnakūṭa. There, Lord Hari resides, established by the ocean itself.

५.३.४

आषाढशुक्लद्वादश्यां तत्र यात्रोत्सवे सदा ।
आयान्ति सर्वद्वीपेभ्यः पूजायै यत्नतो जनाः ॥

Summary AI Every year, during the festival on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight of Āṣāḍha, people from all islands travel there diligently for worship.

५.३.५

तत्र ज्ञायेत कनकपुरी सा जातुचित्पुरी ।
तदेहि तत्र गच्छावः प्रत्यासन्ना हि सा तिथिः ॥

Summary AI Perhaps the city of Kanakapurī might be known there. Therefore, come, let us go; for that auspicious date is fast approaching.

५.३.६

इति सत्यव्रतेनोक्तः शक्तिदेवस्तथेति सः ।
जग्राह हृष्टः पाथेयं विष्णुदत्तोपकल्पितम् ॥

Summary AI Addressed thus by Satyavrata, Śaktideva joyfully agreed and took the travel provisions prepared by Viṣṇudatta.

५.३.७

ततो वहनमारुह्य स सत्यव्रतढौकितम् ।
तेनैव साकं त्वरितः प्रायाद्वारिधिवर्त्मना ॥

Summary AI Then, boarding the ship provided by Satyavrata, Śaktideva set out quickly with him across the path of the ocean.

५.३.८

गच्छंश्च तत्र स द्वीपनिभनक्रे ऽद्भुतालये ।
सत्यव्रतं तं पप्रच्छ कर्णधारतया स्थितम् ॥

Summary AI While sailing through that wondrous abode of island-like crocodiles, he questioned Satyavrata, who was acting as the pilot.

५.३.९

इतो दूरं महाभोगं किमेतद्दृश्यते ऽम्बुधौ ।
यदृच्छाप्रोद्गतोदग्रसपक्षगिरिविभ्रमम् ॥

Summary AI "What is this vast object visible far off in the ocean, resembling a towering winged mountain that has risen by chance?"

५.३.१०

ततः सत्यव्रतो ऽवादीदसौ देवो वटद्रुमः ।
अस्याहुः सुमहावर्तमधस्ताद्वडवामुखम् ॥

Summary AI Then Satyavrata replied, "That is the divine banyan tree. Below it, they say, lies the Vaḍavāmukha within a massive whirlpool."

५.३.११

एतं च परिहृत्यैव प्रदेशमिह गम्यते ।
अत्रावर्ते गतानां हि न भवत्यागमः पुनः ॥

Summary AI "We travel here only by avoiding this spot; for those who fall into this whirlpool never return."

५.३.१२

इति सत्यव्रते तस्मिन्वदत्येवाम्बुवेगतः ।
तस्यामेव प्रववृते गन्तुं तद्वहनं दिशि ॥

Summary AI Even as Satyavrata was speaking, the ship began to drift toward that very direction due to the force of the water.

५.३.१३

तद्दृष्ट्वा शक्तिदेवं स पुनः सत्यव्रतो ऽब्रवीत् ।
ब्रह्मन्विनाशकालो ऽयं ध्रुवमस्माकमागतः ॥

Summary AI Seeing this, Satyavrata spoke again to Śaktideva, "O Brāhmaṇa, the certain time of our destruction has arrived."

५.३.१४

यदकस्मात्प्रवहणं पश्यात्रैव प्रयात्यदः ।
शक्यते नैव रोद्धुं च कथमप्यधुना मया ॥

Summary AI "Look, this ship is suddenly drifting right there! Now it is impossible for me to stop it by any means."

५.३.१५

तदावर्ते गभीरे ऽत्र वयं मृत्योरिवानने ।
क्षिप्ता एवाम्बुनाकृष्य कर्मणेव बलीयसा ॥

Summary AI "Drawn by the water as if by powerful karma, we are indeed being cast into this deep whirlpool as if into the mouth of Death."

५.३.१६

एतच्च नैव मे दुःखं शरीरं कस्य हि स्थिरम् ।
दुःखं तु यन्न सिद्धस्ते कृच्छ्रेणापि मनोरथः ॥

Summary AI "This is not my sorrow, for whose body is permanent? The real sorrow is that your desire remains unfulfilled despite your hardships."

५.३.१७

तद्यावद्वारयाम्येतदहं प्रवहणं मनाक् ।
तावदस्यावलम्बेथाः शाखां वटतरोर्द्रुतम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, while I briefly restrain the ship's course, quickly catch hold of a branch of this banyan tree."

५.३.१८

कदाचिज्जीवितोपायो भवेद्भव्याकृतेस्तव ।
विधेर्विलासानब्धेश्च तरङ्गान्को हि तर्कयेत् ॥

Summary AI "Perhaps there may be a way for you, who possess a noble form, to survive. Who can predict the play of fate or the waves of the ocean?"

५.३.१९

इति सत्यव्रतस्यास्य धीरसत्त्वस्य जल्पतः ।
बभूव निकटे तस्य तरोः प्रवहणं ततः ॥

Summary AI As the courageous Satyavrata was speaking thus, the ship then came near that tree.

५.३.२०

तत्क्षणं स कृतोत्फालः शक्तिदेवो विसाध्वसः ।
पृथुलामग्रहीच्छाखां तस्याब्धिवटशाखिनः ॥

Summary AI At that moment, Śaktideva, casting off all fear, made a leap and grasped a thick branch of that oceanic banyan tree.

५.३.२१

सत्यव्रतस्तु वहता देहेन वहनेन च ।
परार्थकल्पितेनात्र विवेश वडवामुखम् ॥

Summary AI Satyavrata, having offered his own physical body and ship for the sake of others, entered the submarine fire known as Vaḍavāmukha.

५.३.२२

शक्तिदेवश्च शाखाभिः पूरिताशस्य तस्य सः ।
आश्रित्यापि तरोः शाखां निराशः समचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Even after finding refuge in the branches of that tree which filled the horizon, Śaktideva remained despondent and began to reflect.

५.३.२३

न तावत्सा च कनकपुरी दृष्टा मया पुरी ।
अपदे नश्यता तावद्दाशेन्द्रो ऽप्येष नाशितः ॥

Summary AI I have not yet seen that city of Kanakapurī, and in my own untimely destruction, I have also caused the death of this chief of fishermen.

५.३.२४

यदि वा सततन्यस्तपदा सर्वस्य मूर्धनि ।
कामं भगवती केन भज्यते भवितव्यता ॥

Summary AI Or rather, who can ever successfully resist divine Destiny (Bhavitavyatā), who forever plants her foot upon the heads of all beings?

५.३.२५

इत्यवस्थोचितं तस्य ततश्चिन्तयतस्तदा ।
विप्रयूनस्तरुस्कन्धे दिनं तत्पर्यहीयत ॥

Summary AI While the young Brāhmaṇa was thus reflecting on thoughts suited to his current situation, that day passed away as he remained on the trunk of the tree.

५.३.२६

सायं च सर्वतस्तस्मिन्स महाविहगान्बहून् ।
वटवृक्षे प्रविशतः शब्दापूरितदिक्तटान् ॥

Summary AI In the evening, he saw many great birds entering that banyan tree from all directions, filling the quarters of the sky with their cries.

५.३.२७

अपश्यत्पृथुतत्पक्षवातधूतार्णवूर्मिभिः ।
गृध्रान्परिचयप्रीत्या कृतप्रत्युद्गमानिव ॥

Summary AI He beheld those vultures appearing as if they were being welcomed by the ocean waves, which were tossed up by the wind from their massive wings out of old friendship.

५.३.२८

ततः शाखाविलीनानां स तेषां पक्षिणां मिथः ।
मनुष्यवाचा संलापं पत्त्रौघैश्छादितो ऽशृणोत् ॥

Summary AI Then, hidden by the mass of leaves, he heard those birds, perched upon the branches, conversing with one another in human speech.

५.३.२९

कश्चिद्द्वीपान्तरं कश्चिद्गिरिं कश्चिद्दिगन्तरम् ।
तदहश्चरणस्थानमेकैकः समवर्णयत् ॥

Summary AI Each bird individually described the places where they had roamed that day, whether it was another island, a mountain, or a different quarter of the world.

५.३.३०

एकश्च वृद्धविहगस्तेषां मध्यादभाषत ।
अहं विहर्तुं कनकपुरीमद्य गतो ऽभवम् ॥

Summary AI One old bird among them spoke up, saying, "Today I had gone to Kanakapurī to roam about."

५.३.३१

प्रातः पुनश्च तत्रैव गन्तास्मि चरितुं सुखम् ।
श्रमावहेन को ऽर्थो मे विदूरगमनेन हि ॥

Summary AI "In the morning, I shall go there again to wander at ease; for what is the use of my traveling to distant places that only cause fatigue?"

५.३.३२

इत्यकाण्डसुधासारसदृशेनास्य पक्षिणः ।
वचसा शान्ततापः सञ्शक्तिदेवो व्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Hearing these words of the bird, which were like an unexpected shower of nectar, Śaktideva's distress was quelled, and he began to think.

५.३.३३

दिष्ट्या सास्त्येव नगरी तत्प्राप्त्यै चायमेव मे ।
उपायः सुमहाकायो विहगो वाहनीकृतः ॥

Summary AI "By good fortune, that city does exist! To reach it, this very bird of enormous body shall be made my vehicle."

५.३.३४

इत्यालोच्य शनैरेत्य तस्य सुप्तस्य पक्षिणः ।
पृष्ठपक्षान्तरे सो ऽथ शक्तिदेवो व्यलीयत ॥

Summary AI Having considered this, Śaktideva slowly approached and hid himself between the wings on the back of that sleeping bird.

५.३.३५

प्रातश्चेतस्ततस्तेषु गतेष्वन्येषु पक्षिषु ।
स पक्षी दर्शिताश्चर्य पक्षपातो विधिर्यथा ॥

Summary AI In the morning, as the other birds dispersed here and there, that bird took flight like Destiny itself, showing marvelous partiality through the flapping of its wings.

५.३.३६

दत्तास्कन्दो वहन्पृष्ठे शक्तिदेवमलक्षितम् ।
क्षणादगच्छत्कनकपुरीं तां चरितुं पुनः ॥

Summary AI Having taken flight and carrying the unnoticed Śaktideva on its back, the bird reached that city of Kanakapurī in a moment to roam there again.

५.३.३७

तत्रोद्यानान्तरे तस्मिन्नूपविष्टे विहंगमे ।
स शक्तिदेवो निभृतं तस्य पृष्ठादवातरत् ॥

Summary AI When the bird landed in a garden there, Śaktideva quietly descended from its back.

५.३.३८

अपसृत्य स तत्पार्श्वाद्यावद्भ्राम्यति तत्र सः ।
द्वे पुष्पावचयव्यग्रे तावदैक्षत योषितौ ॥

Summary AI Moving away from the bird's side, as he was wandering there, he saw two young women busy gathering flowers.

५.३.३९

उपगम्य शनैस्ते च तद्विलोकनविस्मिते ।
सो ऽपृच्छत्कः प्रदेशो ऽयं के च भद्रे युवामिति ॥

Summary AI Approaching them slowly, as they were astonished to see him, he asked, "O noble ladies, what region is this, and who are you two?"

५.३.४०

इयं कनकपुर्याख्या पुरी विद्याधरास्पदम् ।
चन्द्रप्रभेति चैतस्यामास्ते विद्याधरी सखे ॥

Summary AI "Friend, this city named Kanakapurī is the abode of the Vidyādharas; in it dwells a Vidyādharī named Candraprabhā."

५.३.४१

तस्याश्चावामिहोद्याने जानीह्युद्यानपालिके ।
पुष्पोच्चयस्तदर्थो ऽयमिति ते च तमूचतुः ॥

Summary AI The two women said to him, "Know us to be the gardeners in her garden here; this collection of flowers is for her."

५.३.४२

ततः सो ऽप्यवदद्विप्रो युवां मे कुरुतं तथा ।
यथाहमपि पश्यामि तां युष्मत्स्वामिनीमिह ॥

Summary AI Then the Brāhmaṇa replied, "Please act in such a way for me that I may also see your mistress here."

५.३.४३

एतच्छ्रुत्वा तथेत्युक्त्वा नीतवत्यावुभे च ते ।
स्त्रियावन्तर्नगर्यास्तं युवानं राजमन्दिरम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this and agreeing, the two women led the young man into the royal palace within the city.

५.३.४४

सो ऽपि प्राप्तस्तदद्राक्षीन्मणिक्यस्तम्भभास्वरम् ।
सौवर्णभित्ति संकेतकेतनं संपदामिव ॥

Summary AI Upon arriving, he saw the palace, radiant with ruby pillars and golden walls, appearing like the very abode of prosperity.

५.३.४५

तत्रागतं च दृष्ट्वा तं सर्वः परिजनो ऽब्रवीत् ।
गत्वा चन्द्रप्रभायास्तन्मानुषागमनाद्भुतम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing him arrive, all the attendants went and reported the wonder of a mortal's arrival to Candraprabhā.

५.३.४६

साप्यादिश्य प्रतीहारमविलम्बितमेव तम् ।
अभ्यन्तरं स्वनिकटं विप्रं प्रावेशयत्ततः ॥

Summary AI She then commanded the doorkeeper and immediately had the Brāhmaṇa admitted into her presence.

५.३.४७

प्रविष्टः सो ऽप्यपश्यत्तां तत्र नेत्रोत्सवप्रदाम् ।
धातुरद्भुतनिर्माणपर्याप्तिमिव रूपिणीम् ॥

Summary AI Entering, he saw her there, a feast for the eyes, appearing like the embodied perfection of the Creator's wonderful craftsmanship.

५.३.४८

सा च सद्रत्नपर्यङ्काद्दूरादुत्थाय तं स्वयम् ।
स्वागतेनादृतवती तद्दर्शनवशीकृता ॥

Summary AI Captivated by his sight, she rose from her gem-studded couch even while he was afar and personally honored him with a welcome.

५.३.४९

उपविष्टमपृच्छच्च कल्याणिन्कस्त्वमीदृशः ।
कथं च मानुषागम्यामिमां प्राप्तो भवान्भुवम् ॥

Summary AI Once he was seated, she asked, "O auspicious one, who are you? And how have you reached this land inaccessible to mortals?"

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