कथासरित्सागरः — तृतीयस्तरङ्गः

तृतीयस्तरङ्गः ।

एवं रत्नप्रभाख्यातकथाक्रमवशादथ ।
नरवाहनदत्तं तं सचिवो गोमुखो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Following the sequence of stories told by Ratnaprabhā, the minister Gomukha spoke to Naravāhanadatta.

सत्यं साध्व्यः प्रविरलाश्चपलास्तु सदा स्त्रियः ।
अविश्वास्यास्तथा चैतामपि देव कथां शृणु ॥

Summary AI O King, it is true that virtuous women are very rare, while most are fickle and untrustworthy; therefore, listen to this story as well.

७.३.३

इहास्युज्जयिनी नाम नगरी विश्वविश्रुता ।
तस्यां निश्चयदत्ताख्यो वणिक्पुत्रो ऽभवत्पुरा ॥

Summary AI There is a world-famous city named Ujjayinī. Long ago, a merchant’s son named Niścayadatta lived there.

७.३.४

स द्यूतकारो द्यूतेन धनं जित्वा दिने दिने ।
स्नात्वा सिप्राजले ऽभ्यर्च्य महाकालमुदारधीः ॥

Summary AI That noble-minded gambler, winning wealth daily through gambling, would bathe in the waters of the Siprā and worship Lord Mahākāla.

७.३.५

दत्त्वा दानं द्विजातिभ्यो दीनानाथेभ्य एव च ।
व्यधाद्विलेपनाहारताम्बूलाद्यविशेषतः ॥

Summary AI After distributing gifts to the twice-born and the helpless, he enjoyed ointments, food, and betel leaves without any distinction.

७.३.६

सदा स्नानार्चनाद्यन्ते महाकालालयान्तिके ।
गत्वा व्यलिम्पदात्मानं श्मशाने च्चन्दनादिना ॥

Summary AI Always, after his baths and worship, he would go to the cemetery near the temple of Mahākāla and rub himself with sandalwood paste and other ointments.

७.३.७

तत्रस्थे च शिलास्तम्भे स विन्यस्य विलेपनम् ।
विलिलेप कषन्पृष्ठं युवा प्रत्यहमेककः ॥

Summary AI Every day, the young man would go there alone, apply the ointment to a stone pillar, and rub his back against it to smear himself.

७.३.८

तेन स्तम्भः स सुश्लक्ष्णः कालेनाभवदेकतः ।
अथागाचित्रकृत्तेन पथा रूपकृता सह ॥

Summary AI Over time, the pillar became very smooth on one side due to his rubbing. One day, a painter passing by that path arrived with a sculptor.

७.३.९

स स्तम्भं वीक्ष्य सुश्लक्ष्णं तत्र गौरीं समालिखत् ।
रूपकारो ऽपि शस्त्रेण क्रीडयैवोल्लिलेख ताम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing the smooth pillar, the painter drew a figure of Gaurī, and the sculptor playfully carved it out with his chisel.

७.३.१०

ततस्तयोर्गतवतोर्महाकालारनागता ।
विद्याधरसुतैकात्र स्तम्भे देवीं ददर्श ताम् ॥

Summary AI After they left, a daughter of a Vidyādhara, who had come to worship Mahākāla, saw the image of the Goddess on the pillar.

७.३.११

सुलक्षणत्वात्सांनिध्यं तस्यां मत्वा कृतार्चना ।
अदृश्या विश्रमायैतं शिलास्तम्भं विवेश सा ॥

Summary AI Thinking that the Goddess was present there due to the auspicious markings, she performed worship and then invisibly entered the stone pillar to rest.

७.३.१२

तावन्निश्चयदत्तः स तत्रागत्य वणिक्सुतः ।
साश्चर्यः स्तम्भमध्ये तां ददर्शोल्लिखितामुमाम् ॥

Summary AI Just then, the merchant's son Niścayadatta arrived and was amazed to see the carved image of Umā upon the pillar.

७.३.१३

विलिप्याङ्गानि तत्स्तम्भभागे ऽन्यत्रानुलेपनम् ।
न्यस्य पृष्ठं समलाब्धुं प्रारेभे निकषंश्च सः ॥

Summary AI Having anointed his limbs, he applied the ointment to another part of the pillar and began rubbing his back against it to spread it evenly.

७.३.१४

तद्विलोक्य विलोलाक्षी सा विद्याधरकन्यका ।
स्तम्भान्तरस्था तद्रूपहृतचित्ता व्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Observing this, the tremulous-eyed Vidyādhara maiden inside the pillar, her heart captivated by his beauty, thought to herself.

७.३.१५

ईदृशस्यापि को ऽप्यस्य नास्ति पृष्ठानुलेपकः ।
तदहं तावदद्यास्य पृष्ठमेषा समालभे ॥

Summary AI She thought that even though he was so handsome, he had no one to rub ointment on his back, so she decided to do it herself.

७.३.१६

इत्यालोच्य प्रसार्यैव करं स्तम्भान्तरात्ततः ।
व्यलिपत्तस्य सा पृष्ठं स्नेहाद्विद्याधरी तदा ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus, the Vidyādharī stretched her hand out from within the pillar and affectionately anointed his back.

७.३.१७

तत्क्षणं लब्धसंस्पर्शः श्रुतकङ्कणनिःस्वनः ।
जग्राह हस्तं हस्तेन स तस्यास्तं वणिक्सुतः ॥

Summary AI At that moment, feeling the touch and hearing the sound of bangles, the merchant's son grabbed her hand with his own.

७.३.१८

महाभागापराद्धं ते किं मया मुञ्च मे करम् ।
इत्यदृश्यैव तं विद्याधरी स्तम्भादुवाच सा ॥

Summary AI "O noble man, what wrong have I done to you? Release my hand!" said the Vidyādharī from within the pillar, remaining invisible.

७.३.१९

प्रत्यक्षा ब्रूहि मे का त्वं ततो मोक्ष्यामि ते करम् ।
इति निश्चयदत्तो ऽपि प्रत्युवाच स तां ततः ॥

Summary AI "Tell me who you are by appearing before me; only then will I release your hand," Niścayadatta replied to her.

७.३.२०

प्रत्यक्षदृश्या सर्वं ते वच्मीति शपथोत्तरम् ।
विद्याधर्या तयोक्तो ऽथ करं तस्या मुमोच सः ॥

Summary AI Then, promised by the Vidyādharī with an oath that she would appear and tell him everything, he released her hand.

७.३.२१

अथ स्तम्भाद्विनिर्गत्य साक्षात्सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरी ।
तन्मुखासक्तनयना तं जगादोपविश्य सा ॥

Summary AI Then, emerging from the pillar, that woman of absolute beauty sat down and, with her eyes fixed on his face, spoke to him.

७.३.२२

अस्ति प्रालेयशैलाग्रे नगरी पुष्करावती ।
नाम्ना विन्ध्यपरस्तस्यामास्ते विद्याधराधिपः ॥

Summary AI At the peak of the Himālaya mountains lies a city named Puṣkarāvatī. In that city dwells a king of the vidyādharas named Vindhyapara.

७.३.२३

अनुरागपरा नाम तस्याहं कन्यका सुता ।
महाकालार्चनायाता विश्रान्तास्मीह संप्रति ॥

Summary AI I am his daughter, named Anurāgaparā. Having come here to worship Mahākāla, I am currently resting in this spot.

७.३.२४

तावच्च त्वमिहागत्य कुर्वन्पृष्ठविलेपनम् ।
दृष्टः स्तम्भे ऽत्र मारीयमोहनास्त्रोपमो मया ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, as you arrived here and performed the task of anointing the back of the statue, I saw you through the pillar, appearing like the enchanting weapon of Kāmadeva.

७.३.२५

ततः प्रागनुरागेण रञ्जितः स्वान्तवान्मम ।
पश्चात्पृष्ठविलेपिन्या अङ्गरागेण ते करः ॥

Summary AI First, my heart was colored by love for you, and subsequently, your hand was colored by the fragrant unguent used for anointing the back of the statue.

७.३.२६

अतः परं ते विदितं तत्पितुर्धाम संप्रति ।
गच्छामीति तयोक्तो ऽथ वणिक्पुत्रो जगाद सः ॥

Summary AI "Now you know everything; I must return to my father's abode," she said. Upon hearing this, the merchant's son Niścayadatta replied.

७.३.२७

स्वीकृतं तन्मया चण्डि न स्वान्तं भवतीहृतम् ।
अमुक्तस्वीकृतस्वान्ता कथमेवं तु गच्छसि ॥

Summary AI "O fierce lady, I accepted the ointment, but my heart, which you have stolen, has not been returned. How can you leave like this without releasing the heart you have taken?"

७.३.२८

इति तेनोदिता सा च लघुरागवशीकृता ।
संगमिष्ये त्वया काममेष्यस्यस्मत्पुरीं यदि ॥

Summary AI Addressed thus and overcome by sudden passion, she replied: "If you come to our city, I shall certainly unite with you."

७.३.२९

दुर्गमा सा न ते नाथ सेत्स्यते ते समीहितम् ।
न हि दुष्करमस्तीह किंचिदध्यवसायिनाम् ॥

Summary AI "O lord, that city is not inaccessible to you. Your desire will be fulfilled, for nothing is impossible in this world for those who are determined."

७.३.३०

इत्युदीर्य खमुत्पत्य सानुरागपरा ययौ ।
अगान्निश्चयदत्तो ऽपि स तद्गतमना गृहम् ॥

Summary AI Saying this, Anurāgaparā flew into the sky and departed. Niścayadatta also returned home, his mind entirely fixed upon her.

७.३.३१

स्मरन्द्रुमादिव स्तम्भादुद्भिन्नं करपल्लवम् ।
हा धिक्तस्या गृहीत्वापि नाप्तः पाणिग्रहो मया ॥

Summary AI Recalling her sprout-like hand that emerged from the pillar like a branch from a tree, he lamented, "Alas! Even though I grasped her hand, I did not achieve formal marriage."

७.३.३२

तद्व्रजाम्यन्तिकं तस्याः पुरीं तां पुष्करावतीम् ।
प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यामि दैवं वा साहाय्यं मे करिष्यति ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, I shall go to her in that city of Puṣkarāvatī. I will either lose my life or fate will come to my aid."

७.३.३३

इति संचिन्तयन्नीत्वा स्मरार्तः सो ऽत्र तद्दिनम् ।
प्रतिष्ठित ततः प्रातरवलम्ब्योत्तरां दिशम् ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus and suffering from the pangs of love, he spent that day there and set out the next morning towards the north.

७.३.३४

ततः प्रक्रामतस्तस्य त्रयो ऽन्ये सहयायिनः ।
मिलन्ति स्म वणिक्पुत्रा उत्तरापथगामिनः ॥

Summary AI As he proceeded, he met three other merchant sons who were also traveling along the northern route (Uttarāpatha).

७.३.३५

तैः समं समतिक्रामन्पुरग्रामाटवीनदीः ।
क्रमादुत्तरदिग्भूमिं प्राप स म्लेच्छभूयसीम् ॥

Summary AI Traveling with them through cities, villages, forests, and across rivers, he eventually reached the northern lands, which were largely populated by mlecchas.

७.३.३६

तत्र तैरेव सहितः पथि प्राप्यैव ताजिकैः ।
नीत्वापरस्मै मूल्येन दत्तो ऽभूत्ताजिकाय सः ॥

Summary AI There, along with his companions, he was captured by tājikas on the road, taken away, and sold for a price to another tājika.

७.३.३७

तेनापि तावद्भृत्यानां हस्ते कोशलिकाकृते ।
मुरवाराभिधानस्य तुरुष्कस्य व्यसृज्यत ॥

Summary AI That man then sent him as a gift into the hands of the servants of a Turk named Muravāra.

७.३.३८

तत्र नीतः स तद्भृत्यैर्युक्तस्तैरपरैस्त्रिभिः ।
मुरवारं मृतं बुद्ध्वा तत्पुत्राय न्यवेद्यत ॥

Summary AI Taken there by those servants along with the three other companions, and finding that Muravāra had died, he was presented to Muravāra's son.

७.३.३९

पितुः कोशलिका ह्येषा मित्त्रेण प्रेषिता मम ।
तत्तस्यैवान्तिके प्रातः खाते क्षेप्या इमे मया ॥

Summary AI "This is a gift for my father sent by my friend," thought the son. "Therefore, tomorrow morning I must throw these men into the pit near my father's grave."

७.३.४०

इत्यात्मना चतुर्थं तं तत्पुत्रो ऽपि स तां निशाम् ।
संयम्य स्थापयामास तुरुष्को निगडैर्दृढम् ॥

Summary AI Having decided this, the Turk's son bound him—the fourth among the group—firmly with chains and kept them there for the night.

७.३.४१

ततो ऽत्र बन्धने रात्रौ मरणत्रासकातरान् ।
सखीन्निश्चयदत्तस्तान्स जगाद वणिक्सुतान् ॥

Summary AI Then, in that prison during the night, Niścayadatta spoke to his companions, the sons of merchants, who were distressed by the fear of death.

७.३.४२

का विषादेन वः सिद्धिर्धैर्यमालम्ब्य तिष्ठत ।
भीता इव हि धीराणं यान्ति दूरे विपत्तयः ॥

Summary AI "What success can you achieve through despair? Stand firm with courage. Indeed, calamities flee far away from the brave, as if they themselves are afraid."

७.३.४३

स्मरतैकां भगवतीं दुर्गामापद्विमोचिनीम् ।
इति तान्धीरयन्भक्त्या देवीं तुष्टाव सो ऽथ ताम् ॥

Summary AI "Meditate upon the one Goddess Durgā, the liberator from all calamities." Thus encouraging them, he then praised the Goddess with deep devotion.

७.३.४४

नमस्तुभ्यं महादेवि पादौ ते यावकाङ्क्षितौ ।
मृदितासुरलग्नास्रपङ्काविव नमाम्यहम् ॥

Summary AI "O Great Goddess, salutations to You. I bow to Your feet marked with red lac, which appear as if they are stained with the blood-mud of crushed demons."

७.३.४५

जितं शक्त्या शिवस्यापि विश्वैश्वर्यकृता त्वया ।
त्वदनुप्राणितं चेदं चेष्टते भुवनत्रयम् ॥

Summary AI "By You, the creator of the universe's sovereignty, even the power of Śiva is surpassed. Animated by You, these three worlds perform their activities."

७.३.४६

परित्रातास्त्वया लोका महिषासुरसूदिनि ।
परित्रायस्व मां भक्तवत्सले शरणागतम् ॥

Summary AI "O Slayer of the demon Mahiṣa, the worlds have been protected by You. O Lover of devotees, protect me, who has come to You for refuge."

७.३.४७

इत्यादि सम्यग्देवीं तां स्तुत्वा सहचरैः सह ।
सो ऽथ निश्चयदत्तो ऽत्र श्रान्तो निद्रामगाद्द्रुतम् ॥

Summary AI After praising the Goddess in this manner along with his companions, the exhausted Niścayadatta quickly fell into a deep sleep.

७.३.४८

उत्तिष्ठत सुता यात विगतं बन्धनं हि वः ।
इत्यादिदेश सा स्वप्ने देवी तं चापरांश्च तान् ॥

Summary AI "Arise, children, and depart; for your bonds have vanished." Thus the Goddess commanded him and the others in a dream.

७.३.४९

प्रबुध्य च तदा रात्रौ दृष्ट्वा बन्धान्स्वतश्च्युतान् ।
अन्योन्यं स्वप्नमाख्याय हृष्टास्ते निर्ययुस्ततः ॥

Summary AI Waking up during the night and seeing their bonds fallen off on their own, they shared their dreams with one another and joyfully departed from there.

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कादम्बरीसंग्रहः कृष्णमाचार्यः

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