कथासरित्सागरः — षष्ठस्तरङ्गः | kathāsaritsāgaraḥ

षष्ठस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः प्रातः पुना रत्नप्रभासद्मनि तं स्थितम् ।
नरवाहनदत्तं ते गोमुखाद्या उपागमन् ॥

Summary AI Then, in the morning, Gomukha and others again approached Naravāhanadatta, who was staying in the house of Ratnaprabhā.

७.६.२

मरुभूतिः स तु मनाक्पीतासवमदालसः ।
बद्धपुष्पो ऽनुलिप्तश्च विलम्बित उपाययौ ॥

Summary AI Marubhūti, however, arrived late, being slightly sluggish from the intoxication of liquor, adorned with flowers and ointments.

७.६.३

प्रस्खलत्पदया गत्या हासयंस्तं गिरा तदा ।
तन्नीतिरञ्जितमुखो नर्मणोवाच गोमुखः ॥

Summary AI Making Naravāhanadatta laugh at Marubhūti's stumbling gait and speech, Gomukha, his face brightened by political wisdom, spoke jestingly.

७.६.४

यौगन्धरायणसुतो भूत्वा नीतिं न वेत्सि किम् ।
प्रातः पिबसि मद्यं यन्मत्तः प्रभुमुपैषि च ॥

Summary AI Gomukha asked Marubhūti if he, despite being the son of Yaugandharāyaṇa, was ignorant of policy, since he drank liquor in the morning and approached his lord while intoxicated.

७.६.५

तच्छ्रुत्वा तं क्रुधा क्षीबो मरुभूतिर्जगाद सः ।
एतन्मे प्रभुणा वाच्यममुना गुरुणापि वा ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the intoxicated Marubhūti angrily replied that such things should only be said to him by his lord or by his elder.

७.६.६

त्वं तु कः शिक्षयसि मामित्यकात्मज रे वद ।
इत्युक्तवन्तं तं भूयो हसन्नाह स गोमुखः ॥

Summary AI "Who are you to teach me, O son of an ityaka? Speak!" When Marubhūti said this, Gomukha laughed again and replied.

७.६.७

भर्त्सयन्त्यविनीतं किं स्ववाचा प्रभविष्णवः ।
अवश्यं तस्य वक्तव्यं तत्पार्श्वस्थैर्यथोचितम् ॥

Summary AI Gomukha retorted, "Do powerful masters rebuke the ill-mannered themselves? It is the duty of those standing by the master's side to say what is appropriate."

७.६.८

सत्यं चेत्यकपुत्रो ऽहं त्वं मन्त्रिवृषभः पुनः ।
वक्ति ते जाड्यमेवैतद्विषाणे स्तः परं न ते ॥

Summary AI "It is true I am the son of an ityaka, while you are a 'bull among ministers'. Your very behavior declares your stupidity; the only thing missing is that you do not have horns."

७.६.९

इत्युक्तो गोमुखेनात्र मरुभूतिरभाषत ।
तवैव वृषभत्वं हि गोमुखस्योपपद्यते ॥

Summary AI Being addressed thus by Gomukha, Marubhūti replied, "Indeed, the nature of a bull is most appropriate for you, whose very name is Gomukha (cow-faced)."

७.६.१०

तथापि यददान्तो ऽसि सो ऽयं ते जातिसंकरः ।
एतच्छ्रुत्वात्र सर्वेषु हसत्सूवाच गोमुखः ॥

Summary AI "Nevertheless, since you are untamed, it reveals your mixed breed." Hearing this, while everyone else laughed, Gomukha spoke again.

७.६.११

मरुभूतिरयं रत्नं जातु यत्नशतैरपि ।
अवेध्यं वज्रमेतस्मिन्गुणं को हि प्रवेशयेत् ॥

Summary AI Gomukha remarked that Marubhūti is like a diamond that cannot be pierced even with hundreds of efforts, asking rhetorically who could ever thread any quality or virtue into him.

७.६.१२

अन्यत्पुरुषरत्नं तद्यदयत्नेन वेध्यते ।
सिकतासेतुवृत्तान्तं शृणु चात्र निदर्शनम् ॥

Summary AI "That is a different kind of human jewel which can be easily influenced. Listen to the story of the bridge of sand as an illustration of this."

७.६.१३

आसीत्कोऽपि प्रतिष्ठाने तपोदत्त इति द्विजः ।
स पित्रा क्लेश्यमानो ऽपि विद्या नाध्यैत शैशवे ॥

Summary AI In Pratiṣṭhāna, there was a certain Brāhmaṇa named Tapodatta. Although urged by his father, he did not study at all during his childhood.

७.६.१४

अनन्तरं गर्ह्यमाणः सर्वैरनुशयान्वितः ।
स विद्यासिद्धये तप्तुं तपो गङ्गातटं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Later, being reproached by everyone and filled with remorse, he went to the banks of the Gaṅgā to perform penance to attain knowledge.

७.६.१५

तत्राश्रितोग्रतपसस्तस्य तं वीक्ष्य विस्मितः ।
वारयिष्यन्द्विजच्छद्मा शक्रो निकटमाययौ ॥

Summary AI Seeing him engaged in severe penance, Śakra was astonished and, wishing to dissuade him, approached him in the disguise of a Brāhmaṇa.

७.६.१६

आगत्य च स गङ्गायास्तटाच्चिक्षेप वारिणि ।
उद्धृत्योद्धृत्य सिकताः पश्यतस्तस्य सोर्मिणि ॥

Summary AI Having arrived, while Tapodatta watched, Śakra repeatedly picked up handfuls of sand from the bank and threw them into the wavy water of the Gaṅgā.

७.६.१७

तद्दृष्ट्वा मुक्तमौनस्तं तपोदत्तः स पृष्टवान् ।
अश्रान्तः किमिदं ब्रह्मन्करोषीति सकौतुकम् ॥

Summary AI Seeing that, Tapodatta broke his silence and asked curiously, "O Brāhmaṇa, what is this that you are doing so untiringly?"

७.६.१८

निर्बन्धपृष्टः स च तं शक्रो ऽवादीद्द्विजाकृतिः ।
सेतुं बध्नामि गङ्गायां ताराय प्राणिनामिति ॥

Summary AI Being persistently questioned, Śakra, in the form of a Brāhmaṇa, replied, "I am building a bridge over the Gaṅgā for living beings to cross."

७.६.१९

ततो ऽब्रवीत्तपोदत्तः सेतुः किं मूर्ख बध्यते ।
गङ्गायामोघहार्याभिः सिकताभिः कदाचन ॥

Summary AI Tapodatta then said, "You fool! Can a bridge ever be built over the Gaṅgā using sand that is easily swept away by the current?"

७.६.२०

तच्छ्रुत्वा तमुवाचैवं शक्रो ऽथ द्विजरूपधृक् ।
यद्येवं वेत्सि तद्विद्यां विना पाठं विना श्रुतम् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Śakra, in his Brāhmaṇa disguise, replied, "If you know this, then how do you expect to attain knowledge without study and without listening to instruction?"

७.६.२१

कस्माद्व्रतोपवासाद्यैस्त्वं साधयितुमुद्यतः ।
इयं शशविषाणेच्छा व्योम्नि वा चित्रकल्पना ॥

Summary AI Why are you striving to achieve knowledge through vows and fasting? This is as futile as desiring the horns of a hare or attempting to paint a picture in the empty sky.

७.६.२२

अनक्षरो लिपिन्यासो यद्विद्याध्ययनं विना ।
एवं यदि भवेदेतन्नह्यधीयीत कश्चन ॥

Summary AI Writing without formal study is devoid of actual letters. If it were possible to gain knowledge in such a manner, then no one in the world would ever bother to study.

७.६.२३

इत्युक्तः स तपोदत्तः शक्रेण द्विजरूपिणा ।
विचार्य तत्तथा मत्वा तपस्त्यक्त्वा गृहं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Addressed thus by Śakra in the guise of a Brāhmaṇa, Tapodatta reflected on those words, realized their truth, abandoned his penance, and returned to his home.

७.६.२४

एवं सुधीः सुखं बोध्यो मरुभूतिस्तु दुर्मतिः ।
न शक्यते बोधयितुं बोध्यमानश्च कुप्यति ॥

Summary AI Thus, a wise person is easily instructed, but a fool like Marubhūti cannot be taught; even when one attempts to advise him, he only becomes enraged.

७.६.२५

इत्युक्ते गोमुखेनात्र मध्ये हरिशिखो ऽभ्यधात् ।
भवन्ति सुखसंबोध्याः सत्यं देव सुमेधसः ॥

Summary AI When Gomukha said this, Hariśikha interrupted, saying, "O King, it is indeed true that those endowed with good intellect are easily enlightened."

७.६.२६

तथा च पूर्वमभवद्वाराणस्यां द्विजोत्तमः ।
कश्चिद्विरूपशर्माख्यो विरूपो निर्धनस्तथा ॥

Summary AI In the past, there lived in Vārāṇasī a certain excellent Brāhmaṇa named Virūpaśarman, who was both physically deformed and extremely poor.

७.६.२७

स चवैरूप्यदौर्गत्यनिर्विण्णस्तत्तपोवनम् ।
गत्वा तीव्रं तपश्चक्रे रूपद्रविणकाङ्क्षया ॥

Summary AI Dejected by his ugliness and poverty, and desiring beauty and wealth, he went to a penance grove and performed severe austerities.

७.६.२८

ततः सुरपतिः कृत्वा विकृतव्याधिताकृतेः ।
जम्बुकस्याधमं रूपमेत्याग्रे तस्य तस्थिवान् ॥

Summary AI Then Indra, the lord of the gods, assumed the wretched form of a deformed and diseased jackal and came to stand directly before him.

७.६.२९

तं विलोक्य परीताङ्गमक्षिकाभिरलक्षणम् ।
विरूपशर्मा शनकैर्मनसा विममर्श सः ॥

Summary AI Seeing that ill-omened creature whose entire body was covered with swarming flies, Virūpaśarman began to reflect slowly within his mind.

७.६.३०

ईदृशा अपि जायन्ते संसारे पूर्वकर्मभिः ।
तन्ममाल्पमिदं धात्रा कृतं यन्नेदृशः कृतः ॥

Summary AI Even such miserable beings are born in this world due to their past actions. Therefore, the Creator has been merciful to me by not making me like this creature.

७.६.३१

को दैवलिखितं भोगं लङ्घयेदित्यवेत्य सः ।
विरूपशर्मा शनकैस्तपःस्थानाद्ययौ गृहम् ॥

Summary AI Realizing that no one can escape the destiny ordained by fate, Virūpaśarman slowly left the place of penance and returned to his home.

७.६.३२

इत्थं सुबुद्धिरल्पेन देव यत्नेन बोध्यते ।
न कृच्छ्रेणापि महता निर्विचारमतिः पुनः ॥

Summary AI O King, thus a wise person is enlightened with very little effort, whereas one with an unreflecting mind cannot be taught even with great difficulty.

७.६.३३

एवं हरिशिखेनोक्ते श्रद्धधाने च गोमुखे ।
मरुभूतिरनात्मज्ञः क्षीबो ऽतिकुपितो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI When Hariśikha spoke thus and Gomukha expressed agreement, the ignorant and intoxicated Marubhūti became exceedingly angry and spoke.

७.६.३४

बलं गोमुख वाच्येव न तु बाह्वोर्भवादृशाम् ।
वाचालैः कलहः क्लीबैस्त्रपाकृद्बाहुशालिनाम् ॥

Summary AI "O Gomukha, the strength of people like you lies only in speech, not in your arms. A quarrel with talkative cowards only brings shame to those who possess real strength."

७.६.३५

इति ब्रुवाणं युद्धेच्छुं मरुभूतिं स्मिताननः ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽथ प्रभुः स्वयमसान्त्वयत् ॥

Summary AI Then the lord Naravāhanadatta, with a smiling face, personally pacified Marubhūti, who was speaking in this manner and was eager for a fight.

७.६.३६

विसृज्य तं च स्वगृहं तं बालसखिवत्सलः ।
कुर्वन्दिवसकार्याणि निनाय तदहः सुखम् ॥

Summary AI The prince, affectionate toward his childhood friend, sent him home and spent the rest of the day happily performing his daily duties.

७.६.३७

प्रातश्च सर्वेष्वायातेष्वेषु मन्त्रिषु तं प्रिया ।
रत्नप्रभा जगादैवं मरुभूतौ त्रपानते ॥

Summary AI The next morning, when all the ministers had arrived and Marubhūti stood humbled by shame, the beloved Ratnaprabhā spoke to the prince thus.

७.६.३८

त्वमार्यपुत्र सुकृती यस्य ते सचिवा इमे ।
आबाल्यस्नेहनिगडनिबद्धाः शुद्धचेतसः ॥

Summary AI "O noble one, you are fortunate to have these pure-hearted ministers who are bound to you by the unbreakable chains of childhood affection."

७.६.३९

एते च धन्या येषां त्वमीदृक्स्नेहपरः प्रभुः ।
प्राक्कर्मोपार्जिता यूयमन्योन्यस्य न संशयः ॥

Summary AI "And they too are blessed to have such an affectionate master as you. There is no doubt that you have all been brought together by the merit of your past actions."

७.६.४०

एवमुक्ते तया राज्ञ्या वसन्तकसुतो ऽब्रवीत् ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्य नर्ममित्त्रं तपन्तकः ॥

Summary AI When the queen had spoken thus, Tapantaka, the son of Vasantaka and the jester-friend of Naravāhanadatta, replied.

७.६.४१

सत्यं पुर्वार्जितो ऽयं नः स्वामी सर्वं हि तिष्ठति ।
पूर्वकर्मवशादेव तथा च श्रूयतां कथा ॥

Summary AI Truthfully, this master of ours was earned through past merit. Everything indeed depends on the power of past actions; now, hear this story.

७.६.४२

अभुच्छ्रीकण्ठनिलये विलासपुरनामनि ।
पुरे विनयशीलाख्यो नाम्नान्वर्थेन भूपतिः ॥

Summary AI In the region of Śrīkaṇṭha, in the city named Vilāsapura, there lived a king called Vinayaśīla, whose name perfectly matched his modest character.

७.६.४३

तस्य प्राणसमा देवी बभूव कमलप्रभा ।
तया साकं च भोगैकसक्तस्तस्थौ चिराय सः ॥

Summary AI His queen was Kamalaprabhā, who was as dear to him as his own life. For a long time, the king remained exclusively devoted to enjoying pleasures with her.

७.६.४४

अथ कालेन भूपस्य जरा सौन्दर्यहारिणी ।
तस्याविरासीत्तां दृष्ट्वा स चासीदतिदुःखितः ॥

Summary AI In the course of time, beauty-stealing old age manifested in the king. Upon seeing it, he became exceedingly distressed.

७.६.४५

हिमाहतमिवाम्भोजं पलितम्लानमाननम् ।
दर्शयामि कथं देव्यै हा धिङ्मे मरणं वरम् ॥

Summary AI "How can I show the Queen my face, withered by grey hair like a lotus struck by frost? Alas! Death would be better for me."

७.६.४६

इत्यादि चिन्तयन्सो ऽथ सदस्याहूय भूपतिः ।
वैद्यं तरुणचन्द्राख्यं निजगाद कृतादरः ॥

Summary AI Thinking thus, the king summoned a physician named Taruṇacandra to the assembly and spoke to him with great respect.

७.६.४७

भद्र भक्तस्त्वमस्मासु कुशलश्चेति पृच्छ्यसे ।
अप्यस्ति काचिद्युक्तिः सा ययेयं वार्यते जरा ॥

Summary AI "Good man, you are known to be devoted to us and highly skilled. Is there any method or device by which this old age can be averted?"

७.६.४८

तच्छ्रुत्वैव कलामात्रसारो वाञ्छन्स पूर्णताम् ।
वक्रस्तरुणचन्द्रो ऽन्तः सत्यनामा व्यचिन्तयत् ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, the crooked Taruṇacandra—whose name meant 'Young Moon' but who possessed only a fraction of true essence while desiring fullness—thought to himself.

७.६.४९

मूर्खो ऽयं नृपतिर्भोज्यो मया वेत्स्यामि च क्रमात् ।
इति संचिन्त्य स भिषक्तमेवमवदन्नृपम् ॥

Summary AI "This foolish king is a fit object for my exploitation; I shall eventually take everything." Thinking so, the physician replied to the king.

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