Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 48 Why Ahalya Was Cursed Summary Vishvamitra narrates the legend of Ahalya to Rama and Lakshmana when they arrive at the precincts [district or place] of Mithila, bidding farewell to the King of Vishaala. Indra is infatuated [inspired with extravagant love or admiration] with Ahalya desires a union with her, for which she complies. However, Gautama catching them unawares curses both Indra and Ahalya. Chapter [Sarga] 48 in Detail pristvaa tu kushalam tatra paraspara samaagame | kathaaante sumatih vaakyam vyaajahaara mahaamunim || 1-48-1 When those two, Vishvamitra and Sumati, have met one another there at that place, king Sumati raised the topic of Rama and Lakshmana, after exchanging greetings and enquiring about the well-being of the great-saint Vishvamitra. [1-48-1] Page 1 of 8 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 48 imau kumaarau bhadram te deva tulya paraakramau | gaja simha gatii viirau shaarduula vrisabha upamau || 1-48-2 padma patra vishaalaaksau khadga tuunii dhanur dharau | ashvinau iva ruupena samupasthita yauvanau || 1-48-3 yadricchayaa eva gaam praaptau devalokaat iva amarau | katham padbhyaam iha praaptau kim artham kasya vaa mune || 1-48-4 These two youngsters, oh, sage, let safety betide [to happen to] you, striding like audacious [adventurous] elephants and arrogant lions, bearing a similitude [likeness] to adventurous tigers and adamantine [rigidly firm] bulls, and wielding quivers, swords, and bows, are valorous with their valor matching that of Vishnu, and with their eyes broad like lotus-petals and with youthfulness in the offing they look like the exceptionally beautiful twin-Gods, Ashwin- brothers, by their physique. How these two have footslogged and chanced here as though immortals have chanced on earth from the abode of Gods at their pleasure? What for they have come here, and whose scions [descendants] are they? [1-48-2, 3, 4] bhuusayantau imam desham candra suuryau iva ambaram | parasparena sadrishau pramaana ingita cestitaih || 1-48-5 kim artham ca nara shresthau sampraaptau dur.hgame pathi | vara aayudha dharau viirau shrotum icchaami tattvatah || 1-48-6 These two best ones among men are identical to one another by their bodily proportion, facial-language, and by bodily gestures, and with their presence they refurbish [to brighten or freshen up] this province like the Moon and Sun brightening the firmament [heavens]. In truth, I would like to know for what reason these valiant ones who are wielding best weapons have arrived here traveling on an arduous [difficult] path. Thus, king Sumati asked Vishvamitra. [1-48- 5, 6] Page 2 of 8 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 48 tasya tad vacanam shrutvaa yathaa vrittam nyavedayat | siddha aashrama nivaasam ca raaksasaanaam vadham tathaa | 1-48-7b On hearing those words of King Sumati, Vishvamitra informed him about the visit of Rama and Lakshmana to the Hermitage of Accomplishment, also about the elimination of demons, as it has happened. [1-48-7a, 7b] vishvaamitra vacah shrutvaa raajaa parama vismitah || 1-48-7c atithii paramau praaptam putrau dasharathasya tau | puujayaamaasa vidhivat satkaara ar.hhau mahaabalau || 1-48-8 King Sumati is highly astonished to hear the words of Vishvamitra about the visit of Rama and Lakshmana, and treating them to have come as the most prominent and honor-worthy guests that king started to honor those two great-mighty sons of Dasharatha customarily. [1-48-7c, 8] tatah parama satkaaram sumateh praapya raaghavau | usya tatra nishaam ekaam jagmatuh mithilaam tatah || 1-48-9 On getting high honors from King Sumati, Raghava-s stayed there along with Vishvamitra and with the community of sages for one night, and then they all have moved on to Mithila. [1-48- 9] taam dristvaa munayah sarve janakasya puriim shubhaam | saadhu saadhu iti sha.msanto mithilaam samapuujayan || 1-48-10 On seeing Janaka's auspicious city Mithila, all of the saints who are accompanying Vishvamitra, Rama, and Lakshmana, extolled [to praise highly] it saying, Splendid! Splendid! and admired it highly. [1-48-10] mithila upavane tatra aashramam drishya raaghavah | puraanam nirjanam ramyam papraccha muni pu.ngavam || 1-48-11 On seeing a hermitage in the fringes of Mithila, that appeared to be age-old, but now uninhabited, yet pleasing, Rama asked the eminent sage Vishvamitra. [1-48-11] Page 3 of 8 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 48 idam aashrama sankaasham kim nu idam muni varjitam | shrotum icchaami bhagavan kasya ayam puurva aashramah || 1-48-12 This is semblable [similar] to a hermitage but sages seem to have discarded it. Oh, venerable sage, whose is this hermitage previously; I wish to listen of it. Thus, Rama asked Vishvamitra. [1-48-12] tat shrutaa raaghavena uktam vaakyam vaakya vishaaradah | prati uvaaca mahaatejaa vishvamitro mahaamunih || 1-48-13 On hearing that sentence spoken by Raghava, the expert in sententiousness [moralistic in expression], a great resplendent sage and eminent-saint Vishvamitra replied him in this way. [1-48-13] hanta te kathayisyaami shrinu tattvena raaghava | yasya etat aashrama padam shaptam kopaan mahaatmanaa || 1-48-14 What a pleasure! You may listen as I narrate, Raghava, whose hermitage is this factually, and which great soul has resentfully cursed this. [1-48-14] gautamasya narashrestha puurvam aasiit mahaatmanah | aashramo divya sankaashah suraih api supuujitah || 1-48-15 Oh, the best one among men Rama, this hermitage with a heavenly glisten, and highly hallowed even by Gods, once belonged to the great-souled sage Gautama. [1-48-15] sa ca atra tapa aatisthat ahalyaa sahitah puraa | varsa puugaani anekaani raajaputra mahaayashah || 1-48-16 In this hermitage, oh, prince Rama, once that highly renowned Sage Gautama sat tight in asceticism for numerous cycle of years along with his wife Ahalya. [1-48-16] Page 4 of 8 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 48 tasya antaram viditvaa tu sahasraaksah shacii patih | muni vesa dharo bhuutvaa ahalyaam idam abraviit || 1-48-17 On knowing the meantime of Gautama's availability at hermitage, Indra, the husband of Shaci Devi and the Thousand-eyed God wearing the guise of sage Gautama and becoming such a sage, approached Ahalya and said this to her. [1-48-17] ritu kaalam pratiiksante na arthinah susamaahite | sa.ngamam tu aham icchaami tvayaa saha sumadhyame || 1-48-18 'Oh, finely limbed lady, indulgers [to yield to the desire] do not watch out for the time to conceive, as such oh, slender-waist one, I desire copulation [to engage in sexual intercourse] with you. [1-48-18] muni vesam sahasraaksam vijnaaya raghuna.ndana | matim cakaara durmedhaa deva raaja kutuuhalaat || 1-48-19 Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, though knowing him as the Thousand-eyed Indra in the guise of her husband Gautama, she is inclined to have intercourse ill-advisedly, only to satisfy the impassion of the King of Gods. [1-48-19] atha abraviit surashrestham kritaarthena a.ntaraatmanaa | kritaarthaa asmi surashrestha gaccha shiighram itah prabho || 1-48-20 aatmaanam maam ca devesha sarvadaa raksa gautamaat | She felt fulfilled in her heart of hearts and then she said this to that best God Indra, 'I am gratified in complying with your wish, oh, best of Gods, get going oh, lord, from here quickly, oh, ruler of Gods, always safeguard yourself and me from Sage Gautama.' Thus, Ahalya said to Indra. [1-48-20, 21a] Page 5 of 8 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 48 indrah tu prahasan vaakyam ahalyaam idam abraviit || 1-48-21 sushroni paritusto asmi gamisyaami yathaa aagatam | Indra on his part smilingly said this word to Ahalya, 'oh, well-hipped lady, I am quite delighted, here I go as I have come.' [1-48-21b, 22a] evam sangamya tu tayaa nishcakraama utajaat tatah || 1-48-22 sa sambhramaat tvaran raama shankito gautamam prati | Oh, Rama, Indra then came out of the cottage flustering [to move or behave in an agitated or confused manner] hurriedly after copulating [to engage in sexual intercourse] with her with an uncertainty about the arrival of Sage Gautama. [1-48-22b, 23a] gautamam sa dadarsha atha pravisha.ntam mahaamunim || 1-48-23 deva daanava durdharsam tapo bala samanvitam | tiirtha udaka pariklinnam diipyamaanam iva analam || 1-48-24 grihiita samidham tatra sa kusham muni pu.ngavam | Indra has then seen the great-saint Gautama, an unassailable sage either for Gods or for demons owing to his ascetic prowess, though thoroughly wet with the water of pious river he is luminous like ritual fire, and a foremost saint among all saints who just entered the hermitage carrying ritual firewood and sacred grass. [1-48-23b, 24, 25a] dristvaa sura patih trasto visanna vadano abhavat || 1-48-25 atha dristvaa sahasraaksam muni vesa dharam munih | dur.hvrittam vritta sampanno rosaat vacanam abraviit || 1-48-26 On seeing the sage the lord of Gods Indra is scared and became dreary-faced [gloomy faced]. Then the well-behaved Gautama furiously spoke these words on seeing the ill-behaved Thousand-eyed Indra who is donning [to put on] the guise of a saint. [1-48-25b, 26] Page 6 of 8 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 48 mama ruupam samaasthaaya kritavaan asi dur.hmate | akartavyam idam yasmaat viphalah tvam bhavisyati || 1-48-27 ‘Oh, dirty-minded Indra, taking hold of my form you have effectuated this unacceptable deed, whereby you shall become in-fecund [not fruitful in offspring].' Thus, Gautama cursed Indra. [1-48-27] gautamena evam uktasya sa rosena mahaatmanaa | petatuh vrisanau bhuumau sahasraaksasya tat ksanaat || 1-48-28 When that great-souled sage Gautama spoke that way with rancor [bitter deep-seated ill will], the testicles of the cursed Thousand-eyed Indra fell down onto ground at that very moment.