कथासरित्सागरः — अष्टमस्तरङ्गः

अष्टमस्तरङ्गः ।

ततो ऽहनि परे प्राप्तः सोत्कां रत्नप्रभां प्रियाम् ।
शीघ्रं प्रत्यागमिष्यामीत्याश्वास्याखेटकाय सः ॥

Summary AI On the following day, Naravāhanadatta comforted his longing beloved Ratnaprabhā, promising to return quickly, and set out for hunting.

७.८.२

वत्सेशेन समं पित्रा वयस्यैश्चाटवीं ययौ ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽश्वैर्गजैश्च परिवारितः ॥

Summary AI Accompanied by his father, the King of Vatsa, and his friends, and surrounded by horses and elephants, Naravāhanadatta entered the forest.

७.८.३

तत्र भिन्नेभकुम्भानां नखोदरपरिच्युतैः ।
सिंहानां हतसुप्तानामुप्तबीजेव मौक्तिकैः ॥

Summary AI The forest during the hunt appeared like a field sown with pearl-seeds fallen from the paws of lions that had split the temples of elephants.

७.८.४

व्याघ्राणां भल्ललूनानां दंष्त्राभिः साङ्कुरेव च ।
सपल्लवेव क्षतजैर्हरिणानां परिस्रुतैः ॥

Summary AI The hunting sport seemed to have sprouts from tiger tusks cut by arrows and foliage from the flowing blood of the deer.

७.८.५

निमग्नकङ्कपत्राङ्कैः क्रोडैः स्तबकितेव च ।
शरीरैः शरभाणां च पतितैः फलितेव च ॥

Summary AI It appeared to bloom with boars pierced by arrows and bear fruit with the fallen bodies of śarabhas.

७.८.६

बभूव तस्य निपतद्धनशब्दशिलीमुखा ।
प्रीतये मृगयालीलालता शोभितकानना ॥

Summary AI The hunting sport, resplendent with the sound of bows and arrows and beautifying the forest, brought him great joy.

७.८.७

शनैः श्रान्तः स विश्रम्य प्रविवेश वनान्तरम् ।
हयारूधः सहैकेन गोमुखेनाश्वसादिना ॥

Summary AI Weary after a while, Naravāhanadatta rested and then entered another part of the forest on horseback with only the groom Gomukha.

७.८.८

तत्रारेभे च गुलिकाक्रीडां कामपि तत्क्षणम् ।
तावच्च तापसी कापि पथा तेन किलाययौ ॥

Summary AI At that moment, he began playing with a ball, and just then, an ascetic woman happened to pass by on that path.

७.८.९

तस्यास्तस्य कराद्भ्रष्टा गुलिका मूर्ध्नि चापतत् ।
ततो विहस्य किंचित्सा तापसी तमभाषत ॥

Summary AI A ball slipped from his hand and hit the ascetic's head; she smiled slightly and spoke to him.

७.८.१०

एवमेव मदो ऽयं चेत्तव तद्यद्यवाप्स्यसि ।
जातु कर्पूरिकां भार्यां ततः कीदृग्भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI She remarked, "If your pride is already like this, how will it be if you ever obtain Karpūrikā as your wife?"

७.८.११

एतच्छ्रुत्वावरुह्यैव तुरगाच्चरणानतः ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्तां तापसीं निजगाद सः ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Naravāhanadatta immediately dismounted and bowed at her feet, addressing the ascetic woman.

७.८.१२

त्वं न दृष्टा मया दैवाद्गुलिका चात्र मे गता ।
प्रदीद तद्भगवति क्षमस्व स्खलितं मम ॥

Summary AI "I did not see you, and by chance my ball went there. O holy one, be gracious and forgive my mistake."

७.८.१३

तच्छ्रुत्वा नास्ति मे पुत्र कोप इत्यभिधाय च ।
तापसी सा जितक्रोधा तमाशीर्भिरसान्त्वयत् ॥

Summary AI Hearing him, the self-controlled ascetic woman said, "Son, I am not angry," and comforted him with blessings.

७.८.१४

ततश्च वशिनीं मत्वा प्रबुद्धां सत्यतापसीम् ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्तां पप्रच्छ विनयेन सः ॥

Summary AI Recognizing her as a truly enlightened and disciplined ascetic, Naravāhanadatta questioned her with great humility.

७.८.१५

कैषा कर्पूरिका नाम भगवत्युदित त्वया ।
एतादादिशि तुष्टासि मयि चेत्कौतुकं हि मे ॥

Summary AI "O holy one, who is this Karpūrikā you mentioned? If you are pleased with me, please tell me, for I am curious."

७.८.१६

इत्युक्तवन्तं प्रणतं तापसी तं जगाद सा ।
अस्ति पारेम्बुधि परं नाम्ना कर्पूरसंभवम् ॥

Summary AI The ascetic told the bowing prince that there is a great city named Karpūrasambhava across the ocean.

७.८.१७

अन्वर्थस्तत्र राजास्ति कर्पूरक इति श्रुतः ।
तस्य कर्पूरिका नाम सुतास्ति वरकन्यका ॥

Summary AI "There reigns a king named Karpūraka, fittingly named, who has a daughter, the excellent maiden Karpūrikā."

७.८.१८

एकां विलोक्य कमलां निर्मथ्यापहृतां सुरैः ।
या द्वितीयेव निक्षिप्य तत्र गोपायिताब्धिना ॥

Summary AI "Seeing that the gods took the first Kamalā (Lakṣmī) during the churning, the ocean seemingly hid Karpūrikā there as a second goddess."

७.८.१९

पुरुषद्वेषिनी सा च विवाहं नाभिवाञ्छति ।
त्वय्युपेते यदि परं भविष्यति तदर्थिनी ॥

Summary AI "She hates men and avoids marriage, but she might desire it if you approach her."

७.८.२०

तत्तत्र गच्छ पुत्र त्वं तां च प्राप्स्यसि सुन्दरीम् ।
गच्छतश्चात्र ते ऽटव्यां महाक्लेशो भविष्यति ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, go there, my son, and you shall win that beauty, though your journey through the forest will be difficult."

७.८.२१

मोहस्तत्र न कार्यस्ते सर्वं स्वन्तं हि भावि तत् ।
इत्युक्त्वैव खमुत्पत्य तापसी सा तिरोदधे ॥

Summary AI "Do not be bewildered there, for all of this will end well," said the female ascetic. Having spoken thus, she flew into the sky and vanished.

७.८.२२

नरवाहनदत्तो ऽथ तद्वाणीमदनाज्ञया ।
आकृष्टः स तमाह स्म गोमुखं पार्श्ववर्तिनम् ॥

Summary AI Then Naravāhanadatta, drawn by the ascetic's words and the command of Kāmadeva, spoke to Gomukha, who was standing by his side.

७.८.२३

एहि कर्पूरिकापार्श्वं पुरं कर्पूरसंभवम् ।
गच्छावस्तामदृष्ट्वा हि न क्षणं स्थातुमुत्सहे ॥

Summary AI "Come to the city of Karpūrasambhava to find Karpūrikā; let us go. For without seeing her, I cannot bear to remain even for a moment."

७.८.२४

तच्छ्रुत्वा गोमुखो ऽवादीद्देवालं साहसेन ते ।
क्व त्वं क्वाब्धिः पुरं तत्क्व क्व सो ऽध्वा कन्यका क्व सा ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Gomukha said, "O Prince, enough with your rashness! Where are you, and where is the ocean, that city, that path, and that maiden?"

७.८.२५

नाम्नि श्रुते किमेकाकी त्यक्तदिव्याङ्गनाजनः ।
निरभिप्रायसंदिग्धामभिधावसि मानुषीम् ॥

Summary AI "Why do you, having abandoned celestial women, run alone after a human girl of doubtful intent simply because you heard her name?"

७.८.२६

एवं स गोमुखेनोक्तो वत्सराजसुतस्तदा ।
अब्रवीत्सिद्धतापस्या न तस्या वचनं मृषा ॥

Summary AI When addressed thus by Gomukha, the son of the King of Vatsa replied, "The words of that perfected female ascetic cannot be false."

७.८.२७

तन्मयावश्यगन्तव्यं प्राप्तुं तां राजकन्यकाम् ।
इत्युक्त्वा स हयारूढः प्रतस्थे तत्क्षणं ततः ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, I must certainly go to obtain that princess." Having said this, he mounted his horse and set out from there at that very moment.

७.८.२८

अन्वगात्स च तं तूष्णीमनिच्छन्नपि गोमुखः ।
अकुर्वन्वचनं भृत्यैरनुगम्यः परं प्रभुः ॥

Summary AI Gomukha, though unwilling, followed him silently; for a master, even when not listening to advice, must be followed by his servants.

७.८.२९

तावद्वत्सेश्वरो ऽप्यागात्कृताखेटो निजां पुरीम् ।
मन्वानः स तमायान्तं सुतं स्वबलमध्यगम् ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, the King of Vatsa returned to his city after hunting, believing his son was returning in the midst of his own army.

७.८.३०

स्वबलं तच्च तस्यागान्मरुभूत्यादिभिः सह ।
पुरीं तामेव मत्वा तं सैन्यमध्यस्थितं प्रभुम् ॥

Summary AI His own army, along with Marubhūti and others, also reached that same city, thinking that their lord was situated in the middle of the troops.

७.८.३१

तत्र प्राप्ता विचिन्वन्तस्ते बुद्ध्वा तमनागतम् ।
वत्सेश्वरादयो जग्मुः सर्वे रत्नप्रभान्तिकम् ॥

Summary AI Having arrived and searched, and realizing he had not come, the King of Vatsa and the others all went to Ratnaprabhā.

७.८.३२

सा चादौ तच्छ्रुतेनार्ता ध्यातया निजविद्यया ।
आख्यातदयितोदन्ता विग्नं श्वशुरमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI She, initially distressed by the news, learned the whereabouts of her husband through her meditated magic science and spoke to her worried father-in-law.

७.८.३३

कर्पूरिकां राजसुतां तापस्या कथितां वने ।
आर्यपुत्रो गतः प्राप्तुं पुरं कर्पूरसंभवम् ॥

Summary AI "My husband has gone to the city of Karpūrasambhava to obtain Princess Karpūrikā, of whom the female ascetic spoke in the forest."

७.८.३४

शीघ्रं च कृतकार्यः सन्निहैष्यति सगोमुखः ।
तदलं चिन्तयैतद्धि विद्यातो ऽधिगतं मया ॥

Summary AI "Accompanied by Gomukha, he will return here soon after accomplishing his task. Therefore, enough with this anxiety, for I have learned this through my magic science."

७.८.३५

इत्युक्त्वाश्वासयत्सा तं वत्सेशं सपरिच्छदम् ।
रत्नप्रभान्यां विद्यां च भर्तुः प्रायुङ्क्त तस्य स ॥

Summary AI Having said this, she consoled the King of Vatsa and his retinue; then Ratnaprabhā employed another magic science for her husband.

७.८.३६

नरवाहनदत्तस्य पथि क्लेशोपशान्तये ।
नेष्यां भर्तृहितैषिण्यो गणयन्ति हि सुस्त्रियः ॥

Summary AI This was to alleviate the hardships of Naravāhanadatta on the path; for virtuous women, desiring their husband’s welfare, do not count the cost of their effort.

७.८.३७

तावच्च दूरमध्वानं स ययौ वाजिपृष्ठगः ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽस्यामटव्यां गोमुखान्वितः ॥

Summary AI Meanwhile, Naravāhanadatta, riding on horseback accompanied by Gomukha, traveled a great distance along the path in that forest.

७.८.३८

अथाकस्मादुपेत्यात कुमारी पथ्युवाच तम् ।
अहं मायावती नाम विद्या रत्नप्रभेरिता ॥

Summary AI Suddenly, a maiden approached him on the path and said, "I am a magic science named Māyāvatī, sent by Ratnaprabhā."

७.८.३९

रक्षाम्यदृश्या मार्गे त्वां निश्चिन्तस्तद्व्रजाधुना ।
इत्युक्त्वा रुपिणी विद्या तिरो ऽभूत्सास्य पश्यतः ॥

Summary AI "I shall protect you invisibly on the way; therefore, proceed now without any worry." Having spoken thus, that personified magic science vanished while he was watching.

७.८.४०

तत्प्रभावात्ततः शान्तक्षुत्तृष्णः पथि स व्रजन् ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्तां स्तुवन्रत्नप्रभां प्रियाम् ॥

Summary AI Then, traveling on the path, Naravāhanadatta, his hunger and thirst quelled by her power, proceeded while praising his beloved Ratnaprabhā.

७.८.४१

सायं स्वच्छसरः प्राप्य वनं स्वादुतरैः फलैः ।
जलैश्चाहारपानादि स्नातश्चक्रे सगोमुखः ॥

Summary AI In the evening, Naravāhanadatta and Gomukha reached a clear lake in the forest, where they bathed and refreshed themselves with delicious fruits and water.

७.८.४२

नक्तं च तत्र संयम्य दत्तघासौ हयावधः ।
मन्त्रिद्वितीयो वासार्थमारुरोह महातरुम् ॥

Summary AI At night, after tethering the horses below and providing them with fodder, the prince and his minister climbed a great tree to rest for the night.

७.८.४३

तस्योरुशाखासंविष्टो वित्रस्तहयहेषितैः ।
प्रबुद्धः सो ऽन्तराधस्तादपश्यत्सिंहमागतम् ॥

Summary AI While resting on a large branch of the tree, Naravāhanadatta was awakened by the terrified neighing of the horses and saw a lion approaching below.

७.८.४४

दृष्ट्वा चावतितीर्षुं तमश्वार्थे गोमुखो ऽब्रवीत् ।
अहो देहानपेक्षः सन्नमन्त्रेणैव चेष्टसे ॥

Summary AI Seeing the prince about to descend to save the horses, Gomukha said, "O Prince, you are acting impulsively without counsel, utterly disregarding your own safety!"

७.८.४५

शरीरमूला हि नृपा मन्त्रमूला च राजता ।
युयुत्ससे तत्तीर्यग्भिर्नखदंष्ट्रायुधैः कथम् ॥

Summary AI "Kings depend on their physical lives, and sovereignty depends on wise counsel. Why then do you wish to fight wild beasts armed only with claws and fangs?"

७.८.४६

एतद्रक्षार्थमेवावामिहारूढौ हि संप्रति ।
इति गोमुखवाग्रुद्धो युवराजः स तत्क्षणम् ॥

Summary AI "We have climbed this tree specifically to protect your person." Restrained by these words from Gomukha, the prince paused for a moment.

७.८.४७

सिंहं तं तुरगं घ्नन्तं दृष्ट्वा छुरिकया द्रुतम् ।
आजघान तरोः पृष्ठात्क्षिप्तया स निमग्नया ॥

Summary AI Seeing the lion attacking his horse, the prince quickly struck the beast from the tree with a dagger, throwing it so hard that it sank deep into its body.

७.८.४८

स तथा तेन विद्धो ऽपि तं हत्वैव हयं बली ।
सिंहो व्यापादयामास द्वितीयमपि वाजिनम् ॥

Summary AI Even though severely wounded, the powerful lion killed that horse and then proceeded to slay the second steed as well.

७.८.४९

ततो वत्सेश्वरसुतः खड्गमादाय गोमुखात् ।
तेन क्षिप्तेन मध्ये तं सिंहं द्वेधा चकार सः ॥

Summary AI Then the son of the King of Vatsa took a sword from Gomukha and, hurling it, sliced the lion in two through its middle.