कथासरित्सागरः — पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः

पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो ऽन्येद्युरुपेतां तां प्रातः सोमप्रभां सखीम् ।
कलिङ्गसेना विश्रम्भात्कतां कुर्वत्युवाच सा ॥

Summary AI The next day at dawn, as her friend Somaprabhā arrived, Kaliṅgasenā spoke to her while conversing in confidence.

६.५.२

मां प्रसेनजिते राज्ञे तातो दास्यति निश्चितम् ।
एतच्छ्रुतं मयाम्बातो दृष्टो वृद्धः स च त्वया ॥

Summary AI "My father will certainly give me to King Prasenajit. I heard this from my mother, and you have seen that he is an old man."

६.५.३

वत्सेशस्तु यथा रूपे त्वयैव कथितस्तथा ।
श्रुतिमार्गप्रविष्टेन हृतं तेन यथा मनः ॥

Summary AI "But as you described the beauty of the Lord of Vatsa, my heart has been stolen by him, entering through the path of my ears."

६.५.४

तत्प्रसेनजितं पूर्वं प्रदर्श्य नय तत्र माम् ।
आस्ते वत्सेश्वरो यत्र किं तातेन किमम्बया ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, first show me Prasenajit, then take me to where the Lord of Vatsa resides. What use have I for father or mother?"

६.५.५

एवमुक्तवतीं तां च सोत्कां सोमप्रभाब्रवीत् ।
गन्तव्यं यदि तद्यामो यन्त्रेण व्योमगामिना ॥

Summary AI To her who spoke thus with longing, Somaprabhā replied, "If we must go, then let us go by a sky-faring machine."

६.५.६

किं तु सर्वं गृहाण त्वं निजं परिकरं यतः ।
दृष्ट्वा वत्सेश्वरं भूयो नागन्तुमिह शक्ष्यसि ॥

Summary AI "However, take all your belongings, for once you have seen the Lord of Vatsa, you will not be able to return here again."

६.५.७

न च त्वं द्रक्ष्यसि पुनः पितरौ न स्मरिष्यसि ।
दूरस्थां प्राप्तदयिता विस्मरिष्यसि मामपि ॥

Summary AI "You will neither see your parents again nor remember them. Once you have attained your beloved, you will even forget me, who will be far away."

६.५.८

नह्येवमहमेष्यामि भर्तृवेश्मनि ते सखि ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा राजकन्या सा रुदती तामभाषत ॥

Summary AI "O friend, I will not come to your husband's house in this manner." Hearing this, the princess, weeping, spoke to her.

६.५.९

तर्हि वत्सेश्वरं तं त्वमिहैवानय मे सखि ।
नोत्सहे तत्र हि स्थातुं क्षणमेकं त्वया विना ॥

Summary AI "Then, O friend, bring that Lord of Vatsa here to me. Indeed, I cannot bear to stay there for even a single moment without you."

६.५.१०

नानिन्ये चानिरुद्धः किमुपायाच्चित्रलेखया ।
जानत्यपि तथा चैतां मत्तस्त्वं तत्कथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI "Was Aniruddha not brought by Citralekhā through a stratagem? Even though you know this story, hear it from me."

६.५.११

बाणासुरस्य तनया बभूवोषेति विश्रुता ।
तस्याश्चाराधिता गौरी पतिप्राप्त्यै वरं ददौ ॥

Summary AI There was a daughter of Bāṇāsura known as Uṣā. To her, the propitiated Goddess Gaurī granted a boon for obtaining a husband.

६.५.१२

स्वप्ने प्राप्स्यसि यत्सङ्गं स ते भर्ता भवेदिति ।
ततो देवकुमाराभं कंचित्स्वप्ने ददर्श सा ॥

Summary AI "He, with whom you shall have union in a dream, shall become your husband." Then, in a dream, she saw someone resembling a divine youth.

६.५.१३

गान्धर्वविधिना तेन परिणीता तथैव च ।
प्राप्ततत्सत्यसंभोगा प्राबुध्यत निशाक्षये ॥

Summary AI She was wedded to him by the Gāndharva rite and, having experienced true union with him, she woke up at the end of the night.

६.५.१४

अदृष्ट्वा तं पतिं दृष्टं दृष्ट्वा संभोगलक्षणम् ।
स्मृत्वा गौरीवरं साभूत्सातङ्कभयविस्मया ॥

Summary AI Not seeing the husband she had seen, yet seeing the marks of their union, and remembering Gaurī's boon, she became filled with distress, fear, and wonder.

६.५.१५

ताम्यन्ती च ततः सा तं स्वप्ने दृष्टं प्रियं विना ।
पृच्छन्त्यै चित्रलेखायै सख्यै सर्वं शशंस तत् ॥

Summary AI Pining without her beloved seen in the dream, she related everything to her friend Citralekhā, who was questioning her.

६.५.१६

सापि नामाद्यभिज्ञानं न किंचित्तस्य जानती ।
योगेश्वरी चित्रलेखा तामुषामेवमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Though knowing nothing of his name or identity, Citralekhā, who possessed supernatural powers, spoke thus to Uṣā.

६.५.१७

सखि देवीवरस्यायं प्रभावो ऽत्र किमुच्यते ।
किं त्वभिज्ञानशून्यस्ते सो ऽन्वेष्टव्यः प्रियः कथम् ॥

Summary AI "O friend, this is the power of the Goddess's boon; what more can be said? But how is that beloved of yours, for whom you have no identifying mark, to be sought?"

६.५.१८

परिजानासि चेत्तं ते ससुरासुरमानुषम् ।
जगल्लिखामि तन्मध्ये तं मे दर्शय येन सः ॥

Summary AI "If you recognize him, I shall paint the world including gods, demons, and humans; show him to me from among them so that he may be identified and brought."

६.५.१९

आनीयते मयेत्युक्ता सा तथेत्युदिते तया ।
चित्रलेखा क्रमाद्विश्वमलिखद्वर्नवर्तिभिः ॥

Summary AI When Uṣā agreed, Citralekhā proceeded to paint the entire universe in order using colored brushes.

६.५.२०

तत्रोषा सो ऽयमित्यस्या हृष्टाङ्गुल्या सकम्पया ।
द्वारावत्यां यदुकुलादनिरुद्धमदर्शयत् ॥

Summary AI In that painting, with a trembling and joyful finger, Uṣā pointed him out, identifying Aniruddha from the Yadu clan in Dvāravatī.

६.५.२१

चित्रलेखा ततो ऽवादीत्सखि धन्यासि यत्त्वया ।
भर्तानिरुद्धः प्राप्तो ऽयं पौत्रो भगवतो हरेः ॥

Summary AI Then Citralekhā said, "Friend, you are fortunate that you have obtained this Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Hari, as your husband."

६.५.२२

योजनानां सहस्रेषु षष्टौ वसति स त्वितः ।
अच्छ्रुत्वा साधिकौत्सुक्यवशात्तामब्रवीदुषा ॥

Summary AI "He dwells sixty thousand yojanas from here." Hearing this, Uṣā, overwhelmed by intense longing, spoke to her.

६.५.२३

नाद्य चेत्सखि तस्याङ्कं श्रये श्रीखण्डशीतलम् ।
तदत्युद्दामकामाग्निनिर्दग्धां विद्धि मां मृताम् ॥

Summary AI "Friend, if I do not rest in his lap today, which is as cool as sandalwood, then consider me dead, consumed by the exceedingly violent fire of passion."

६.५.२४

श्रुत्वैतच्चित्रलेखा सा तामाश्वास्य प्रियां सखीम् ।
तदैवोत्पत्य नभसा ययौ द्वारवतीं पुरीम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Citralekhā consoled her dear friend and immediately flew through the sky to the city of Dvāravatī.

६.५.२५

ददर्श च पृथूत्तुंगैर्मन्दिरैरब्धिमध्यगाम् ।
कुर्वती तं पुनः क्षिप्तमन्थाद्रिशिखरभ्रमम् ॥

Summary AI She saw the city situated in the middle of the ocean, with its broad and lofty palaces, which created the illusion of the peaks of Mount Mandara being cast into the sea again.

६.५.२६

तस्यां सुप्तं निशि प्राप्य सानिरुद्धं विबोध्य च ।
उषानुरागं तं तस्मै शशंस स्वप्नदर्शनात् ॥

Summary AI Finding Aniruddha asleep at night in that city, she woke him up and informed him of Uṣā's love for him, which had arisen from a dream.

६.५.२७

आदाय चात्ततद्रूपस्वप्नवृत्तान्तमेव तम् ।
सोत्कं सिद्धिप्रभावेण क्षणेनैवाययौ ततः ॥

Summary AI Taking him, who had now realized the truth of the dream and was filled with longing, she returned from there in an instant through her supernatural power.

६.५.२८

एत्य चावेक्षमाणायास्तस्याः सख्याः स्ववर्त्मना ।
प्रावेशयदुषायास्तं गुप्तमन्तःपुरं प्रियम् ॥

Summary AI Arriving there, she ushered the beloved prince into the secret inner chambers of her friend Uṣā, who was watching for her on her path.

६.५.२९

सा दृष्ट्वैवानिरुद्धं तमुषा साक्षादुपागतम् ।
अमृतांशुमिवाम्भोधिवेला नाङ्गेष्ववर्तत ॥

Summary AI Upon seeing Aniruddha personally arrived, Uṣā could no longer contain herself within her own limbs, just as the ocean tide cannot be contained when it sees the moon.

६.५.३०

ततस्तेन समं तस्थौ सखीदत्तेन तत्र सा ।
जीवितेनेव मूर्तेन वल्लभेन यथासुखम् ॥

Summary AI Then she stayed there happily with her beloved, who was like her own life incarnate given to her by her friend.

६.५.३१

तज्ज्ञानात्पितरं चास्याः क्रुद्धं बाणं जिगाय सः ।
अनिरुद्धः स्ववीर्येण पितामहबलेन च ॥

Summary AI When her father Bāṇa became angry upon discovering this, Aniruddha defeated him through his own prowess and the strength of his grandfather.

६.५.३२

ततो द्वारवतीं गत्वा तावभिन्नतनू उभौ ।
उषानिरुद्धौ जज्ञाते गिरिजाशंकराविव ॥

Summary AI Then, having gone to Dvāravatī, the two, Uṣā and Aniruddha, appeared like Girijā and Śaṅkara with bodies inseparable.

६.५.३३

इत्युषायाः प्रियो ऽह्नैव मेलितश्चित्रलेखया ।
त्वं सप्रभावाप्यधिका ततो ऽपि सखि मे मता ॥

Summary AI "In this way, Citralekhā united Uṣā with her beloved in just a day. Friend, though you possess supernatural powers, I consider you even superior to her."

६.५.३४

तन्ममानय वत्सेशमिह मा स्म चिरं कृथाः ।
एवं कलिङ्गसेनातः श्रुत्वा सोमप्रभाब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, bring the Lord of Vatsa here to me; do not delay." Hearing this from Kaliṅgasenā, Somaprabhā replied.

६.५.३५

चित्रलेखा सुरस्त्री सा समुत्क्षिप्यानयत्परम् ।
मादृशी किं विदध्यात्तु परस्पर्शाद्यकुर्वती ॥

Summary AI "Citralekhā was a celestial woman who brought the other by force. But what can someone like me do, who avoids touching another man?"

६.५.३६

तत्त्वां नयामि तत्रैव यत्र वत्सेश्वरः सखि ।
प्राक्प्रसेनजितं तं ते दर्शयित्वा त्वदर्थिनम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, friend, I will take you to where the Lord of Vatsa is, after first showing you King Prasenajit, who desires you."

६.५.३७

इति सोमप्रभोक्ता सा तथेत्युक्त्वा तया सह ।
कलिङ्गसेना तत्कॢप्तं मायायन्त्रविमानकम् ॥

Summary AI Addressed thus by Somaprabhā, Kaliṅgasenā said "So be it," and together with her, boarding the magical mechanical chariot constructed by her...

६.५.३८

तदैवरुह्य नभसा सकोषा सपरिच्छदा ।
कृतप्रास्थानिका प्रायात्पित्रोरविदिता ततः ॥

Summary AI Immediately boarding it with her treasury and attendants, having performed the rites for departure, she set out through the sky from there without the knowledge of her parents.

६.५.३९

न हि पश्यति तुङ्गं वा श्वभ्रं वा स्त्रीजनो ऽग्रतः ।
स्मरेण नीतः परमां धारां वाजीव सादिना ॥

Summary AI Indeed, a woman led to the highest pitch of passion does not see a height or a precipice before her, just as a horse spurred to full gallop by a rider does not.

६.५.४०

श्रावस्तीं प्राप्य पूर्वं च तं प्रसेनजितं नृपम् ।
मृगयानिर्गतं दूराज्जरापाण्डुं ददर्श सा ॥

Summary AI Having first reached Śrāvastī, she saw from afar King Prasenajit, who had gone out for a hunt and was white with old age.

६.५.४१

वृद्धाद्व्रजास्मादिति तां दूरादिव निषेधता ।
उद्धूयमानेन मुहुश्चामरेणोपलक्षितम् ॥

Summary AI She observed the king, distinguished by a fly-whisk repeatedly waving as if warning her from a distance, 'Depart from this old man!'

६.५.४२

सो ऽयं प्रसेनजिद्राजा पित्रास्मै त्वं प्रदित्सिता ।
पश्येति सोमप्रभया दर्शितं सोपहासया ॥

Summary AI Somaprabhā mockingly pointed him out, saying, 'Behold! This is King Prasenajit, to whom your father intended to give you in marriage.'

६.५.४३

जरयायं वृतो राजा का वृणीते ऽपरा त्वमुम् ।
तदितः सखि शीघ्रं मां नय वत्सेश्वरं प्रति ॥

Summary AI 'This king is overcome by old age. What other woman would choose him? Therefore, friend, lead me quickly from here to Vatseśvara,' said Kaliṅgasenā.

६.५.४४

इति सोमप्रभां चोक्त्वा तत्क्षणं सा तया सह ।
कलिङ्गसेना व्योम्नैव कौशाम्बीं नगरीं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus to Somaprabhā, Kaliṅgasenā immediately flew through the sky with her to the city of Kauśāmbī.

६.५.४५

तत्रोद्यानगतं सा तं वत्सेशं सख्युदीरितम् ।
ददर्श दूरात्सोत्कण्ठा चकोरीवामृतत्विषम् ॥

Summary AI There, she saw Vatseśa in the garden as pointed out by her friend; full of longing, she gazed at him from afar like a cakorī bird watching the moon.

६.५.४६

सा तदुत्फुल्लया दृष्ट्या हृन्न्यस्तेन च पाणिना ।
प्रविष्टो ऽयं पथानेन मामत्रेत्यब्रवीदिव ॥

Summary AI With eyes blossoming in delight and her hand placed upon her heart, she seemed to say, 'He has entered my heart through this path of sight.'

६.५.४७

सखि संगमयाद्यैव वत्सराजेन मामिह ।
एनं विलोक्य हि स्थातुं न शक्ता क्षणमप्यहम् ॥

Summary AI 'O friend, unite me with Vatsarāja this very day; for having seen him, I am unable to remain still even for a single moment.'

६.५.४८

इति चोक्तवतीं तां सा सखी सोमप्रभाब्रवीत् ।
अद्याशुभं मया किंचिन्निमित्तमुपलक्षितम् ॥

Summary AI To her who spoke thus, her friend Somaprabhā replied, 'Today I have observed some inauspicious omen.'

६.५.४९

तदिदं दिवसं तूष्णीमुद्याने ऽस्मिन्नलक्षिता ।
अधितिष्ठस्व मा कार्षीः सखि दूरं गतागतम् ॥

Summary AI 'Therefore, stay quietly in this garden unobserved for the rest of the day. Friend, do not wander far back and forth.'