कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

केलिकेशग्रहव्यग्रगौरीकरनखावृतम् ।
शिवायानेकचन्द्राढ्यमिव शार्वं शिरो ऽस्तु वः ॥

Summary AI May the head of Śiva, which appears adorned with many moons as it is covered by the finger-nails of Gaurī engaged in grasping his hair during play, be for your auspiciousness.

७.१.२

करं दानाम्भसार्द्रं यः कुञ्चिताग्रं प्रसारयन् ।
ददत्सिद्धिमिवाभाति स पायाद्वो गजाननः ॥

Summary AI May the elephant-headed god Gajānana protect you, who appears to be granting success as he extends his trunk, which is moistened with rut-water and curved at the tip.

७.१.३

एवं स तत्र कौशाम्ब्यां पुत्रो वत्सेश्वरस्य ताम् ।
परिणीय युवा प्राणसमां मदनमञ्चुकाम् ॥

Summary AI In this manner, the young son of the King of Vatsa, having married the dear Madanamañcukā in the city of Kauśāmbī, who was as dear to him as his own life...

७.१.४

नरवाहनदत्तः स्वैः सचिवैर्गोमुखादिभिः ।
समं तस्थौ यथाकामं परिपूर्णमनोरथः ॥

Summary AI Naravāhanadatta, with his desires completely fulfilled, stayed there at his pleasure along with Gomukha and his other ministers.

७.१.५

एकदा चोल्लसन्मत्तकोकिलारावराजिते ।
प्रवर्तितलतालास्यवल्गन्मलयमारुते ॥

Summary AI Once, when the spring festival had arrived, resplendent with the calls of intoxicated cuckoos and the Malaya breeze causing the creepers to dance...

७.१.६

प्रगीतभृङ्गसुभगे संप्राप्ते च मधूत्सवे ।
ययौ विहर्तुमुद्यानं राजपुत्रः समन्त्रिकः ॥

Summary AI During the spring festival, beautiful with the humming of bees, the prince went to the garden with his ministers to enjoy himself.

७.१.७

तत्र भ्रान्त्वागतो ऽकस्मादुपेत्य निजगाद तम् ।
प्रहर्षोत्फुल्लनयनः स्ववयस्यस्तपन्तकः ॥

Summary AI Having wandered there, his friend Tapantaka suddenly approached him with eyes wide with joy and spoke to him.

७.१.८

युवराज मया दृष्टा कापीतो नातिदूरतः ।
कन्यावतीर्य गगनात्स्थिताशोकतरोरधः ॥

Summary AI "O Prince! Not far from here, I saw a certain maiden who descended from the sky and is now standing beneath an Aśoka tree."

७.१.९

तयैव प्रेषितश्चाहमुपेत्य ससखीकया ।
स्वकान्तिद्योतितदिशा त्वदाह्वानाय कन्यया ॥

Summary AI "I have been sent to invite you by that maiden, who illuminates the directions with her splendor and is accompanied by her friend."

७.१.१०

तच्छ्रुत्वा स स्वसचिवैः साकं तद्दर्शनोत्सुकः ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्तत्तरुमूलमगाद्द्रुतम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Naravāhanadatta, eager to see her, quickly went to the foot of that tree along with his ministers.

७.१.११

ददर्श तत्र तां कान्तां लोललोचनषट्पदाम् ।
शोणौष्ठपल्लवां पीनस्तनस्तबकशोभिताम् ॥

Summary AI There he saw that lovely maiden, whose trembling eyes were like bees, whose red lips were like tender leaves, and who was adorned with the clusters of her full breasts.

७.१.१२

परागपुञ्जगौराङ्गीं छायया तापहारिणीम् ।
आत्तोचिताकृतिं साक्षादिवोपवनदेवताम् ॥

Summary AI Her body was fair like a heap of pollen, and she dispelled heat with her shade; she appeared like the tutelary deity of the grove herself in a fitting form.

७.१.१३

उपाययौ च प्रणतां स तामभिननन्द च ।
दिव्यकन्यां नृपसुतस्तद्रूपापहृतेक्षणः ॥

Summary AI The prince, whose eyes were captivated by her beauty, approached that divine maiden as she bowed and greeted her.

७.१.१४

अथ तत्सचिवः सर्वेषूपविष्टेषु गोमुखः ।
तामपृच्छच्छुभे का त्वं किमर्थश्चागमो ऽत्र ते ॥

Summary AI Then, when all were seated, the minister Gomukha asked her: "O auspicious one, who are you? And for what purpose have you come here?"

७.१.१५

तच्छ्रुत्वा सा दुरुल्लङ्घ्यमन्मथाज्ञोज्झितत्रपा ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्य वदनाम्भोरुहं मुहुः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, she cast off her bashfulness due to the irresistible command of Manmatha and repeatedly gazed at the lotus-like face of Naravāhanadatta.

७.१.१६

पश्यन्ती चक्षुषा तिर्यगसमप्रणवस्रुता ।
विस्तरेणात्मवृत्तान्तकथामेवमवर्णयत् ॥

Summary AI Looking askance with her eyes and overflowing with matchless love, she described the story of her own life in detail as follows.

७.१.१७

अस्ति त्रिजगति ख्यातो नगेन्द्रो हिमवानिति ।
भूरिशृङ्गस्य तस्यैकं शृङ्गं गौरीपतेर्गिरिः ॥

Summary AI "In the three worlds, there is the famous lord of mountains called Himavat. One of its many peaks is the mountain of the Lord of Gaurī."

७.१.१८

भास्वन्मणिप्रभामाली विलसत्तुहिनद्युतिः ।
गगनाभोग इव यः परिच्छेतुं न शक्यते ॥

Summary AI "Which, wearing a garland of the brilliance of shining jewels and possessing the splendor of glittering snow, cannot be measured, like the expanse of the sky."

७.१.१९

हरप्रसादलभ्यानां जरामृत्युभयच्छिदाम् ।
सिद्धीनामोषधीनां च निधानं यस्य सानवः ॥

Summary AI "Whose ridges are the repository of supernatural powers and medicinal herbs that are obtainable through the grace of Hara and destroy the fear of old age and death."

७.१.२०

येन विद्याधरव्रातशरीररुचिपिञ्जरैः ।
शिखरैरमराद्रीन्द्रशृङ्गशोभाभिभूयते ॥

Summary AI "Whose peaks, tawny with the radiance of the bodies of multitudes of Vidyādharas, surpass the beauty of the peaks of the lord of the celestial mountains."

७.१.२१

तत्र काञ्चनशृङ्गाख्यमस्ति हेममयं पुरम् ।
भाभिः प्रभाकरस्थानमिव यद्भाति भासुरम् ॥

Summary AI There is a golden city named Kāñcanaśṛṅga, which shines brilliantly with its luster like the sunlit abode of the Sun-god (Prabhākara).

७.१.२२

बहुयोजनविस्तीर्णे तस्मिन्विद्याधरेश्वरः ।
आस्ते हेमप्रभो नाम दृढभक्तिरुमापतौ ॥

Summary AI In that city spanning many yojanas, lived a Vidyādhara king named Hemaprabha, who possessed unwavering devotion to Lord Śiva (Umāpati).

७.१.२३

तस्य चास्ति महादेवी पत्नीषु बहुषु प्रिया ।
अलंकारप्रभा नाम रोहिणीव हिमत्विषः ॥

Summary AI Among his many wives, his favorite queen was named Alaṃkāraprabhā, who was as dear to him as Rohiṇī is to the Moon (Himatviṣ).

७.१.२४

तया सह स राजा च प्रातरुत्थाय धार्मिकः ।
स्नात्वार्चयित्वा विधिवद्गौरीयुक्तं महेश्वरम् ॥

Summary AI That righteous king, rising early in the morning along with his queen, would bathe and worship Lord Maheśvara and Goddess Gaurī according to scriptural rites.

७.१.२५

एत्य मानुषलोकं च रत्नमिश्रं दिने दिने ।
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो दरिद्रेभ्यः स्वर्णलक्षं प्रयच्छति ॥

Summary AI He would visit the human world every day and distribute a hundred thousand gold pieces mixed with gems to Brāhmaṇas and the poor.

७.१.२६

ततश्चागत्य धर्मेण राजकृत्यान्यवेक्ष्य सः ।
करोत्याहारपानादि मुनिवन्नियतव्रतः ॥

Summary AI Returning to his city, he would attend to his royal duties righteously and then, observing strict vows, partake of food and drink like a sage.

७.१.२७

एवं दिवेषु गच्छत्सु तस्योद्घातवशात्किल ।
अपुत्रताकृता राज्ञश्चिन्ता जातूदपद्यत ॥

Summary AI As the days passed in this manner, it so happened that a certain event caused the king to be overcome with anxiety regarding his childlessness.

७.१.२८

तयातिदुर्मनस्कं च दृष्ट्वा पप्रच्छ तं प्रिया ।
अलंकारप्रभा देवी दौर्मनस्यस्य कारणम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing him deeply dejected, his beloved Queen Alaṃkāraprabhā asked him the reason for his mental distress.

७.१.२९

ततः स राजावादीत्तां सर्वसंपत्तिरस्ति मे ।
एकं तु पुत्रो नास्तीति दुःखं मां देवि बाधते ॥

Summary AI Then the king said to her, "O Queen, I possess every kind of wealth; however, the single sorrow of not having a son torments me."

७.१.३०

या मया प्रागपुत्रस्य पुंसः सत्त्ववतः कथा ।
श्रुता तत्स्मरणोद्घाताच्चिन्तैषा चोद्गता मम ॥

Summary AI "The memory of a story I once heard about a virtuous but childless man has resurfaced, triggering this deep anxiety within me."

७.१.३१

कीदृशी सा कथा देवेत्युक्तो देवा तया च सः ।
राजा तस्यै कथामेवं संक्षेपात्तामवर्णयत् ॥

Summary AI When the queen asked, "O Lord, what kind of story is that?", the king narrated the story to her in brief.

७.१.३२

नगरे चित्रकूटाख्ये ब्राह्मणार्चनतत्परः ।
बभूव ब्राह्मणवरो नाम्नान्वर्थो महीपतिः ॥

Summary AI In the city of Citrakūṭa, there was a king named Brāhmaṇavara, whose name was meaningful as he was devoted to the worship of Brāhmaṇas.

७.१.३३

तस्यासीत्सत्त्वशीलाख्यो जयी युद्धैकसेवकः ।
मासे मासे च लेभे स तस्मात्स्वर्णशतं नृपात् ॥

Summary AI He had a victorious attendant named Sattvaśīla who served only in battle; every month, he received a hundred gold pieces from the king.

७.१.३४

पर्याप्त्यै तच्च नैवाभूत्त्यागिनस्तस्य काञ्चनम् ।
अपुत्रत्वाच्च दानैकविनोदासक्तचेतसः ॥

Summary AI Being childless and generous, his mind was solely focused on the joy of giving, and thus that gold was never sufficient for him.

७.१.३५

पुत्रो विनोदहेतुर्मे दत्तस्तावन्न वेधसा ।
दत्तं च दानव्यसनं तदप्यर्थविनाकृतम् ॥

Summary AI Sattvaśīla thought, "The Creator has not granted me a son as a source of joy, but has given me an addiction to charity, yet that too is deprived of wealth."

७.१.३६

वरं जीर्णस्य शुष्कस्य तरोर्जन्मोपलस्य वा ।
न संसारे दरिद्रस्य त्यागैकव्यसनस्य च ॥

Summary AI "In this world, it is better to be born as an old dry tree or a stone than as a poor man whose only passion is generosity."

७.१.३७

इति संचिन्तयन्नित्यं सत्त्वशीलः स जातुचित् ।
उद्याने संचरन्प्राप निधिं दैवात्कदाचन ॥

Summary AI While constantly reflecting thus, Sattvaśīla happened to find a hidden treasure by chance one day while wandering in a garden.

७.१.३८

सभृत्यश्च तमादाय भूरिकाञ्चन भास्वरम् ।
महार्घरत्नरुचिरं निनाय प्रसभं गृहम् ॥

Summary AI Accompanied by his servants, he took the treasure, which was brilliant with much gold and beautiful with precious gems, and brought it home quickly.

७.१.३९

ततः स भोगान्भुञ्जानो ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददद्वसु ।
भृत्येभ्यश्च सुहृद्भ्यश्च यावदास्ते ऽत्र सात्त्विकः ॥

Summary AI Thereafter, that virtuous man lived there, enjoying pleasures and distributing wealth to Brāhmaṇas, servants, and friends.

७.१.४०

तावद्दृष्ट्वा तदभ्यूह्यं निधिलाभः स गोत्रजैः ।
तस्य राजकुले गत्वा स्वैरं राज्ञे निवेदितः ॥

Summary AI In the meantime, his kinsmen, having observed his prosperity and inferred the discovery of treasure, went to the palace and informed the king.

७.१.४१

अथ राज्ञा समाहूतः प्रतीहारनिदेशतः ।
क्षणं राजाङ्गणैकान्ते सत्त्वशीलः स तस्थिवान् ॥

Summary AI Then, summoned by the King through the door-keeper's command, Sattvaśīla stood for a moment in a secluded corner of the royal courtyard.

७.१.४२

तत्र हस्तस्थया लीलावज्रमुष्ट्या खनन्क्षितिम् ।
स लेभे ताम्रकुम्भीस्थं निधानं चापरं महत् ॥

Summary AI While playfully scratching the earth there with an iron tool held in his hand, he discovered another great treasure contained within a copper pot.

७.१.४३

दत्त्वेदं रञ्जनीयस्ते राजेति हृदयं निजम् ।
विधिना सत्त्वतुष्टेन प्रकाशमिव दर्शितम् ॥

Summary AI It was as if Fate, pleased with his courage, revealed its own heart to him, suggesting that he should please the King by offering this treasure.

७.१.४४

तथैवाच्छादयामास मृदा तच्च विवेश च ।
आवेदितः प्रतीहारेणान्तिकं नृपतेस्ततः ॥

Summary AI He covered the spot with soil just as it was, and then, announced by the door-keeper, entered into the presence of the King.

७.१.४५

ज्ञातं मया निधिर्लब्धस्त्वया तं नः समर्पय ।
इति तत्र स राज्ञा च प्रणतो जगदे स्वयम् ॥

Summary AI As he bowed, the King himself said to him, "I have learned that you found a treasure; hand it over to us."

७.१.४६

किमर्पयामि देवाद्यं किमद्यतनमुच्यताम् ।
सो ऽपि तत्रेति राजानं सत्त्वशीलो जगाद तम् ॥

Summary AI Sattvaśīla then replied to the King, "O Lord! Tell me, should I hand over the first one or the one found today?"

७.१.४७

अर्पयाभिनवप्राप्तमित्युक्तश्च स भूभृता ।
गत्वा राजाङ्गणैकान्ते निधिं तस्मै समर्पयत् ॥

Summary AI Commanded by the King to "hand over the newly found one," he went to the corner of the royal courtyard and surrendered the treasure to him.

७.१.४८

आद्यं निधिं यथेच्छं त्वं भुङ्क्ष्वेति प्रेषितो ऽथ सः ।
नृपेण निधितुष्टेन सत्त्वशीलो ऽगमद्गृहम् ॥

Summary AI Pleased with the treasure, the King dismissed him, saying, "Enjoy the first treasure as you wish," and Sattvaśīla returned home.

७.१.४९

तत्रासीद्दानभोगाभ्यां तन्वन्नाम्नो यथार्थताम् ।
नुदंश्चापुत्रतादुःखदौर्मनस्यं कथंचन ॥

Summary AI There he lived, making his name meaningful through charity and enjoyment, while somehow trying to dispel the mental distress caused by the sorrow of being childless.

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