कथासरित्सागरः — नवमस्तरङ्गः

नवमस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः प्रातः सरस्तीरात्तस्मादुत्थाय मन्त्रिणम् ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्तं गोमुखं प्रस्थितो ऽब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Then, in the morning, rising from the shore of that lake, Naravāhanadatta spoke to his minister Gomukha as he prepared to set out.

७.९.२

वयस्य जाने काप्यद्य रात्र्यन्ते धवलाम्बरा ।
कुमारी दिव्यरूपा मामेत्य स्वप्ने ऽभ्यधादिदम् ॥

Summary AI "O friend, I know that today, at the end of the night, a white-robed maiden of divine beauty came to me in a dream and spoke these words."

७.९.३

निश्चिन्तो भव वत्स त्वमितः शीघ्रमवाप्स्यसि ।
अब्धेस्तीरे वनान्तःस्थमाश्चर्यं नगरं महत् ॥

Summary AI "Be free from worry, child; from here you will soon reach a great and marvelous city situated within a forest on the shore of the ocean."

७.९.४

विश्रान्तस्तत्र चाक्लेशात्प्राप्य कर्पूरसंभवम् ।
पुरं कर्पूरिकां प्राप्स्यस्यत्र तां राजकन्यकाम् ॥

Summary AI "Having rested there and effortlessly reached the city of Karpūrasambhava, you will obtain that princess named Karpūrikā."

७.९.५

इत्युक्त्वा मां तिरो ऽभूत्सा प्रबुद्धश्चास्मि तत्क्षणम् ।
एवं तमुक्तवन्तं च प्रीतः प्रोवाच गोमुखः ॥

Summary AI Having said this, she vanished from my sight, and I woke up at that very moment. To him who spoke thus, the delighted Gomukha replied.

७.९.६

देवैरनुगृहीतस्त्वं देव किं ते ऽस्ति दुष्करम् ।
तन्निश्चितमकृच्छ्रेण तव सेत्स्यत्यभीप्सितम् ॥

Summary AI "O Lord, you are favored by the gods; what is difficult for you? Therefore, your desire will certainly be fulfilled without any hardship."

७.९.७

एवमुक्तवता तेन गोमुखेन समं पथि ।
नरवाहनदत्तो ऽत्र स प्रायात्सत्वरस्ततः ॥

Summary AI Spoken to thus by Gomukha, Naravāhanadatta then set out quickly on the path along with him.

७.९.८

क्रमात्प्रापच्च जलधेरुपकण्ठगतं स तत् ।
अद्रिकूटनिभाट्टालप्रतोलीगोपुरान्वितम् ॥

Summary AI In due course, he reached that city situated near the ocean, featuring watchtowers, main streets, and city gates that resembled mountain peaks.

७.९.९

मेर्वाभसर्वसौवर्णराजमन्दिरराजितम् ।
नगरं विपुलाभोगं भूमण्डलमिवापरम् ॥

Summary AI The city was adorned with royal palaces made entirely of gold, shining like Mount Meru; it was of vast extent, appearing like another world.

७.९.१०

प्रविश्य तत्र विपणीमार्गेण स ददर्श च ।
काष्ठयन्त्रमयं सर्वं चेष्टमानं सजीववत् ॥

Summary AI Entering there through the market street, he saw everything made of wooden machinery, moving as if it were alive.

७.९.११

वणिग्विलासिनीपौरजनं जनितविस्मयम् ।
विज्ञायमानं निर्जीव इति वाग्विरहात्परम् ॥

Summary AI The merchants, courtesans, and citizens caused great wonder; they were recognized as lifeless only by their total lack of speech.

७.९.१२

क्रमाच्च गोमुखसखः सो ऽन्तिकं राजवेश्मनः ।
प्राप तादृशमेवात्र हस्त्यश्वादि विलोकयन् ॥

Summary AI Gradually, the friend of Gomukha reached the vicinity of the royal palace, observing similar wooden elephants, horses, and other figures there.

७.९.१३

विवेश चास्य सौवर्णपुरमस्तकशोभिनः ।
अभ्यन्तरं ससचिवः साश्चर्यो राजसद्मनः ॥

Summary AI Accompanied by his minister and filled with wonder, he entered the interior of that royal palace, which was adorned with golden city-peaks.

७.९.१४

तत्र यन्त्रप्रतीहारवारनारीपरिश्रितम् ।
जडानां स्पन्दने हेतुं तेषां चेतनमेककम् ॥

Summary AI There, surrounded by mechanical doorkeepers and courtesans, he saw the sole conscious being who was the cause of movement for those inanimate objects.

७.९.१५

इन्द्रियाणामिवामानमधिष्ठातृतया स्थितम् ।
रत्नसिंहासनासीनं भव्यं पुरुषमैक्षत ॥

Summary AI He beheld a magnificent man seated on a jewel-encrusted throne, presiding there like the supreme Spirit presiding over the senses.

७.९.१६

सो ऽपि तं पुरुषो दृष्ट्वा चोत्तमाकृतिमुत्थितः ।
विधाय स्वागतं स्वस्मिन्नुपावेशयदासने ॥

Summary AI That man, seeing Naravāhanadatta's noble appearance, rose, welcomed him, and seated him on his own throne.

७.९.१७

पप्रच्छ चोपविश्याग्रे कः कथं किममानुषाम् ।
क्ष्मामात्मना द्वितीयः सन्निमां प्राप्तो भवानिति ॥

Summary AI Sitting before him, he asked, "Who are you, and how or why have you come with only one companion to this land uninhabited by humans?"

७.९.१८

ततः सो ऽपि स्ववृत्तान्तं निवेद्य तमशेषतः ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्तं प्रह्वं पप्रच्छ पूरुषम् ॥

Summary AI Then Naravāhanadatta, having related his entire story to him, questioned that humble man in return.

७.९.१९

कस्त्वं किं चेदमाश्चर्यं पुरं ते भद्र कह्यताम् ।
तच्छ्रुत्वा स पुमान्वक्तुं स्वोदन्तमुपचक्रमे ॥

Summary AI "O good sir, who are you? And what is this wonderful city of yours? Please tell." Hearing that, the man began to tell his own story.

७.९.२०

अस्ति काञ्चीति नगरी गरीयोगुणगुम्फिता ।
काञ्चीव वसुधावध्वाः सदलंकृतितां गता ॥

Summary AI There is a city named Kāñcī, interwoven with excellent qualities, which serves as a beautiful ornament, like a girdle, for the bride that is the Earth.

७.९.२१

तस्यां बाहुबलाख्यो ऽस्ति काञ्च्यां ख्यातो महीपतिः ।
कोषे बद्ध्वा कृता येन चलापि श्रीर्भुजार्जिता ॥

Summary AI In the city of Kāñcī lived a famous king named Bāhubala, who, through his valor, captured and confined even the fickle goddess Śrī within his treasury.

७.९.२२

तस्य राष्ट्रे नृपस्यावां तक्षाणौ भ्रातरावुभौ ।
मयप्रणीतदार्वादिमायायन्त्रविचक्षणौ ॥

Summary AI In that king’s realm, we two brothers lived as carpenters, both highly skilled in creating mechanical wonders from wood and other materials, following the teachings of Maya.

७.९.२३

ज्येष्ठः प्राणधरो नाम वेश्याव्यसनविप्लुतः ।
अहं कनिष्ठस्तद्भक्तो नाम्ना राज्यधरः प्रभो ॥

Summary AI O Lord, the elder brother, named Prāṇadhara, was addicted to the company of courtesans. I am the younger brother, Rājyadhara, who was devoted to him.

७.९.२४

तेन भुक्त्वा धनं पित्र्यं मद्भर्त्रा स्वं च किंचन ।
भुक्तं मदर्जितमपि स्नेहार्द्रेणार्पितं मया ॥

Summary AI After spending our paternal wealth and his own portion, my elder brother also consumed what I had earned, which I gave to him out of brotherly affection.

७.९.२५

ततो ऽपि सो ऽतिव्यसनी वेश्यार्थार्थजिहीर्षया ।
रज्जुयन्त्रवहं दारुमयं हंसयुगं व्यधात् ॥

Summary AI Driven by his intense addiction and the desire to obtain more money for courtesans, he crafted a pair of wooden swans operated by a string mechanism.

७.९.२६

तद्धंसयुगलं रज्जुघट्टनप्रेरितं निशि ।
राज्ञो बाहुवलस्यात्र कोशाद्यन्त्रप्रयोगतः ॥

Summary AI At night, propelled by the manipulation of strings, that pair of mechanical swans was sent into King Bāhubala's treasury through the use of machinery.

७.९.२७

गवाक्षेण प्रविश्यान्तश्चञ्च्वा पटलके स्थितम् ।
आदायाभरणं तस्य मद्भ्रातुर्गृहमागमत् ॥

Summary AI Entering through a window, the mechanical swans would seize jewelry kept in boxes with their beaks and return to my brother's house.

७.९.२८

तच्च विक्रीय सो ऽभुङ्क्त मज्ज्येष्ठः सह वेश्यया ।
तथैवाहर्निशं कोषममुष्णात्स च भूपतेः ॥

Summary AI My elder brother sold those jewels and enjoyed the proceeds with a courtesan. In this manner, he continued to plunder the king's treasury day and night.

७.९.२९

वार्यमाणो ऽपि च मया नाकार्याद्व्यरमत्ततः ।
को हि मार्गममार्गं वा व्यसनान्धो निरीक्षते ॥

Summary AI Although I tried to stop him, he did not desist from his wicked deeds. Indeed, who blinded by vice can distinguish between the right path and the wrong?

७.९.३०

तथा च मुष्यमाणे ऽपि रात्रिष्वचलितार्गले ।
निर्मूषके राजगञ्जे दिनानि कतिचिद्भयात् ॥

Summary AI Despite the treasury doors remaining bolted and there being no sign of mice, the king’s wealth continued to be stolen nightly for several days.

७.९.३१

विचिन्वन्प्रत्यहं तूष्णीं परितप्तो ऽधिकाधिकम् ।
तद्भाण्डगारिको गत्वा स्फुटं राज्ञे न्यवेदयत् ॥

Summary AI Investigating daily in silence and becoming increasingly distressed, the treasurer finally went to the king and clearly reported the situation.

७.९.३२

राजापि तं तथान्यांश्च रक्षकाञ्जाग्रतो निशि ।
कोषान्तः स्थापयामास तत्र तत्वमवेक्षितुम् ॥

Summary AI To uncover the truth, the king stationed the treasurer and other guards inside the treasury at night to keep watch.

७.९.३३

ते निशीथे प्रविष्टौ तौ गवाक्षेणात्र रक्षकाः ।
मद्भ्रातृयन्त्रहंसौ द्वावपश्यन्रज्जुघट्टितौ ॥

Summary AI At midnight, the guards saw my brother's two mechanical swans entering through the window, propelled by the manipulation of strings.

७.९.३४

यन्त्रयुक्तिपरिभ्रान्तौ चञ्चूपात्तविभूषणौ ।
छिन्नरज्जू अगृह्णंश्च राज्ञे दर्शयितुं प्रगे ॥

Summary AI The guards caught the swans, which were moving by mechanical ingenuity and holding ornaments in their beaks, after cutting their strings, to show them to the king in the morning.

७.९.३५

तत्कालं च स मद्भ्राता ज्येष्ठो ऽवादीत्ससंभ्रमः ।
भ्रातर्गृहीतौ हंसौ द्वौ मदीयौ गञ्जरक्षिभिः ॥

Summary AI At that moment, my elder brother said in a panic, 'Brother, my two swans have been captured by the treasury guards!'

७.९.३६

रज्जुर्हि शिथिलीभूता यन्त्रे स्रस्ता च कीलिका ।
तस्मादितो ऽपसर्तव्यमधुनैवावयोर्द्वयोः ॥

Summary AI 'The string has gone slack and the mechanical pin has slipped. Therefore, both of us must flee from here immediately.'

७.९.३७

चौराविति निगृह्णीयात्प्रातर्बुद्ध्वा नृपो हि नौ ।
आवामेव हि विख्यातौ मायायन्त्रविदावुभौ ॥

Summary AI 'In the morning, the king will discover this and seize us as thieves, for we are the only two famous experts in mechanical devices here.'

७.९.३८

वातयन्त्रविमानं च तन्ममास्तीह मङ्क्षु यत् ।
योजनाष्टशती याति सकृत्प्रहतकीलिकम् ॥

Summary AI 'I have here a wind-powered mechanical aerial chariot which, once the pin is struck, can travel eight hundred yojanas instantly.'

७.९.३९

तेन दूरं व्रजावो ऽद्य विदेशमपि दुःखदम् ।
पापे कर्मण्यवज्ञातहितवाक्ये कुतः सुखम् ॥

Summary AI 'Let us flee far away today to a foreign land, even if it brings hardship. How can there be happiness in sinful deeds where good advice is ignored?'

७.९.४०

यन्मया न कृतं वाक्यं तव दुष्कृतबुद्धिना ।
तस्यैष पाकः प्रसृतो यो ऽयं त्वय्यप्यपापिनि ॥

Summary AI 'This is the result of my evil-mindedness in not following your advice—a consequence that now extends even to you, though you are innocent.'

७.९.४१

एवमुक्त्वा समारोहद्विमानं व्योमगामि तत् ।
स मे प्राणधरो भ्राता तदैव सकुटुम्बकः ॥

Summary AI Having said this, my brother Prāṇadhara, accompanied by his family, immediately boarded that sky-traveling vehicle.

७.९.४२

अहं तूक्तो ऽपि तेनात्र नारोहं बहुभिर्वृते ।
ततस्तेन खमुत्पत्य स प्रायात्क्वापि दूरतः ॥

Summary AI Although invited by him, I did not board because it was crowded. Then, flying into the sky with it, he departed to some distant place.

७.९.४३

गते प्राणधरे तस्मिन्नहमन्वर्थनामनि ।
प्रभाते भावि संभाव्य राजतो भयमेककः ॥

Summary AI After that appropriately named Prāṇadhara left, I remained alone, anticipating danger from the king at dawn.

७.९.४४

आरुह्य स्वकृते ऽन्यस्मिन्वातयन्त्रविमानके ।
द्रुतं ततो गतो ऽभूवं योजनानां शतद्वयम् ॥

Summary AI Boarding another wind-powered vehicle I had built myself, I quickly traveled two hundred yojanas from there.

७.९.४५

प्रेरितेन पुनस्तेन विमानेन खगामिना ।
ततो ऽपि योजनशतद्वयमन्यदगामहम् ॥

Summary AI Propelled again by that sky-going vehicle, I traveled another two hundred yojanas.

७.९.४६

ततः समुद्रनैकट्यशङ्कात्यक्तविमानकः ।
पद्भ्यां व्रजन्निह प्राप्तः शून्यं पुरमिदं क्रमात् ॥

Summary AI Then, abandoning the vehicle out of fear of proximity to the ocean, I proceeded on foot and eventually reached this deserted city.

७.९.४७

कौतुकाच्च प्रविष्टो ऽहं देवेदं राजमन्दिरम् ।
वस्त्राभरणशय्यादिराजोपकरणान्वितम् ॥

Summary AI O King, out of curiosity, I entered this palace, which was furnished with royal items like clothes, ornaments, and beds.

७.९.४८

सायं चोद्यानवाप्यम्भः स्नातो भुक्त्वा फलान्यहम् ।
राजशय्यागतो रात्रावेकाकी समचिन्तयम् ॥

Summary AI In the evening, having bathed in the garden pool and eaten fruits, I lay alone on the royal bed at night and reflected.

७.९.४९

निर्जने किं करोमीह तत्प्रातर्यत्र कुत्रचित् ।
व्रजामीतो गतं मे हि भयं बाहुबलान्नृपात् ॥

Summary AI I thought, "What shall I do in this desolate place? Tomorrow morning I will go elsewhere; for by the strength of my arms, my fear of the king is gone."

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