कथासरित्सागरः — सप्तमस्तरङ्गः

सप्तमस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः सोमप्रभां यातां स्मरन्ती तां प्रियां सखीम् ।
कलिङ्गसेना संत्यक्तनिजदेशस्वबान्धवा ॥

Summary AI Then, remembering her dear friend Somaprabhā who had departed, Kaliṅgasenā remained, having abandoned her own country and relatives.

६.७.२

सा विलम्बित वत्सेशपाणिग्रहमहोत्सवा ।
नरेद्रकन्या कौशाम्ब्यां मृगीवासीद्वनच्युता ॥

Summary AI With her wedding festival with the Lord of Vatsa delayed, the princess lived in Kauśāmbī like a doe strayed from the forest.

६.७.३

कलिङ्गसेनाविवाहविलम्बनविचक्षणान् ।
गणकान्प्रति सासूय इव वत्सेश्वरो ऽपि च ॥

Summary AI King Vatseśvara also felt resentful toward the astrologers who were experts in delaying the marriage of Kaliṅgasenā.

६.७.४

औत्सुक्यविमनास्तस्मिन्दिने चेतो विनोदयन् ।
देव्या वासवदत्ताया निवासबवनं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Feeling distracted by anxiety on that day, the King went to the palace of Queen Vāsavadattā to amuse his mind.

६.७.५

तत्र सा तं पतिं देवी निर्विकारा विशेषतः ।
उपाचरत्स्वोपचारैः प्राङ्मन्त्रिवरशिक्षिता ॥

Summary AI There, having been previously instructed by the excellent minister, the Queen, remaining notably unperturbed, waited upon her husband with her customary attentions.

६.७.६

कलिङ्गसेनावृत्तान्ते ख्याते ऽप्यविकृता कथम् ।
देवीयमिति स ध्यात्वा राजा जिज्ञासुराह ताम् ॥

Summary AI Although the news of Kaliṅgasenā was well known, the King, wondering how the Queen remained unaffected, addressed her out of curiosity.

६.७.७

कच्चिदेवि त्वया ज्ञातं स्वयंवरकृते मम ।
कलिङ्गसेना नामैषा राजपुत्री यदागता ॥

Summary AI "O Queen, do you know that this princess named Kaliṅgasenā has arrived here for the sake of choosing me in marriage?"

६.७.८

तच्छ्रुत्वैवाविभिन्नेन मुखरागेण साब्रवीत् ।
ज्ञातं मयातिहर्षो मे लक्ष्मीः सा ह्यागतेह नः ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, she spoke with an unchanged facial expression, "I know; it brings me great joy, for she is like Lakṣmī who has come to us."

६.७.९

वशगे हि महाराजे तत्प्राप्त्या तत्पितर्यपि ।
कलिङ्गदत्ते पृथ्वी ते सुतरां वर्तते वशे ॥

Summary AI "With the Great King under your influence through this union, and her father Kaliṅgadatta also won over, the whole earth will truly be under your control."

६.७.१०

अहं च त्वद्विभूत्यैव सुखिता त्वत्सुखेन च ।
आर्यपुत्र तवैतच्च विदितं प्रागपि स्थितम् ॥

Summary AI "I am happy only through your prosperity and your joy. O Noble Lord (Āryaputra), this fact has been known to you since before."

६.७.११

तन्न धन्यास्मि किं यस्या मम भर्ता त्वमीदृशः ।
यं राजकन्या वाञ्छन्ति वाञ्छ्यमाना नृपान्तरैः ॥

Summary AI "Am I not then blessed to have such a husband as you, whom princesses desire even when they themselves are sought after by other kings?"

६.७.१२

एवं वत्सेश्वरः प्रोक्तो देव्या वासवदत्तया ।
यौगन्धरायणप्रत्तशिक्षयान्तस्तुतोष सः ॥

Summary AI Thus addressed by Queen Vāsavadattā, who followed the instructions given by Yaugandharāyaṇa, the Lord of Vatsa was inwardly delighted.

६.७.१३

तयैव च सहासेव्य पानं तद्वासके निशि ।
तस्यां सुष्वाप मध्ये च प्रबुद्धः समचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI After drinking with her, he slept in her chamber that night; waking up in the middle of the night, he reflected.

६.७.१४

किंस्विन्महानुभावेत्थं देवी मामनुवर्तते ।
कलिङ्गसेनामपि यत्सपत्नीमनुमन्यते ॥

Summary AI "How is it that the noble Queen follows me so devotedly that she even consents to having Kaliṅgasenā as a co-wife?"

६.७.१५

कथं वा शक्नुयादेतां सोढुं सैषा तपस्विनी ।
पद्मावतीविवाहे ऽपि या दैवान्न जहावसृन् ॥

Summary AI "Or how can this poor lady endure her, she who by divine providence did not lose her life even during my marriage to Padmāvatī?"

६.७.१६

तदस्याश्चेदनिष्टं स्यात्सर्वनाशस्ततो भवेत् ।
एतदालम्बनाः पुत्रश्वशुर्यश्वशुराश्च मे ॥

Summary AI "If any harm should come to her, total ruin would follow, for my son, my brother-in-law, and my father-in-law all depend upon her."

६.७.१७

पद्मावती च राज्यं च किमभ्यधिकमुच्यते ।
अतः कलिङ्गसेनैषा परिणेया कथं मया ॥

Summary AI "Padmāvatī and the kingdom—what more need be said? Therefore, how can I marry this Kaliṅgasenā?"

६.७.१८

एवमालोच्य वत्सेशो निशान्ते निर्गतस्ततः ।
अपराह्णे ययौ देव्याः पद्मावत्याः स मन्दिरम् ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus, the Lord of Vatsa left at the end of the night and in the afternoon went to the palace of Queen Padmāvatī.

६.७.१९

साप्येनमागतं दत्तशिक्षा वासवदत्तया ।
तथैवोपाचरत्तद्वत्पृष्टावोचत्तथैव च ॥

Summary AI Having been instructed by Vāsavadattā, Padmāvatī too waited upon the arriving King in the same manner and, when questioned, replied in the same way.

६.७.२०

ततो ऽन्येद्युस्तयोर्देव्योरेकं चित्तं वचश्च तत् ।
यौगन्धरायणायासौ शशंस विमृशन्नृपः ॥

Summary AI Then, on the following day, the King, reflecting on the identical thoughts and words of the two queens, reported the matter to Yaugandharāyaṇa.

६.७.२१

सो ऽपि तं वीक्ष्य राजानं विचारपतितं शनैः ।
कालवेदी जगादैवं मन्त्री यौगन्धरायणः ॥

Summary AI Observing the King immersed in deep thought, the minister Yaugandharāyaṇa, who knew the right time for action, slowly spoke to him.

६.७.२२

जाने ऽहं नैतदेतावदभिप्रायो ऽत्र दारुणः ।
देवीभ्यां जीवितत्यागदार्ढ्यादुक्तं हि तत्तथा ॥

Summary AI I understand this situation; the intention here is not so dreadful. The two queens spoke in that manner only because of their firm resolve to give up their lives.

६.७.२३

अन्यासक्ते गते च द्यां स्त्रियो मरणनिश्चिताः ।
भवन्त्यदैन्यगम्भीराः साध्व्यः सर्वत्र निःस्पृहाः ॥

Summary AI When a husband is devoted to another or has departed to heaven, virtuous women, determined to die, become profoundly dignified, free from wretchedness, and detached from all things.

६.७.२४

असह्यं हि पुरंध्रीणां प्रेम्णो गाढस्य खण्डनम् ।
तथा च राजंस्तत्रैतां श्रुतसैनकथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI Indeed, for women, the shattering of intense love is unbearable. Therefore, O King, listen to this story of Śrutasena regarding that matter.

६.७.२५

अभूद्दक्षिणभूमौ प्राग्गोकर्णाख्ये पुरे नृपः ।
श्रुतसेन इति ख्यातः कुलभूषाश्रुतान्वितः ॥

Summary AI Long ago, in the southern region, in a city named Gokarṇa, there was a famous King named Śrutasena, an ornament to his lineage and endowed with sacred knowledge.

६.७.२६

तस्य चैकाभवच्चिन्ता राज्ञः संपूर्णसंपदः ।
आत्मानुरूपां भार्यां यत्स न तावदवाप्तवान् ॥

Summary AI Despite possessing complete wealth, that King had one single anxiety: that he had not yet obtained a wife worthy of himself.

६.७.२७

एकदा च नृपः कुर्वश्चिन्तां तां तत्कथान्तरे ।
अग्निशर्माभिधानेन जगदे सो ऽग्रजन्मना ॥

Summary AI Once, while the King was brooding over that concern, he was addressed during a conversation by a Brāhmaṇa named Agniśarman.

६.७.२८

आश्चर्ये द्वे मया दृष्टे ते राजन्वर्णये शृणु ।
तीर्थयात्रागतः पञ्चतीर्थीं तामहमाप्तवान् ॥

Summary AI O King, I have witnessed two wonders. I shall describe them to you; listen. While on a pilgrimage, I reached the famous Pañcatīrthī.

६.७.२९

यस्यामप्सरसः पञ्च ग्राहत्वमृषिशापतः ।
प्राप्ताः सतीरुदहरत्तिर्थयात्रागतो ऽर्जुनः ॥

Summary AI It is the place where Arjuna, while on his pilgrimage, rescued five apsaras who had been turned into crocodiles due to a sage's curse.

६.७.३०

तत्र तीर्थवरे स्नात्वा पञ्चरात्रोपवासिनाम् ।
नारायणानुचरतादायिनि स्नायिनां नृणाम् ॥

Summary AI Having bathed in that supreme holy place, which grants the status of an attendant of Nārāyaṇa to men who fast for five nights, the Brāhmaṇa continued his journey.

६.७.३१

यावद्व्रजामि तावच्च लाङ्गलोल्लिखितावनिम् ।
गायन्तं कंचिदद्राक्षं कार्षिकं क्षेत्रमध्यगम् ॥

Summary AI As he was walking along, he saw a certain farmer in the middle of a field singing joyfully while plowing the earth with his plow.

६.७.३२

स पृष्टः कार्षिको मार्गं मार्गायातेन केनचित् ।
प्रव्राजकेन सद्वाक्यं नाशृणोद्गीततत्परः ॥

Summary AI Asked about the way by a wandering ascetic who had arrived on the path, that farmer, absorbed in his singing, did not hear the polite words.

६.७.३३

ततः स तस्मै चुक्रोध परिव्राड्विधुरं ब्रुवन् ।
सो ऽपि गीतं विमुच्याथ कार्षिकस्तमभाषत ॥

Summary AI Then the ascetic became angry at him, speaking harsh words. Thereupon, the farmer stopped his singing and spoke to him.

६.७.३४

अहो प्रव्राजको ऽसि त्वं धर्मस्याशं न वेत्स्यसि ।
मूर्खेणापि मया ज्ञातं सारं धर्मस्य यत्पुनः ॥

Summary AI The farmer exclaimed, 'Oh, you are a wandering ascetic yet you do not know even a fraction of dharma! On the other hand, even though I am a fool, I have understood its essence.'

६.७.३५

तच्छ्रुत्वा किं त्वया ज्ञातमिति तेन च कौतुकात् ।
प्रव्राजकेन पृष्टः सन्कार्षिकः स जगाद तम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, and being asked by the ascetic out of curiosity, 'What have you understood?', the farmer spoke to him.

६.७.३६

इहोपविश प्रच्छाये शृणु यावद्वदामि ते ।
अस्मिन्प्रदेशे विद्यन्ते ब्राह्मणा भ्रातरस्त्रयः ॥

Summary AI The farmer invited him to sit in the thick shade and listen, explaining that in that region, there lived three brothers who were Brāhmaṇas.

६.७.३७

ब्रह्मदत्तः सोमदत्तो विश्वदत्तश्च पुण्यकृत् ।
तेषां ज्येष्ठौ दारवन्तौ कनिष्ठस्त्वपरिग्रहः ॥

Summary AI Their names were Brahmadatta, Somadatta, and the virtuous Viśvadatta. The two elder brothers were married, but the youngest was without a wife.

६.७.३८

स तयोर्ज्येष्ठयोराज्ञां कुर्वन्कर्मकरो यथा ।
मया सहासीदक्रुध्यन्नहं तेषां हि कार्षिकः ॥

Summary AI He lived with the farmer, performing the orders of his two elder brothers like a servant without any anger; for the farmer was their plowman.

६.७.३९

तौ च ज्येष्ठावबुध्येतां मृदुं तं बुद्धिवर्जितम् ।
साधुमत्यक्तसन्मार्गमृजुमायासवर्जितम् ॥

Summary AI The two elder brothers considered him to be soft, unintelligent, and simple—someone who avoided effort—though he was truly virtuous, upright, and never strayed from the right path.

६.७.४०

एकदा भ्रातृजायाभ्यां सकामाभ्यां रहो ऽर्थितः ।
कनिष्ठो विश्वदत्तो ऽथ मातृवत्ते निराकरोत् ॥

Summary AI Once, the youngest brother, Viśvadatta, was propositioned in secret by his two sisters-in-law who were filled with lust; however, he rejected them as if they were his mothers.

६.७.४१

ततस्ते निजयोर्भर्त्रोरुभे गत्वा मृषोचतुः ।
वाञ्छत्यावां रहस्येष कनीयान्युवयोरिति ॥

Summary AI Then both wives went to their respective husbands and falsely said, "This younger brother of yours desires us in secret."

६.७.४२

तेन तं प्रति तौ ज्येष्ठौ सान्तःकोपौ बभूवतुः ।
सदसद्वा न विदतुः कुस्त्रीवचनमोहितौ ॥

Summary AI Because of that, the two elder brothers became inwardly angry toward him; deluded by the words of the wicked women, they did not discern right from wrong.

६.७.४३

अथैतौ भ्रातरौ जातु विश्वदत्तं तमूचतुः ।
गच्छ त्वं क्षेत्रमध्यस्थं वल्मीकं तं समीकुरु ॥

Summary AI Then, one day, those two brothers said to Kṛṣṇa-devoted Viśvadatta, "Go and level that anthill located in the middle of the field."

६.७.४४

तथेत्यागत्य वल्मीकं कुद्दालेनाखनत्स तम् ।
मा मैवं कृष्णसर्पो ऽत्र वसतीत्युदितो मया ॥

Summary AI Saying "so be it," he arrived and began digging the anthill with a hoe, even though I warned him, "Do not do this! A black cobra lives here."

६.७.४५

तच्छ्रुत्वापि स वल्मीकमखनद्यद्भवत्विति ।
पापैषिणोरप्यादेशं ज्येष्ठभ्रात्रोरलङ्घयन् ॥

Summary AI Despite hearing that, he continued digging the anthill, thinking "come what may," refusing to disobey the command of his elder brothers even though they sought his ruin.

६.७.४६

खन्यमानात्ततः प्राप कलशं हेमपूरितम् ।
न कृष्णसर्पं धर्मो हि सांनिध्यं कुरुते सताम् ॥

Summary AI From the excavated spot, he found a pot filled with gold instead of a black cobra; for indeed, righteousness protects the virtuous.

६.७.४७

तं च नीत्वा स कलशं भ्रातृभ्यां सर्वमर्पयत् ।
निवार्यमाणो ऽपि मया ज्येष्ठाभ्यां दृढभक्तितः ॥

Summary AI Although I tried to stop him, out of firm devotion to his elders, he took that pot and handed everything over to his brothers.

६.७.४८

तौ पुनस्तत एवांशं दत्त्वा प्रेर्य च घातकान् ।
तस्याच्छेदयतां पाणिपादं धनजिहीर्षया ॥

Summary AI But they, after giving him a mere portion and desiring to seize all the wealth, sent executioners to cut off his hands and feet.

६.७.४९

तथापि न स चुक्रोध निर्मन्युर्भ्रातरौ प्रति ।
तेन सत्येन तस्यात्र हस्तपादमजायत ॥

Summary AI Even then, he did not get angry but remained free of resentment toward his brothers; by the power of that truth, his hands and feet were restored.

Other texts to read

पञ्चतन्त्रम् विष्णुशर्मा

नीलकण्ठविजयचम्पूः नीलकण्ठदीक्षितः

About

Resources

Connect