कथासरित्सागरः — प्रथमस्तरङ्गः

प्रथमस्तरङ्गः ।

चलत्कर्णनिलोद्भूतसिन्दूरारुणिताम्बरः ।
जयत्यकाले ऽपि सृजन्संध्यामिव गजाननः ॥

Summary AI Victorious is the elephant-faced god Gajānana, who, by the red lead dust raised by the wind from his flapping ears, makes the sky crimson, as if creating a twilight out of season.

८.१.२

एवं वत्सेश्वरसुतः कौशाम्ब्यां स पितुर्गृहे ।
नरवाहनदत्तस्ता भार्याः प्राप्त्यावसत्सुखम् ॥

Summary AI Thus, Naravāhanadatta, the son of the King of Vatsa, lived happily in his father's house at Kauśāmbī after having obtained his wives.

८.१.३

एकदा पितुरास्थाने स्थितश्च पुरुषं दिवः ।
अवतीर्यागतं तत्र दिव्यरूपं ददर्श सः ॥

Summary AI Once, while seated in his father’s assembly, he saw a divine-looking person who had descended from heaven and arrived there.

८.१.४

प्रणतं तं च सत्कृत्य पित्रा साकं क्षणान्तरे ।
कस्त्वं किमागतो ऽसीति पृष्टवान्सो ऽप्यथाब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Having honored the bowing guest along with his father, Naravāhanadatta asked after a moment, "Who are you and why have you come?" The guest then spoke.

८.१.५

अस्तीह वज्रकूटाख्यं पृष्ठे हिमवतः पुरम् ।
वज्रसारमयत्वाद्यत्ख्यातमन्वर्थनामकम् ॥

Summary AI There is a city named Vajrakūṭa on the back of the Himavat mountains, famously known by its meaningful name because it is composed of diamond-like essence.

८.१.६

तत्र वज्रप्रभाख्यो ऽहमासं विद्याधराधिपः ।
वज्रनिर्मितदेहत्वान्नामान्वर्थं तथैव मे ॥

Summary AI I was the sovereign of the Vidyādharas there, named Vajraprabha; my name is likewise meaningful because my body is made of diamond.

८.१.७

मन्निर्मिते यथाकालं भक्तः संश्चक्रवर्तिनि ।
अजेयस्त्वं विपक्षाणां मत्प्रसादाद्भविष्यसि ॥

Summary AI "By being devoted to the Emperor created by me at the right time, you will become invincible to your enemies through my grace."

८.१.८

इति चाहं तपस्तुष्टेनादिष्टः शंभुना यदा ।
तदा प्रभोः प्रणामार्थमागतो ऽस्मीह सांप्रतम् ॥

Summary AI When I was thus commanded by Śambhu, who was pleased with my penance, I then came here now for the purpose of bowing to my lord.

८.१.९

वत्सराजसुतो दिव्यं कल्पं कामांशसंभवः ।
नरवाहनदत्तो नः शशिशेखरनिर्मितः ॥

Summary AI The son of the King of Vatsa, Naravāhanadatta, born of a portion of Kāma and created by Śiva, is like a divine being to us for this age.

८.१.१०

मर्त्यो ऽप्युभयवेद्यर्धचक्रवर्ती भविष्यति ।
इति विद्याप्रभावेण विज्ञातं ह्यधुना मया ॥

Summary AI Even though he is a mortal, he will become the emperor of both halves of the Vidyādhara territory; this I have now realized through the power of my knowledge.

८.१.११

आसीच्च दिव्यं कल्पं नः पुरा मर्त्यो ऽप्यनुग्रहात् ।
शार्वात्सूर्यप्रभो नाम चक्रवर्तीह यद्यपि ॥

Summary AI Although in a former divine age of ours, a mortal named Sūryaprabha also became the emperor here through the favor of Śiva.

८.१.१२

तथाप्यभूत्स एकस्मिन्वेद्यर्थे दक्षिणे प्रभुः ।
उत्तरे श्रुतशर्माख्यश्चक्रवर्ती त्वभूत्तदा ॥

Summary AI Nevertheless, he was only the lord in one half, the southern region of the Vidyādharas, while at that time, one named Śrutaśarman was the emperor in the north.

८.१.१३

उभयोस्तु तयोरेकः कल्पस्थायी द्युचारिणाम् ।
चक्रवर्त्यत्र भविता देव एवातिपुण्यवान् ॥

Summary AI But of those two halves, there will be only one emperor of the sky-goers lasting for the whole age, and that will be this most meritorious prince alone.

८.१.१४

इत्युक्तवन्तं वत्सेशसहितस्तं कुतूहलात् ।
नरवाहनदत्तः स प्राह विद्याधरं पुनः ॥

Summary AI When the Vidyādhara had spoken thus, Naravāhanadatta, along with the King of Vatsa, asked him again out of curiosity.

८.१.१५

कथं विद्याधरैश्वर्यं मानुषेण सता पुरा ।
प्राप्तं सूर्यप्रभेणेति त्वया नः कथ्यतामिति ॥

Summary AI "How was the sovereignty over the Vidyādharas formerly obtained by Sūryaprabha while he was a mere mortal? Please tell us this."

८.१.१६

ततो विविक्ते देवीनां मन्त्रिणां संनिधौ च सः ।
राजा वज्रप्रभो वक्तुं कथां तामुपचक्रमे ॥

Summary AI Then, in a private place in the presence of the queens and ministers, King Vajraprabha began to tell that story.

८.१.१७

शाकलं नाम मद्रेषु बभूव नगरं पुरा ।
चन्द्रप्रभाख्यस्तत्रासीद्राजाङ्गारप्रभात्मजः ॥

Summary AI Long ago, there was a city named Śākala among the Madras; there lived a king named Candraprabha, the son of Aṅgāraprabha.

८.१.१८

आल्हादकारी विश्वस्य नाम्नान्वर्थो ऽपि यो भवन् ।
संतापकारी शत्रूणां बभूव ज्वलनप्रभः ॥

Summary AI While he was a source of joy to the whole world, making his name Candraprabha meaningful, he was like the brilliance of fire to his enemies, causing them distress.

८.१.१९

कीर्तिमत्यभिधानायां तस्य देव्यामजायत ।
पुत्रो नृपस्यातिशुबैर्लक्षणैः सूचितोदयः ॥

Summary AI To that king and his queen named Kīrtimatī, a son was born whose future greatness was indicated by most auspicious bodily marks.

८.१.२०

एष सूर्यप्रभो नाम राजा जातः पुरारिणा ।
भावी विद्याधराधीशचक्रवर्ती विनिर्मितः ॥

Summary AI This king, named Sūryaprabha, was born, having been ordained by Śiva to be the future emperor of the Vidyādhara lords.

८.१.२१

इत्युच्चचार गगनात्तस्मिञ्जाते स्फुटं वचः ।
सुधावर्षं श्रवणयोश्चन्द्रप्रभमहीभृतः ॥

Summary AI When he was born, a clear voice, acting like a shower of nectar to the ears of King Candraprabha, resounded from the sky.

८.१.२२

ततस्तस्य पुरारातिप्रसादोत्सवशालिनः ।
सूर्यप्रभः स ववृधे राजपुत्रः पितुर्गृहे ॥

Summary AI Then, that prince Sūryaprabha grew up in the palace of his father, who was then celebrating the grace of Lord Śiva.

८.१.२३

बाल एव च विद्यानां कलानां च क्रमेण सः ।
सर्वासां सुमतिः पारमुपासितगुरुर्ययौ ॥

Summary AI Even as a child, that wise boy, having served his teachers, gradually mastered all branches of knowledge and the various arts.

८.१.२४

पूर्णषोडशवर्षं च गुणैरावर्जितप्रजम् ।
यौवराज्ये ऽभ्यषिञ्चित्तं पिता चन्द्रप्रभो ऽथ सः ॥

Summary AI Then, his father Candraprabha anointed him as the crown prince when he had completed sixteen years of age and had won over the subjects with his virtues.

८.१.२५

स एव मन्त्रिपुत्रांश्च निजांस्तस्मै समर्पयत् ।
भासप्रभाससिद्धार्थप्रहस्तप्रभृतीन्बहून् ॥

Summary AI The king also assigned to him many of his own ministers' sons, including Bhāsa, Prabhāsa, Siddhārtha, Prahasta, and others.

८.१.२६

तैः समं युवराजत्वधुरं तस्मिंश्च बिभ्रति ।
आजगामैकदा तत्र मयो नाम महासुरः ॥

Summary AI While he was bearing the responsibility of the heir-apparent along with them, a great Asura named Maya once arrived there.

८.१.२७

आस्थाने च स तं चन्द्रप्रभं सूर्यप्रभे स्थिते ।
उपेत्य रचितातिथ्यं जगादैवं मयो नृपम् ॥

Summary AI Maya approached King Candraprabha in the assembly hall while Sūryaprabha was present and, having been received with hospitality, spoke to the king.

८.१.२८

राजन्विद्याधरेशानां चक्रवर्ती त्रिशूलिना ।
अयं विनिर्मितो भावी पुत्रः सूर्यप्रभस्तव ॥

Summary AI "O King, this son of yours, Sūryaprabha, has been destined by Lord Śiva to become the future sovereign emperor of the Vidyādharas."

८.१.२९

तत्किं न साधयत्येष विधास्तत्प्राप्तिदायिनीः ।
एतदर्थं विसृष्टो ऽहमिह देवेन शंभुना ॥

Summary AI "Therefore, why should he not master the sciences that grant that status? For this very purpose, I have been sent here by Lord Śambhu."

८.१.३०

अनुजानीहि तद्यावन्नीत्वैनं शिक्षयाम्यहम् ।
विद्याधरेन्द्रताहेतुं विद्यासाधनसत्क्रियाम् ॥

Summary AI "Give your permission so that I may take him and teach him the proper practice for mastering the sciences that lead to lordship over the Vidyādharas."

८.१.३१

एतस्य परिपन्थी हि कार्ये ऽस्मिन्खेचरेश्वरः ।
विद्यते श्रुतशर्माख्यः सो ऽपि शक्रेण निर्मितः ॥

Summary AI "In this undertaking, there exists an adversary named Śrutaśarman, a lord of the sky-goers, who has been established by Indra."

८.१.३२

सिद्धविद्याप्रभावस्तु सहास्माभिर्विजित्य तम् ।
एष विद्याधराधीशचक्रवर्तित्वमाप्स्यति ॥

Summary AI "Having mastered the power of the sciences, he will conquer him with our help and attain the imperial sovereignty over the Vidyādhara lords."

८.१.३३

एवं मयेनाभिहिते राजा चन्द्रप्रभो ऽब्रवीत् ।
धन्याः स्मः पुण्यवानेष यथेच्छं नीयतामिति ॥

Summary AI When Maya had spoken thus, King Candraprabha said, "We are blessed; this boy is meritorious. Let him be taken as you please."

८.१.३४

ततस्तमामन्त्र्य नृपं तदनुज्ञानमाशु तम् ।
सूर्यप्रभं स सामात्यं पातालं नीतवान्मयः ॥

Summary AI Then Maya, having taken leave of the king, quickly took Sūryaprabha along with his ministers to the netherworld (Pātāla) with the king's permission.

८.१.३५

तत्रोपदिष्टवांस्तस्मै स तपांसि तथा यथा ।
राजपुत्रः स सामात्यो विद्याः शीघ्रमसाधयत् ॥

Summary AI There, Maya instructed him in austerities in such a way that the prince, along with his ministers, quickly mastered the various sciences.

८.१.३६

विमानसाधनं तस्मै तथैवोपदिदेश सः ।
तेन भूतासनं नाम स विमानमुपार्जयत् ॥

Summary AI Maya also taught him the method of acquiring a celestial vehicle, by which he obtained the aerial chariot named Bhūtāsana.

८.१.३७

तद्विमानाधिरूढं तं सिद्धविद्यं समन्त्रिकम् ।
सूर्यप्रभं स पातालान्मयः स्वपुरमानयत् ॥

Summary AI Then Maya brought Sūryaprabha, who had mastered the sciences and was accompanied by his ministers, from the netherworld back to his own city on that aerial chariot.

८.१.३८

प्रापय्य पित्रोः पार्श्वं च तं जगाद व्रजाम्यहम् ।
त्वं सिद्धिभोगान्भुङ्क्ष्वेह यावदेष्याम्यहं पुनः ॥

Summary AI Having brought him to his parents, Maya said, "I am going now. Enjoy the fruits of your success here until I return."

८.१.३९

इत्यूचिवानात्तपूजो जगाम स मयासुरः ।
ननन्द विद्यासिद्ध्या च सूनोश्चन्द्रप्रभो नृपः ॥

Summary AI Having spoken thus and received honor, the Asura Maya departed, while King Candraprabha rejoiced at his son's mastery of the sciences.

८.१.४०

सो ऽथ सूर्यप्रभो विद्याप्रभावात्सचिवैः सह ।
नानादेशान्विमानेन सदा बभ्राम लीलया ॥

Summary AI Then, by the power of his mastered sciences, Sūryaprabha constantly roamed through various lands for sport in his aerial chariot, along with his ministers.

८.१.४१

यत्र यत्र च या या तमपश्यद्राजकन्यका ।
तत्र तत्र स्वयं वव्रे सा सा तं काममोहिता ॥

Summary AI Wherever a princess saw him, she would immediately choose him as her husband, being deeply infatuated with love.

८.१.४२

एका मदनसेनाख्या ताम्रलिप्त्यां महीपतेः ।
सुता वीरभटाख्यस्य कन्या लोकैकसुन्दरी ॥

Summary AI One was the princess named Madanasenā, the daughter of King Vīrabhaṭa of Tāmraliptī, who was the most beautiful maiden in the world.

८.१.४३

द्वितीया सुभटाख्यस्य तनया चन्द्रिकावती ।
अपरान्ताधिराजस्य सिद्धैर्नीत्वोज्झितान्यतः ॥

Summary AI The second was Candrikāvatī, the daughter of Subhaṭa, the ruler of Aparānta, who had been carried away and left elsewhere by the Siddhas.

८.१.४४

काञ्चीनगर्या नृपतेः कुम्भीराख्यस्य चात्मजा ।
ख्याता वरुणसेनाख्या तृतीया रूपशालिनी ॥

Summary AI The third was the famous and beautiful Varuṇasenā, the daughter of King Kumbhīra of the city of Kāñcī.

८.१.४५

लावाणकाधिराजस्य पौरवाख्यस्य भूपतेः ।
सुता सुलोचना नाम चतुर्थी चारुलोचना ॥

Summary AI The fourth was the lovely-eyed Sulocanā, daughter of King Paurava, the sovereign of the Lāvāṇaka region.

८.१.४६

चीनदेशपते राज्ञः सुरोहस्यात्मसंभवा ।
हरिहेमावदाताङ्गी विद्युन्मालेति पञ्चमी ॥

Summary AI The fifth was named Vidyunmālā, the daughter of King Suroha of Cīna, possessing a body as fair and radiant as gold and yellow pigment.

८.१.४७

कान्तिसेनस्य नृपतेः श्रीकण्ठविषयप्रभोः ।
सुता कान्तिमती नाम षष्ठी कान्तिजिताप्सराः ॥

Summary AI The sixth was Kāntimatī, the daughter of King Kāntisena, lord of the Śrīkaṇṭha region, who surpassed even the Apsarases with her brilliance.

८.१.४८

जनमेजयभूपस्य कौशाम्बीनगरीपतेः ।
तनया परपुष्टाख्या सप्तमी मञ्जुभाषिणी ॥

Summary AI The seventh was the sweet-spoken Parapuṣṭā, the daughter of King Janamejaya, the ruler of the city of Kauśāmbī.

८.१.४९

अविज्ञातहृतानां च तासां बुद्ध्वापि बान्धवाः ।
विद्याबलोद्धते तस्मिन्नासन्वेतसवृत्तयः ॥

Summary AI Even after realizing that the princesses had been abducted secretly, their kinsmen acted like submissive reeds toward him, who was arrogant with his magical power.

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