कथासरित्सागरः — पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः

पञ्चमस्तरङ्गः ।

एवं कथितवत्यत्र मरुभूतौ चमूपतिः ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्य पुरो हरिशिखो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI After Marubhūti had spoken thus, the general Hariśikha spoke in front of Naravāhanadatta.

सत्यमेव न सुस्त्रीणां भर्तुरन्यत्परायणम् ।
तथा च श्रूयतामेषाप्यत्र चित्रतरा कथा ॥

Summary AI It is indeed true that for virtuous women there is no refuge other than their husband; in this regard, listen to this even more wonderful story.

७.५.३

वर्धमानपुरं नाम यदस्ति नगरं भुवि ।
तत्र वीरभुजाख्यो ऽभूद्राजा धर्मभृतां वरः ॥

Summary AI In a city on earth called Vardhamānapura, there lived a king named Vīrabhuja, the best among the upholders of righteousness.

७.५.४

अन्तःपुरशते तस्य विद्यमाने ऽप्यभूत्प्रभोः ।
एका गुणवरा नाम राज्ञी प्राणाधिकप्रिया ॥

Summary AI Although that lord possessed a harem of a hundred women, one queen named Guṇavarā was dearer to him than his own life.

७.५.५

पत्नीशतस्य मध्ये च न तावद्दैवयोगतः ।
एकस्यामपि कस्यांचित्पुत्रस्तस्योदपद्यत ॥

Summary AI However, by the turn of fate, not a single son was born to any of the hundred wives in his harem.

७.५.६

तेन वैद्यं स पप्रच्छ श्रुतवर्धनसंज्ञकम् ।
कच्चिदस्त्यौषधं तादृग्येन स्यात्पुत्रसंभवः ॥

Summary AI Therefore, he asked a physician named Śrutavardhana, "Is there any medicine by which the birth of a son might be possible?"

७.५.७

तच्छ्रुत्वा सो ऽब्रवीद्वैद्यो देवैतत्साधयाम्यहम् ।
वन्यच्छगलकः किं तु देवेनानाय्यतां मम ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the physician said, "O King, I shall accomplish this; however, let a wild goat be brought to me by Your Majesty."

७.५.८

इत्याकर्ण्य भिषग्वाक्यं प्रतीहारं स भूपतिः ।
आदिश्यानाययामास तस्य च्छगलकं वनात् ॥

Summary AI Hearing the physician's words, the king commanded his doorkeeper and had a goat brought from the forest for him.

७.५.९

तं छागं राजसूदेभ्यः समर्प्य स भिषक्ततः ।
तन्मांसैः साधयामास राज्ञर्थं रसकोत्तमम् ॥

Summary AI Delivering that goat to the royal cooks, the physician then prepared an excellent meat broth with its flesh for the queens.

७.५.१०

आदिश्यैकत्र राज्ञीनां मेलकं देवमर्चितुम् ।
गते राज्ञि मिलन्ति स्म देव्य एकत्र तत्र ताः ॥

Summary AI After the king had ordered the queens to assemble in one place to worship the deity and departed, the queens gathered there together.

७.५.११

एका तु मिलिता नासीद्राज्ञो गुणवरात्र सा ।
राज्ञो देवार्चनस्थस्य तत्कालं निकटे स्थिता ॥

Summary AI Among them, only Queen Guṇavarā was not present at the gathering, as she was standing near the king while he was engaged in the worship of the deity.

७.५.१२

मिलिताभ्यश्च ताभ्यस्तत्पानार्थं चूर्णमिश्रितम् ।
अविभाव्यैव रसकं निःशेषं स ददौ भिषक् ॥

Summary AI Without noticing Guṇavarā's absence, the physician gave all of that powder-mixed broth to the queens who had assembled for drinking.

७.५.१३

क्षणात्कृतार्चनः सो ऽत्र राजागत्य प्रियायुतः ।
वीक्ष्याशेषोपयुक्तं तद्द्रव्यं वैद्यं तमभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI Having completed the worship in a moment, the king arrived with his beloved wife and, seeing that the medicinal substance was entirely consumed, spoke to the physician.

७.५.१४

अहो न स्थापितं किंचित्त्वया गुणवराकृते ।
यत्प्रधानो ऽयमारम्भस्तदेव तव विस्मृतम् ॥

Summary AI "Alas! You have set nothing aside for Guṇavarā; you have forgotten the very person for whose sake this undertaking was primary!"

७.५.१५

इत्युक्त्वा स विलक्षं तं वैद्यं सूदान्नृपो ऽब्रवीत् ।
किं तस्य च्छगलस्यास्ति मांसशेषो ऽत्र कश्चन ॥

Summary AI Having said this to the embarrassed physician, the king asked the cooks, "Is there any remnant of that goat's meat left here?"

७.५.१६

शृङ्गे परे स्त इत्युक्ते सूदैर्वैद्यो ऽथ सो ऽब्रवीत् ।
साधु तर्ह्युत्तमं हि स्याद्रसकं शृङ्गगर्भजम् ॥

Summary AI When the cooks replied, "Only the horns remain," the physician then said, "Very well! In that case, the broth produced from the marrow of the horns will indeed be excellent."

७.५.१७

इत्युक्त्वा कारयित्वैव तत्ततः शृङ्गमांसतः ।
तस्यै गुणवरायै स चूर्णमिश्रं भिषग्ददौ ॥

Summary AI Having said this, the physician then prepared the broth from the flesh of the horns and gave it, mixed with powder, to Guṇavarā.

७.५.१८

ततस्तस्याथ नवतिर्देव्यो राज्ञो नवाधिकाः ।
आसन्सगर्भाः काले च सर्वाः सुषुविरे सुतान् ॥

Summary AI Consequently, ninety-nine wives of the king became pregnant and, in due time, all gave birth to sons.

७.५.१९

अर्वागुपात्तगर्भा च सा सर्वोत्तमलक्षणम् ।
प्रासूत स्म महादेवी पश्चाद्गुणवरा सुतम् ॥

Summary AI Although she conceived later than the others, Queen Guṇavarā eventually gave birth to a son endowed with the most excellent characteristics.

७.५.२०

शृङ्गमांसरसोत्पन्नं नाम्ना शृङ्गभुजं च तम् ।
पीता वीरभुजश्चक्रे राजा कृतमहोत्सवः ॥

Summary AI The delighted King Vīrabhuja celebrated a great festival and named the boy Śṛṅgabhuja, as he was born from the essence of the horn-flesh broth.

७.५.२१

वर्धमानः सहान्यैस्तैर्भ्रातृभिर्वयसा परम् ।
कनिष्ठः सो ऽभवत्तेषां गुणैर्ज्येष्ठतमस्त्वभूत् ॥

Summary AI Growing up alongside his other brothers, he remained the youngest among them in age, yet he became the eldest in terms of virtues.

७.५.२२

क्रमात्स राजपुत्रश्च रूपे कामसमो ऽभवत् ।
धनुर्वेदे ऽर्जुनसमो भीमसेनसमो बले ॥

Summary AI In due course, that prince became like Kāma in beauty, like Arjuna in the science of archery, and like Bhīmasena in physical strength.

७.५.२३

ततः सपुत्रां सुतरां दृष्ट्वा वीरभुजस्य ताम् ।
प्रियां गुणवरां राज्ञो देव्यो ऽन्या मत्सरं ययुः ॥

Summary AI Then, seeing that Guṇavarā, along with her son, was the king's most beloved, the other queens of King Vīrabhuja became filled with envy.

७.५.२४

अथ तास्वयशोलेखा नाम राज्ञी दुराशया ।
संमन्त्र्य ताभिरन्याभिः सह कृत्वा च संविदम् ॥

Summary AI Then, among them, a wicked queen named Ayaśolekhā, having consulted with the other queens and formed a conspiracy...

७.५.२५

समस्ताभिः सपत्नीभिस्तं राजानं गृहागतम् ।
मृषाधृतमुखग्लानिः पृच्छन्तं कृच्छ्रतो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Accompanied by all the co-wives, she, falsely assuming a face of dejection, spoke with difficulty to the king who had returned home and was questioning her.

७.५.२६

आर्यपुत्र कथं नाम सहसे गृहदूषणम् ।
परस्य रक्षितावद्यं न रक्षस्यात्मनः कथम् ॥

Summary AI "O noble husband, how can you endure this stain upon your household? You protect others from faults, so why do you not protect your own honor?"

७.५.२७

यः सुरक्षितनामायमन्तःपुरपतिर्युवा ।
तत्सक्ता हि त्वदीयैष राज्ञी गुणवरा किल ॥

Summary AI "This young warden of the harem named Surakṣita is indeed the one with whom your queen Guṇavarā is reportedly infatuated."

७.५.२८

तदन्यस्य न लाभो ऽस्ति सौविदल्लाभिरक्षिते ।
अन्तःपुरे ऽत्र पुंसो यदतो ऽसौ तेन संगता ॥

Summary AI "Since no other man can gain access to this harem guarded by eunuchs, she has therefore united herself with him."

७.५.२९

सर्वत्रान्तःपुरे चैतत्प्रसिद्धमिह गीयते ।
इत्युक्तः स तया राजा दध्यौ च विममर्श च ॥

Summary AI "This is famous and spoken of everywhere in the harem." Thus addressed by her, the king reflected and deliberated.

७.५.३०

गत्वा चैकैकशो राज्ञीरन्याः पप्रच्छ ताः क्रमात् ।
ताश्च तस्मै तथैवोचुः सर्वा रचितकैतवाः ॥

Summary AI Going to the other queens, he questioned them one by one in order; they all, having fabricated the deception, told him the exact same thing.

७.५.३१

ततः स मतिमान्राजा जितक्रोधो व्यचिन्तयत् ।
तयोः संभाव्यते नैतत्प्रवादश्चायमीदृशः ॥

Summary AI Then that wise king, having mastered his anger, thought: "This is not possible for those two, yet such a rumor exists."

७.५.३२

तदानिश्चित्य कार्यो मे प्रतिभेदो न कस्यचित् ।
युक्त्या तु परिहार्यौ तौ संप्रत्यन्तमवेक्षितुम् ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, without certainty, I should not cause a rift with anyone. However, to see the eventual outcome, those two should be separated by some stratagem."

७.५.३३

इति निश्चित्य सो ऽन्येद्युरास्थाने ऽन्तः पुराधिपम् ।
सुरक्षितं तमाहूय कृतकोपः समभ्यधात् ॥

Summary AI Having decided this, the next day in the assembly hall, he summoned that warden of the harem, Surakṣita, and spoke to him while feigning anger.

७.५.३४

ब्राह्महत्या त्वया पाप कृतेत्यवगतं मया ।
तत्त्वामकृतसत्तीर्थयात्रं न द्रष्टुमुत्सहे ॥

Summary AI "O sinner, I have learned that you have committed the killing of a Brāhmaṇa. Therefore, I cannot bear to look at you until you have performed a holy pilgrimage."

७.५.३५

तच्छ्रुत्वा तं समुद्भ्रान्तं ब्रह्महत्या कुतो मया ।
कृता देवेति जल्पन्तं स राजा पुनरब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, while the bewildered man stammered, "O King, how could I have committed a Brāhmaṇa's murder?" the king spoke to him again.

७.५.३६

मा स्म धार्ष्ट्यं कृथा गच्छ काश्मीरान्पापनाशनान् ।
यत्र तद्विजयक्षेत्रं नन्दिक्षेत्रं च पावनम् ॥

Summary AI "Do not be impudent. Go to Kāśmīra, the destroyer of sins, where the sacred Vijaya-kṣetra and Nandi-kṣetra are located."

७.५.३७

वाराहं यत्र च क्षेत्रं ये पूताश्चक्रपाणिना ।
धत्ते नाम वितस्तेति वहन्ती यत्र जाह्नवी ॥

Summary AI "And where the Vārāha-kṣetra lies, purified by Cakrapāṇi, and where the flowing Gaṅgā assumes the name Vitastā."

७.५.३८

यत्र तन्मडवक्षेत्रं यत्र चोत्तरमानसम् ।
तत्तीर्थयात्रापूतो मां पुनर्द्रक्ष्यसि नान्यथा ॥

Summary AI "Where the Maḍava-kṣetra and Uttaramānasa are found; once purified by that pilgrimage, you shall see me again, and not otherwise."

७.५.३९

एवमुक्त्वा तमवशं विससर्ज सुरक्षितम् ।
स युक्त्या तीर्थयात्रायां दूरं वीरभुजो नृपः ॥

Summary AI Saying this, King Vīrabhuja sent the helpless Surakṣita far away on a pilgrimage by means of this stratagem.

७.५.४०

ततो गुणवरादेव्याः पूर्वं तस्या जगाम सः ।
सस्नेहश्च सकोपश्च सविमर्शश्च भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI Then the king, filled with affection, anger, and doubt, went into the presence of Queen Guṇavarā.

७.५.४१

तत्र सा खिन्नमनसं तं दृष्ट्वापृच्छदाकुला ।
आर्यपुत्र किमद्यैवमकस्मद्दुर्मनायसे ॥

Summary AI Seeing him dejected, the anxious Queen asked, 'My Lord, why do you suddenly seem so troubled today?'

७.५.४२

तच्छ्रुत्वा स महीभृत्तामेवं कृतकमभ्यधात् ।
अद्यागत्य महाज्ञानी देवी मां को ऽप्यभाषत ॥

Summary AI Hearing her, the King deceitfully replied, 'A great seer came today and spoke to me.'

७.५.४३

राजन्गुणवरा देवी कालं कंचन भूगृहे ।
स्थापनीया त्वया भाव्यं स्वयं च ब्रह्मचारिणा ॥

Summary AI 'O King, Queen Guṇavarā must be placed in an underground chamber for a time, and you must remain celibate.'

७.५.४४

राज्यभ्रंशो ऽन्यथा ते स्यान्मृत्युस्तस्याश्च निश्चितम् ।
इत्युक्त्वा स गतो ज्ञानी विषादो ऽयं ततो मम ॥

Summary AI 'Otherwise, your kingdom will fall and her death is certain. After saying this, the seer left; hence my grief.'

७.५.४५

एवं तेनोदिते राज्ञा राज्ञी गुणवरा तु सा ।
भयानुरागविभ्रान्ता तं जगाद पतिव्रत ॥

Summary AI When the King spoke thus, the devoted Queen Guṇavarā, confused by fear and affection, addressed him.

७.५.४६

तर्ह्यार्यपुत्र नाद्यैव किं मां क्षिपसि भूगृहे ।
धन्या ह्यस्मि यदि प्राणैरपि स्यान्मे हितं तव ॥

Summary AI 'My Lord, why not cast me into the cellar this very day? I would be blessed if your welfare is secured even by my life.'

७.५.४७

मम वा मृत्युरस्त्वेव तव मा भूदनिर्वृतिः ।
इहामुत्र च नारीणां परमा हि गतिः पतिः ॥

Summary AI 'Let death be mine, but let no misfortune touch you. For a husband is the supreme refuge for women in both worlds.'

७.५.४८

इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा साश्रुः सो ऽचिन्तयत्प्रभुः ।
शङ्के न पापमेतस्यां न च तस्मिन्सुरक्षिते ॥

Summary AI Tearfully, the King thought, 'I suspect no sin in her, nor in the well-guarded Surakṣita.'

७.५.४९

स ह्यम्लानमुखच्छायो निराशङ्को मयेक्षितः ।
कष्टं तथापि जिज्ञासे प्रवादस्यास्य निश्चयम् ॥

Summary AI 'I saw him with a bright face and no fear. Alas! yet I wish to ascertain the truth of this rumor.'

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कादम्बरीसंग्रहः कृष्णमाचार्यः

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