कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

तर्जयन्निव विघ्नौघान्नमितोन्नमितेन यः ।
मुहुर्विभाति शिरसा स पायाद्वो गजाननः ॥

Summary AI May that elephant-faced Lord Gajānana protect you, who shines as his head moves up and down as if he were repeatedly threatening a multitude of obstacles.

६.१.२

नमः कामाय यद्बाणपातैरिव निरन्तरम् ।
भाति कण्टकितं शंभोरप्युमालिङ्गितं वपुः ॥

Summary AI Salutations to Kāma, by whose arrow-strikes even the body of Śambhu, though embraced by Umā, appears perpetually thrilled with hair standing on end.

६.१.३

इत्यादिदिव्यचरितं कृत्वात्मानं किलान्यवत् ।
प्राप्तविद्याधरैश्वर्यो यदा मूलात्स्वयं जगौ ॥

Summary AI When Naravāhanadatta, having attained the sovereignty of the Vidyādharas, recounted his divine life story from the beginning, speaking of himself as if he were another person.

६.१.४

नरवाहनदत्तो ऽत्र सपत्नीकैर्महर्षिभिः ।
पृष्टः प्रसङ्गे कुत्रापि तदिदं शृणुताधुना ॥

Summary AI Now listen to that story which Naravāhanadatta told when he was questioned by great sages accompanied by their wives on a certain occasion.

६.१.५

अथ संवर्ध्यमानो ऽत्र पित्रा वत्सेश्वरेण सः ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽभूद्व्युत्क्रान्ताष्टमवत्सरः ॥

Summary AI Then, being raised there by his father, the King of Vatsa, Naravāhanadatta completed his eighth year.

६.१.६

विनीयमानो विद्यासु क्रीडन्नुपवनेषु च ।
सह मन्त्रिसुतैरासीद्राजपुत्रस्तदा च सः ॥

Summary AI At that time, the prince was being trained in various sciences and spent his time playing in the gardens along with the sons of the ministers.

६.१.७

देवी वासवदत्ता च राज्ञी पद्मावती तथा ।
आस्तामेकतमस्नेहात्तदेकाग्रे दिवानिशम् ॥

Summary AI Queen Vāsavadattā and Queen Padmāvatī, out of their deep affection, remained focused on him day and night.

६.१.८

आरोहद्गुणनम्रेण रेजे सद्वंशजन्मना ।
शनैरापूर्यमाणेन वपुषा धनुषा च सः ॥

Summary AI He shone with his body and his bow, both being of noble birth, bending as their qualities developed, and gradually reaching their full stature.

६.१.९

पिता वत्सेश्वरश्चाश्य विवाहादिमनोरथैः ।
आसन्नफलसंपत्तिकान्तैः कालं निनाय तम् ॥

Summary AI His father, the King of Vatsa, spent that time occupied with pleasing thoughts of his son's marriage and other goals, the fulfillment of which seemed near.

६.१.१०

अत्रान्तरे कथासंधौ यदभूत्तन्निशम्यताम् ।
आसीत्तक्षशिला नाम वितस्तापुलिने पुरी ॥

Summary AI Now hear what happened in the meantime at this point in the story. There was a city named Takṣaśilā on the banks of the Vitastā river.

६.१.११

तदम्भसि बभौ यस्याः प्रतिमा सौधसंततेः ।
पातालनगरीवाधस्तच्छोभालोकनागता ॥

Summary AI The reflection of its rows of palaces in the water appeared like the city of the underworld (Pātāla) that had come up from below to behold its beauty.

६.१.१२

तस्यां कलिङ्गदत्ताख्यो राजा परमसौगतः ।
अभूत्तारावरस्फीतजिनभक्ताखिलप्रजः ॥

Summary AI In that city, there was a king named Kaliṅgadatta, a supreme follower of Sugata (Buddha), whose entire subjects—high and low—were flourishing and devoted to Jina (Buddha).

६.१.१३

रराज सा पुरी यस्य चैत्यरत्नैर्निरन्तरैः ।
मत्तुल्या नाम नास्तीति मदशृङ्गैरिवोदितः ॥

Summary AI His city shone with its numerous jewel-like Buddhist shrines, appearing as if it were proclaiming through its peaks of pride that no other city was equal to it.

६.१.१४

प्रजानां न परं चक्रे यः पितेवानुपालनम् ।
यावद्गुरुरिव ज्ञानमपि स्वयमुपादिशत् ॥

Summary AI He did not merely protect his subjects like a father, but also personally instructed them in knowledge like a spiritual teacher.

६.१.१५

तथा च तस्यां को ऽप्यासिन्नगर्यां सौगतो वणिक् ।
धनी वितस्तादत्ताख्यो भिक्षुपूजैकतत्परः ॥

Summary AI In that city, there was also a wealthy Buddhist merchant named Vitastādatta, who was solely devoted to the worship of Buddhist monks.

६.१.१६

रत्नदत्ताभिधानश्च तस्याभूत्तनयो युवा ।
स च तं पितरं शश्वत्पाप इत्याजुगुप्सत ॥

Summary AI He had a young son named Ratnadatta, who constantly despised his father, considering him a sinner.

६.१.१७

पुत्र निन्दसि कस्मान्मामिति पित्रा च तेन सः ।
पृच्छ्यमानो वणिक्पुत्रः साभ्यसूयमभाषत ॥

Summary AI When asked by his father, "Son, why do you revile me?", the merchant's son replied with indignation.

६.१.१८

तात त्यक्तत्रयीधर्मस्त्वमधर्मं निषेवसे ।
यद्ब्राह्मणान्परित्यज्य श्रमणाञ्शश्वदर्चसि ॥

Summary AI "Father, you have abandoned the religion of the three Vedas and are practicing unrighteousness, since you forsake the Brāhmaṇas and constantly worship Buddhist monks (Śramaṇas)."

६.१.१९

स्नानादियन्त्रणाहीनाः स्वकालाशनलोलुपाः ।
अपास्तसशिखाशेषकेशकौपीनसुस्थिताः ॥

Summary AI "They are devoid of the discipline of bathing and other rituals, greedy for food at their own convenience, and content with their heads completely shaved—including the sacred tuft—and wearing only loincloths."

६.१.२०

विहारास्पदलाभाय सर्वे ऽप्यधमजातयः ।
यमाश्रयन्ति किं तेन सौगतेन नयेन ते ॥

Summary AI "All these people of low castes resort to this path just to gain residence in a monastery; what is the use of that Buddhist doctrine to you?"

६.१.२१

तच्छ्रुत्वा स वणिक्प्राह न धर्मस्यैकरूपता ।
अन्यो लोकोत्तरः पुत्र धर्मो ऽन्यः सार्वलौकिकः ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the merchant replied, "Son, righteousness (dharma) is not of a single form. There is one extraordinary dharma and another common dharma followed by all people."

६.१.२२

ब्राह्मण्यमपि तत्प्राहुर्यद्रागादिविवर्जनम् ।
सत्यं दया च भूतेषु न मृषा जातिविग्रहः ॥

Summary AI They say that true brāhmaṇya is the abandonment of passion and other vices, along with truthfulness and compassion toward all beings; it is not merely a false identification with a caste.

६.१.२३

किं च दर्शनमेतत्त्वं सर्वसत्त्वाभयप्रदम् ।
प्रायः पुरुषदोषेण न दूषयितुमर्हसि ॥

Summary AI Furthermore, you should not condemn this philosophical view, which grants fearlessness to all living beings, simply because of the flaws inherent in men.

६.१.२४

उपकारस्य धर्मत्वे विवादो नास्ति कस्यचित् ।
भूतेष्वभयदानेन नान्या चोपकृतिर्मम ॥

Summary AI No one disputes that doing good is dharma. To me, there is no greater service than granting fearlessness to all living creatures.

६.१.२५

तदहिंसाप्रधाने ऽस्मिन्वत्स मोक्षप्रदायिनि ।
दर्शने ऽतिरतिश्चेन्मे तदधर्मो ममात्र कः ॥

Summary AI Therefore, my son, if I have a great devotion to this philosophy which emphasizes non-violence (ahiṃsā) and leads to liberation (mokṣa), what sin is there in that for me?

६.१.२६

इति तेनोदितः पित्रा वणिक्पुत्रः प्रसह्य सः ।
न तथा प्रतिपेदे तन्निनिन्दाभ्यधिकं पुनः ॥

Summary AI Addressed thus by his father, the merchant's son did not accept it; instead, he vehemently criticized it even more.

६.१.२७

ततः स तत्पिता खेदाद्गत्वा धर्मानुशासितुः ।
राज्ञः कलिङ्गदत्तस्य पुरतः सर्वमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Then, out of grief, the father went before King Kaliṅgadatta, the ruler of dharma, and related everything to him.

६.१.२८

सो ऽपि राजा तमास्थाने युक्त्यानाय्य वणिक्सुतम् ।
मृषारचितकोपः सन्नेवं क्षत्तारमादिशत् ॥

Summary AI The King also had the merchant’s son brought to court through a stratagem and, feigning anger, commanded the doorkeeper as follows.

६.१.२९

श्रुतं मया वणिक्पुत्रः पापो ऽयमतिदुष्कृती ।
निर्विचारं तदेषो ऽद्य हन्यतां देशदूषकः ॥

Summary AI "I have heard that this merchant’s son is a wicked evildoer. Therefore, let this polluter of the land be executed today without further consideration."

६.१.३०

इत्यूचिवांस्ततः पित्रा कृतविज्ञापनः किल ।
नृपतिर्धर्मचर्यार्थं द्वौ मासौ वधनिग्रहम् ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus, and being petitioned by the father, the King stayed the execution for two months to allow for religious observances.

६.१.३१

संविधार्य तदन्ते च पुनरानयनाय सः ।
तस्यैव तत्पितुर्हस्ते न्यस्तवांस्तं वणिक्सुतम् ॥

Summary AI After making this arrangement, he entrusted the merchant’s son to his father’s hands, ordering that he be brought back at the end of that period.

६.१.३२

सो ऽपि पित्रा गृहं नीतो वणिक्पुत्रो भयाकुलः ।
किं मयापकृतं राज्ञो भवेदिति विचिन्तयन् ॥

Summary AI Taken home by his father, the merchant's son was overwhelmed with fear, wondering what offense he could have committed against the King.

६.१.३३

अकारणं द्विमासान्ते मरणं भावि भावयन् ।
अनिद्रो ऽपचिताहारक्लान्तस्तस्थौ दिवानिशम् ॥

Summary AI Contemplating his impending death at the end of two months for no apparent reason, he remained awake day and night, exhausted from lack of food.

६.१.३४

ततो मासद्वये याते राजाग्रे कृशपाण्डुरः ।
पुनः स्वपित्रा तेनासौ वणिक्सूनुरनीयत ॥

Summary AI When two months had passed, the merchant’s son, now emaciated and pale, was again brought before the King by his father.

६.१.३५

राजा तं च तथाभूतं वीक्ष्यापन्नमभाषत ।
किमीदृक्त्वं कृशीभूतः किं रुद्धं ते मयाशनम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing him in such a distressed state, the King said, "Why have you become so emaciated? Did I forbid you from eating?"

६.१.३६

तच्छ्रुत्वा स वणिक्पुत्रो राजानं तमभाषत ।
आत्मापि विस्मृतो भीत्या मम का त्वशने कथा ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the merchant’s son replied to the King, "Out of fear, I have forgotten even myself; what to speak of food?"

६.१.३७

युष्मदादिष्टनिधनश्रवणात्प्रभृति प्रभो ।
मृत्युमायान्तमायान्तमन्वहं चिन्तयाम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI "Lord, ever since I heard your order for my execution, I have been thinking daily of approaching death as it draws nearer and nearer."

६.१.३८

इत्युक्तवन्तं तं राजा स वणिक्पुत्रमब्रवीत् ।
बोधितो ऽसि मया वत्स युक्त्या प्राणभयं स्वतः ॥

Summary AI To the merchant's son who spoke thus, the King said, "My child, through this stratagem, I have made you realize the natural fear for one's life."

६.१.३९

ईदृगेव हि सर्वस्य जन्तोर्मृत्युभयं भवेत् ।
तद्रक्षणोपकाराच्च धर्मः को ऽभ्यधिको वद ॥

Summary AI "Indeed, the fear of death is just like this for every living creature. Tell me, what dharma is greater than the act of protecting them?"

६.१.४०

तदेतत्तव धर्माय मुमुक्षायै च दर्शितम् ।
मृत्युभीतो हि यतते नरो मोक्षाय बुद्धिमान् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, this was shown to you for the sake of dharma and your desire for liberation (mumukṣā); for a wise man, fearing death, strives for mokṣa."

६.१.४१

अतो न गर्हणीयो ऽयमेतद्धर्मा पिता त्वया ।
इति राजवचः श्रुत्वा प्रह्वो ऽवादीद्वणिक्सुतः ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, you should not despise your father, for he follows this path of righteousness." Hearing these words of the King, the merchant's son bowed and spoke.

६.१.४२

धर्मोपदेशाद्देवेन कृती तावदहं कृतः ।
मोक्षायेच्छा प्रजाता मे तमप्युपदिश प्रभो ॥

Summary AI "I have been made fortunate by Your Majesty through this instruction on dharma. Now, a desire for liberation (mokṣa) has arisen in me; O Lord, please instruct me in that as well."

६.१.४३

तच्छ्रुत्वा तं वणिक्पुत्रं प्राप्ते तत्र पुरोत्सवे ।
तैलपूर्णं करे पात्रं दत्त्वा राजा जगाद सः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, while a city festival was underway, the King handed the merchant's son a vessel filled with oil and said to him.

६.१.४४

इदं पात्रं गृहीत्वा त्वमेहि भ्रान्त्वा पुरीमिमाम् ।
तैलबिन्दुनिपातश्च रक्षणीयस्त्वया सुत ॥

Summary AI "O son, take this vessel and return after wandering through this city. You must ensure that not a single drop of oil falls."

६.१.४५

निपतिष्यति यद्येकस्तैलबिन्दुरितस्तव ।
सद्यो निपातयिष्यन्ति त्वामेते पुरुषास्ततः ॥

Summary AI "If even a single drop of oil falls from this, then these men will immediately strike you down."

६.१.४६

एवं किलोक्त्वा व्यसृजत्तं भ्रामाय वणिक्सुतम् ।
उत्खातखड्गान्पुरुषान्दत्त्वा पश्चात्स भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI Having said this, the King sent the merchant’s son to wander the city, stationing men with unsheathed swords behind him.

६.१.४७

वणिक्पुत्रो ऽपि स भयाद्रक्षंस्तैललवच्युतिम् ।
पुरीं तामभितो भ्रान्त्वा कृच्छ्रादागान्नृपान्तिकम् ॥

Summary AI Out of fear, the merchant's son carefully prevented any drop of oil from falling. After wandering around the entire city, he returned to the King with great difficulty.

६.१.४८

नृपो ऽप्यगलितानीततैलं दृष्ट्वा तमभ्यधात् ।
कश्चित्पुरभ्रमे ऽप्यद्य दृष्टो ऽत्र भ्रमता त्वया ॥

Summary AI Seeing that he had brought the oil back without spilling it, the King asked him, "While wandering through the city today, did you see anyone?"

६.१.४९

तच्छ्रुत्वा स वणिक्पुत्रः प्रोवाच रचिताञ्जलिः ।
यत्सत्यं न मया देव दृष्टं किंचिन्न च श्रुतम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the merchant's son replied with folded hands, "O King, in truth, I saw nothing and heard nothing."

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