कथासरित्सागरः — षष्ठस्तरङ्गः | kathāsaritsāgaraḥ

षष्ठस्तरङ्गः ।

ततः स रात्रावस्त्रीकः शयनस्थो रणोन्मुखः ।
सूर्यप्रभः स्वसचिवं वीतभीतिमभाषत ॥

Summary AI Then, at night, without his wife, King Sūryaprabha, lying on his bed and eager for battle, spoke to his minister Vītabhīti.

८.६.२

निद्रा मे नास्ति तत्कांचित्सत्त्ववीराश्रितां सखे ।
कथामपूर्वामाख्याहि रात्रावस्यां विनोदिनीम् ॥

Summary AI "O friend, I cannot sleep. Therefore, tell me some wonderful, entertaining, and unprecedented tale tonight, centered on heroes of great courage."

८.६.३

एतत्सूर्यप्रभवचो वीतभीतिर्निशम्य सः ।
यथाज्ञापयसीत्युक्त्वा कथां कथितवानिमाम् ॥

Summary AI Having heard these words of Sūryaprabha, Vītabhīti replied, "As you command," and began to tell this story.

८.६.४

अस्त्यलंकृतिरेतस्यां पृथ्व्यामुज्जयिनी पुरी ।
रत्नैरशेषैर्निचिता सुनिर्मलगुणोम्भितैः ॥

Summary AI On this earth, there is a city named Ujjayinī, the very ornament of the world, filled with countless jewels strung together by pure qualities.

८.६.५

तस्यामभून्महासेनो नाम राजा गुणिप्रियः ।
कलानां चैकनिलयः सूर्येन्दूभयरूपधृक् ॥

Summary AI In that city lived a king named Mahāsena, a lover of the virtuous, the sole abode of the arts, who possessed the splendor of both the sun and the moon.

८.६.६

तस्याशोकवती नाम राज्ञी प्राणसमाभवत् ।
यस्या रूपेण सदृशी नासीदन्या जगत्त्रये ॥

Summary AI His queen was named Aśokavatī, as dear to him as life itself; in all the three worlds, there was no other woman equal to her in beauty.

८.६.७

तया देव्या समं तस्य राज्यं राज्ञो ऽनुशासतः ।
गुणशर्माभिधानो ऽभूद्विप्रो मान्यस्तथा प्रियः ॥

Summary AI While the king ruled his kingdom together with that queen, there was a brāhmaṇa named Guṇaśarman who was highly respected and dear to him.

८.६.८

स च शूरो ऽतिरूपश्च वेदविद्यान्तगो युवा ।
कलाशस्त्रास्त्रविद्विप्रः सिषेवे तं नृपं सदा ॥

Summary AI That young brāhmaṇa was brave, exceptionally handsome, a master of Vedic knowledge, and skilled in the arts and weaponry; he served the king constantly.

८.६.९

एकदान्तःपुरे नृत्तकथाप्रस्तावतः स तम् ।
राजा राज्ञी च पार्श्वस्थं गुणशर्माणमूचतुः ॥

Summary AI Once, in the inner apartments, during a conversation about dancing, the king and queen spoke to Guṇaśarman, who was standing beside them.

८.६.१०

सर्वज्ञस्त्वं न दोलात्र तदस्माकं कुतूहलम् ।
नर्तितुं चेद्विजानासि तत्प्रसीदाद्य दर्शय ॥

Summary AI "There is no doubt that you are omniscient. We are curious; if you know how to dance, please favor us and show it today."

८.६.११

एतच्छ्रुत्वा स्मितमुखो गुणशर्मा जगाद तौ ।
जानामि किं तु तद्युक्तमस्ति नृत्तं न संसदि ॥

Summary AI Hearing this, Guṇaśarman replied with a smile: "I do know how to dance, but such dancing is not appropriate in an assembly."

८.६.१२

हासनं मूढनृत्तं तत्प्रायशः शास्त्रगर्हितम् ।
तत्रापि राज्ञः पुरतो राज्ञाश्च धिगहो त्रपा ॥

Summary AI "It is generally a foolish dance that causes laughter and is condemned by the scriptures. Moreover, to perform it before a king and queen—alas, what a shame!"

८.६.१३

इत्युक्तवन्तं तं राजा गुणशर्माणमत्र सः ।
प्रत्युवाच तया राज्ञा प्रेर्यमाणः कुतूहलात् ॥

Summary AI When Guṇaśarman spoke thus, the king, urged by the queen out of curiosity, replied to him.

८.६.१४

नेदं रङ्गादिनृत्तं तद्यत्स्यात्पुंसस्त्रपावहम् ।
मित्त्रगोष्ठी रहस्येषा स्ववैदग्ध्यप्रदर्शिनी ॥

Summary AI "This is not a public stage performance that would bring shame to a man; this is a private gathering of friends intended to display one's own skill."

८.६.१५

न चाहं भवतो राजा त्वं मे मित्त्रं ह्ययन्त्रणम् ।
तन्नाद्य भोक्ष्ये भावत्कमदृष्ट्वा नृत्तकौतुकम् ॥

Summary AI "I am not your king, and you are my unconstrained friend. Therefore, I will not eat today until I have seen the wonder of your dancing."

८.६.१६

इति बद्धग्रहे राज्ञि स विप्रो ऽङ्गीचकार तत् ।
कथं हि लङ्घ्यते भृत्यैर्ग्रहिकस्य प्रभोर्वचः ॥

Summary AI When the king remained so insistent, the brāhmaṇa agreed; for how can servants disregard the words of an obstinate master?

८.६.१७

ततः स गुणशर्मात्र ननर्ताङ्गैर्युवा तथा ।
राजा राज्ञी च चित्तेन तौ द्वौ ननृततुर्यथा ॥

Summary AI Then the youth Guṇaśarman danced with his limbs in such a way that both the king and the queen seemed to dance along with him in their hearts.

८.६.१८

तदन्ते च ददौ राजा वादनायास्य वल्लकीम् ।
तस्यां च सारणामेष दददेवाब्रवीन्नृपम् ॥

Summary AI At the conclusion of the dance, the king gave him a lute (vallakī) to play. As he was tuning the strings, he spoke to the king.

८.६.१९

देवाप्रशस्ता वीणेयं तदन्या दीयतां मम ।
अस्यास्तन्त्र्यां यदेतस्यां श्ववालो विद्यते ऽन्तरे ॥

Summary AI "O King, this lute is defective; please give me another. There is a dog's hair inside this string."

८.६.२०

अहं ह्येतद्विजानामि तन्त्रीझांकारलक्षणैः ।
इत्युक्त्वा गुणशर्माङ्कात्तां विपञ्चीं मुमोच सः ॥

Summary AI "I know this by the characteristics of the resonance of the strings." Having said this, Guṇaśarman put the lute down from his lap.

८.६.२१

ततः स सिक्त्वा तन्त्रीं तां यावदुद्वेष्ट्य भूपतिः ।
वीक्षते निरगात्तावद्वालस्तद्गर्भतः शुनः ॥

Summary AI Then, as soon as the King sprinkled the lute-string, unwrapped it, and looked at it, a puppy emerged from inside its cavity.

८.६.२२

ततः सर्वज्ञतां तस्य प्रशंसन्सो ऽतिविस्मितः ।
वीणामानाययामास महासेननृपो ऽपराम् ॥

Summary AI Being greatly astonished and praising Guṇaśarman's omniscience, King Mahāsena then had another vīṇā brought forth.

८.६.२३

तां स वादितवान्गायन्गुणशर्मा त्रिमार्गगाम् ।
गङ्गामिवौघसुभगां कर्णपावननिःस्वनाम् ॥

Summary AI Guṇaśarman played that lute while singing, producing sounds as purifying to the ears and as delightful in their flow as the triple-pathed river Gaṅgā.

८.६.२४

ततश्चित्रीयमाणाय राज्ञे तस्मै सजानये ।
दर्शयामास शस्त्रास्त्रविद्या अपि स तत्क्रमात् ॥

Summary AI Then, in proper sequence, he also demonstrated the science of handheld and projectile weapons to the amazed King and his wife.

८.६.२५

अथावोचत्स राजा तं नियुद्धं यदि वेत्सि तत् ।
एकं मे बन्धकरणं शून्यहस्तं प्रदर्शय ॥

Summary AI Then the King said to him, "If you know the art of wrestling, then demonstrate to me a single method of binding an opponent with empty hands."

८.६.२६

गृहाण देव शस्त्राणि मयि प्रहर च क्रमात् ।
यावत्ते दर्शयामीति स विप्रः प्रत्युवाच तम् ॥

Summary AI The Brāhmaṇa replied to him, "O King, take up your weapons and strike at me in succession, while I demonstrate it to you."

८.६.२७

ततः स राजा खड्गादि यद्यदायुधमग्रहीत् ।
तत्तत्प्रहरतस्तस्य गुणशर्मावहेलया ॥

Summary AI Then, whenever the King took up weapons like a sword and struck at him, Guṇaśarman, with effortless ease...

८.६.२८

तेनैव बन्धकरणेनापहृत्यापहृत्य सः ।
बबन्ध राज्ञो हस्तं च गात्रं चाप्यक्षतो मुहुः ॥

Summary AI ...repeatedly disarmed him using that same technique of binding and, remaining unhurt himself, bound the King’s hands and body again and again.

८.६.२९

ततस्तं राज्यसाहाय्यसहं मत्वा द्विजोत्तमम् ।
संस्तुवन्बहु मेने स राजा सर्वातिशायिनम् ॥

Summary AI Consequently, the King, considering that best of Brāhmaṇas capable of assisting in the affairs of the state, praised him and held him in high esteem as one who surpassed everyone.

८.६.३०

सा त्वशोकवती राज्ञी तस्य रूपं गुणांश्च तान् ।
दृष्ट्वा दृष्ट्वा द्विजस्याभूत्सद्यस्तद्गतमानसा ॥

Summary AI Queen Aśokavatī, however, having repeatedly observed the qualities and beauty of that Brāhmaṇa, immediately became fixated on him in her heart.

८.६.३१

एतं चेत्प्राप्नुयां नाहं तत्किं मे जीविते फलम् ।
इति संचिन्त्य युक्त्या सा राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ॥

Summary AI Thinking to herself, "If I do not obtain him, what is the use of my life?" she addressed the King with a clever stratagem.

८.६.३२

आर्यपुत्र प्रसीदाज्ञां देह्यस्मै गुणशर्मणे ।
यथा मां शिक्षयत्येष वीणां वादयितुं प्रभो ॥

Summary AI "My Lord, be pleased to command Guṇaśarman so that he may teach me how to play the vīṇā, O master," she said.

८.६.३३

अस्यैतदद्य दृष्ट्वा हि वीणावादननैपुणम् ।
उत्पन्नः को ऽप्ययं तत्र मम प्राणाधिको रसः ॥

Summary AI "Indeed, having seen his skill in playing the vīṇā today, an indescribable passion for it, dearer than life itself, has arisen within me."

८.६.३४

तच्छ्रुत्वा गुणशर्माणं स राजा निजगाद तम् ।
वल्लकीवादनं देवीमिमां शिक्षय सर्वथा ॥

Summary AI Hearing that, the King said to Guṇaśarman, "By all means, teach the Queen how to play the lute."

८.६.३५

यथादिशसि कुर्मो ऽत्र प्रारम्भं सुशुभे ऽहनि ।
इत्युक्त्वामन्त्र्य स नृपं गुणशर्मा गृहं ययौ ॥

Summary AI Guṇaśarman replied, "As you command, we shall begin on an auspicious day," then took his leave and went home.

८.६.३६

वीणारम्भावहारं तु चक्रे स दिवसान्बहून् ।
दृष्टिमन्यादृशीं राज्ञ्याः प्रेक्ष्यापनयशङ्कितः ॥

Summary AI Having observed a peculiar look in the Queen’s eyes and fearing an impropriety, he delayed starting the vīṇā lessons for many days.

८.६.३७

एकस्मिंश्च दिने राज्ञो भुञ्जानस्यान्तिके स्थितः ।
व्यञ्जनं ददतं सूदमेकं मा मेत्यवारयत् ॥

Summary AI One day, while standing near the King as he was dining, he stopped a cook who was serving a dish, saying, "No, don't!"

८.६.३८

किमेतदिति पृष्टश्च राज्ञा प्राज्ञो जगाद सः ।
सविषं व्यञ्जनमिदं मया ज्ञातं च लक्षणैः ॥

Summary AI When asked by the King, "What is this?" the wise man replied, "This dish is poisoned; I have recognized it through its characteristics."

८.६.३९

सूदेन मम दृष्टं हि व्यञ्जनं ददतामुना ।
मुखं भयसकम्पेन शङ्काचकितदृष्टिना ॥

Summary AI "Indeed, as this cook was serving the dish, I observed his face trembling with fear and his eyes darting with suspicion."

८.६.४०

दृश्यते चाधुनैवैतत्कस्मैचिद्दीयतामिदम् ।
भोजनव्यञ्जनं यस्य निर्हरिष्याम्यहं विषम् ॥

Summary AI "It can be seen right now; let this food be given to someone else, and I shall extract the poison from it."

८.६.४१

इत्युक्ते तेन राजा स सूपकारं तमेव तत् ।
व्यञ्जनं भोजयामास भुक्त्वा तच्च मुमूर्च्छ सः ॥

Summary AI When Guṇaśarman said this, the king made that very cook eat the dish; having eaten it, the cook fainted.

८.६.४२

मन्त्रापास्तविषस्तेन ततः स गुणशर्मणा ।
राज्ञा पृष्टो यथातत्त्वमेव वक्ति स्म सूपकृत् ॥

Summary AI Then, after Guṇaśarman neutralized the poison with a mantra, the cook, questioned by the king, spoke the truth exactly as it was.

८.६.४३

देवाहं गौडपतिना राज्ञा विक्रमशक्तिना ।
विषं प्रयोक्तुं प्रहितो युष्माकमिह वैरिणा ॥

Summary AI "O Lord! I have been sent here by your enemy, King Vikramaśakti, the lord of Gauḍa, to administer poison."

८.६.४४

सो ऽहं वैदेशिको भूत्वा कुशलः सूदकर्मणि ।
देवायात्मानमावेद्य प्रविष्टो ऽत्र महानसे ॥

Summary AI "Pretending to be a foreigner and presenting myself to Your Majesty as one skilled in the culinary arts, I gained entry into this kitchen."

८.६.४५

तच्चाद्य दददेवाहं विषं व्यञ्जनमध्यगम् ।
लक्षितो धीमतानेन प्रभुर्जानात्यतः परम् ॥

Summary AI "Today, while I was placing the poison in the dish, I was caught by this wise man; the King knows the rest."

८.६.४६

इत्युक्तवन्तं तं सूदं निगृह्य गुणशर्मणे ।
प्रीतो ग्रामसहस्रं स प्राणदाय ददौ नृपः ॥

Summary AI Having imprisoned the cook who spoke thus, the pleased King gave a thousand villages to Guṇaśarman, who had saved his life.

८.६.४७

अन्येद्युश्चानुबध्नन्त्या राज्ञ्या राजा स यत्नतः ।
वीणाया गुणशर्माणं शिक्षारम्भमकारयत् ॥

Summary AI On another day, urged by the Queen, the King carefully had Guṇaśarman begin teaching her how to play the vīṇā.

८.६.४८

ततः शिक्षयतस्तस्य वीणां सा गुणशर्मणः ।
राज्ञी विलासहासादि चक्रे ऽशोकवती सदा ॥

Summary AI Then, while Guṇaśarman was teaching her the vīṇā, Queen Aśokavatī constantly displayed flirtatious smiles and gestures before him.

८.६.४९

एकदा सा कररुहैर्विध्यन्ती विजने मुहुः ।
उवाच वारयन्तं तं धीरं स्मरशरातुरा ॥

Summary AI Once, in a private place, afflicted by the arrows of Love and repeatedly scratching him with her nails, she spoke to the firm Guṇaśarman, who was resisting her.

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