Chapter [Sarga] 48

Introduction

Vishvamitra narrates the legend of Ahalya to Rama and Lakshmana when they arrive at the precincts of Mithila, bidding farewell to the King of Vishaala. Indra is infatuated with Ahalya desires a union with her, for which she complies. However, Gautama catching them unawares curses both Indra and Ahalya.


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pR^iSTvaa tu kushalam tatra paraspara samaagame |
kathaaante sumatiH vaakyam vyaajahaara mahaamunim || 1-48-1

1. tatra= there; paraspara - paraH paraH= one with the other – Sumati with Vishvamitra; samaagame= on meeting; sumatiH kushalam pR^iSTvaa= king Sumati, well-being, having asked; katha aante= episode, end of [at end of the exchanging greetings]; mahaamunim vaakyam vyaajahaara= with great-saint, words, started - raised the topic of Rama and Lakshmana.

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]

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imau kumaarau bhadram te deva tulya paraakramau |
gaja si.mha gatii viirau shaarduula vR^iSabha upamau || 1-48-2
padma patra vishaalaakSau khaDga tuuNii dhanur dharau |
ashvinau iva ruupeNa samupasthita yauvanau || 1-48-3
yadR^icChayaa eva gaam praaptau devalokaat iva amarau |
katham padbhyaam iha praaptau kim artham kasya vaa mune || 1-48-4

2. mune= oh, saint; te bhadram= you, be safe; deva tulya paraakramau= with god Vishnu, matching, in valour; gaja simha gatii= [like audacious] elephant, [like arrogant] lion, with strides; viirau= two valrous ones; shaarduula vR^iSabha upamau [adventurous] tiger, [adamantine] Holy Bull, in similitude; padma patra vishaala akSau= lotus, petal, broad, eyed ones; khaDga tuuNii dhanuH dharau= sword, quiver, bow, wielding; ruupeNa ashvinau iva= by physique, Ashwin, the Twin-god brothers, like; sam upasthita yauvanau= in the offing, youthfulness is; deva lokaat= from gods', abode; yadR^icChayaa iva== at their pleasure, as if; gaam praaptau= on earth, chanced; a + marau= not, dying ones [deathless, immortals]; iva= as if like; imau kumaarau= these, youngsters; iha= here, to this place; padbhyaam= with two feet – by footslogging; katham= how; kim artham= what, for; praaptau= how, they chanced; kasya vaa= whose [scions,] are they.

"These two youngsters, oh, sage, let safety betide you, striding like audacious elephants and arrogant lions, bearing a similitude to adventurous tigers and adamantine bulls, and wielding quivers, swords, and bows, are valorous with their valour 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 are they? [1-48-2, 3, 4]

The word deva can easily be said as a 'god' but, this is said to be Vishnu, as implied at 4-43-56 of Kishkindha 'There the Cosmic-Souled God, namely Vishnu...' etc. Now the enquirer himself is no less than a godly king, hence he identified the boys as non-terrestrial. No fatherly person accepts youngsters to footslog miles and miles, and so far this is an unobserved and an uncared for aspect by other sages and saints, because all of those sages and saints are footsloggers. This may be one of the reasons for Dasharatha in refusing to send Rama with Vishvamitra. However, King Sumati, being a glorious and fatherly king brought up this topic. Vishvamitra is giving a 'rehearsal' for these brothers for their real forest trekking later in the legend. Further, if a divine deed is to be done and a benefit therefrom is to be acquired, one has to footslog. Now Rama is going to perform a divine feat called 'bending the bow of Shiva' and thereby winning the hand of an unusual princess Seetha, in marriage. Hence, he footslogged this much distance for siitaa kalyaaNa artham, loka kalyaaNa artham Seetha's marriage, which is for the 'universal goodness.'

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bhuuSayantau imam desham candra suuryau iva a.mbaram |
paraspareNa sadR^ishau 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

5. nara shreSThau= two best ones among men – Rama, Lakshmana; pramaaNa ingita ceSTitaiH= by bodily proportions, [and] by facial-language, [and] by gestures; paraspareNa sadR^ishau= to one another, identical; candra suuryau ambaram iva= Moon, Sun, [decorate the] firmament, as with; imam desham bhuuSayantau= this, province, they are refurbishing; vara aayudha dharau= best, weapons, wielders of; such a; viirau= valiant ones; dur game pathi= not, passable, on a route - an arduous path; kim artham sampraaptau= for what, reason, they have chanced here; tattvataH shrotum icChaami= in truth, to listen - know, I wish to.

"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 this province like the Moon and Sun brightening the firmament. In truth, I would like to know for what reason these valiant ones who are wielding best weapons have arrived here travelling on an arduous path." Thus, king Sumati asked Vishvamitra. [1-48-5, 6]

The word facial-language translated for ingita may be an extended expression for the ‘body language.’ This word is for the voice muted facial expressions, given through smiles, eyebrows, lip movement etc. A person could be analysed by these very expressions as we presently call this as face reading. This is what Sugreeva says when sending Hanuma to Rama and Lakshmana for the first time, 'because you are an expert in reading faces, know them by their facial expressions...'

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tasya tad vacanam shrutvaa yathaa vR^ittam nyavedayat |
siddha aashrama nivaasam ca raakSasaanaam vadham tathaa | 1-48-7b

7a, b. tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa= his [Sumati's,] that, word, on hearing; siddha aashrama nivaasam ca= in Accomplishment, hermitage, visit [of Rama and Lakshmana,] also; tathaa= like that; raakSasaanaam vadham= demons, elimination; yathaa vR^ittam= as, it happened; nyavedayat= submitted - Vishvamitra informed Sumati.

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]

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vishvaamitra vacaH shrutvaa raajaa parama vismitaH || 1-48-7c
atithii paramau praaptam putrau dasharathasya tau |
puujayaamaasa vidhivat satkaara ar.hhau mahaabalau || 1-48-8

7c, 8. raajaa= king Sumati; vishvaamitra vacaH shrutvaa= Vishvamitra's, words, on hearing; parama vismitaH= highly, astonished; paramau atithii praaptam= most prominent ones, guests, chanced - at his place; satkaara arhau= for honour, worthy ones; mahaabalau= great-mighty - princes; tau dasharathasya putrau= to those two, of Dasharatha, sons; vidhivat puujayaamaasa= customarily, started to honour.

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 honour-worthy guests that king started to honour those two great-mighty sons of Dasharatha customarily. [1-48-7c, 8]

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tataH parama satkaaram sumateH praapya raaghavau |
uSya tatra nishaam ekaam jagmatuH mithilaam tataH || 1-48-9

9. raaghavau= Raghava-s; tataH= then; sumateH parama satkaaram praapya= from Sumati, high, honour, on getting; tatra ekaam nishaam uSya= there, one, night, on staying; tataH mithilaam jagmatuH= then, to Mithila, they moved on.

On getting high honours 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]

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taam dR^iSTvaa munayaH sarve janakasya puriim shubhaam |
saadhu saadhu iti sha.msanto mithilaam samapuujayan || 1-48-10

10. sarve munayaH= all, saints; janakasya= Janaka's; taam shubhaam puriim dR^iSTvaa= that, auspicious, city [Mithila,] on seeing; saadhu saadhu iti shamsantaH= splendid, splendid, thus, extolled; mithilaam sam apuujayan= at Mithila, well-worshipped.

On seeing Janaka's auspicious city Mithila, all of the saints who are accompanying Vishvamitra, Rama, and Lakshmana, extolled it saying, "Splendid! Splendid!" and admired it highly. [1-48-10]

Ayodhya is not fortunate enough to receive any worship from the onlookers, but it will be admired for its fortification. However, Mithila is a venerable city, because by itself it is a temple town and the Vedic-rituals etc., will be going on forever. It is a blessed place as it has Shiva's Bow, for which bow ritual worship is be ongoing from time immemorial.

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mithila upavane tatra aashramam dR^ishya raaghavaH |
puraaNam nirjanam ramyam papracCha muni pu.ngavam || 1-48-11

11. raaghavaH= Raghava; tatra= there; mithila upa vane= Mithila, near at, in woodlands - in fringe woods of Mithila; puraaNam= age-old; nir janam= without, people - uninhibited; ramyam= pleasing; aashramam dR^ishya= hermitage, on seeing; muni pungavam papracCha= sage, the eminent, asked.

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]

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idam aashrama sa.nkaasham kim nu idam muni varjitam |
shrotum icChaami bhagavan kasya ayam puurva aashramaH || 1-48-12

12. bhagavan= oh, venerable one; aashrama sankaasham= hermitage, semblable with; muni varjitam= by sages, discarded; idam kim nu= this is, what, really; puurvaH ayam aashramaH kasya= previously, this, hermitage, whose is it; shrotum icChaami= to listen, I wish.

"This is semblable 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]

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tat shrutaa raaghaveNa uktam vaakyam vaakya vishaaradaH |
prati uvaaca mahaatejaa vishvamitro mahaamuniH || 1-48-13

12. vaakya vishaaradaH= in sententiousness, expert; mahaatejaa= great resplendent [sage]; vishvamitraH= Vishvamitra; raaghaveNa uktam= by Raghava, spoken; tat vaakyam= that, sentence; shrutvaa= on hearing; mahaamuniH prati uvaaca= eminent-saint Vishvamitra, in reply, said.

On hearing that sentence spoken by Raghava, the expert in sententiousness, a great resplendent sage and eminent-saint Vishvamitra replied him in this way. [1-48-13]

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hanta te kathayiSyaami shR^iNu tattvena raaghava |
yasya etat aashrama padam shaptam kopaan mahaatmanaa || 1-48-14

14. raaghava= oh, Raghava; mahaa aatmanaa= by [which] great-souled one [Gautama]; kopaan= resentfully; shaptam= cursed; etat aashrama padam= this, hermitage, threshold; yasya= whose is it; tattvena te kathayiSyaami= factually, to you, I will narrate; shR^iNu= listen; hanta= what a pleasure - to tell about it to you.

"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]

The pleasure expressed by Vishvamitra is for the arrival of time, for the event of Rama's grace, in releasing Ahalya from her cursed state.

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gautamasya narashreSTha puurvam aasiit mahaatmanaH |
aashramo divya sa.nkaashaH suraiH api supuujitaH || 1-48-15

15. narashreSTha= oh, best among men, Rama; divya sankaashaH= heavenly, glistening; suraiH api su puujitaH= by gods, even, highly hallowed; aashramaH= [this] hermitage; puurvam= once; maha aatmanaH gautamasya aasiit= of great-souled one, Gautama's, was there - belonged to.

"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]

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sa ca atra tapa aatiSThat ahalyaa sahitaH puraa |
varSa puugaani anekaani raajaputra mahaayashaH || 1-48-16

16. mahaayashaH= oh, highly renowned; raaja putra= oh, king's, son, [prince Rama]; puraa= once; saH= he - Gautama; ahalyaa sahitaH= Ahalya [his wife,] along with an+ekaani= not, one - numerous; varSa puugaani= year, cycles of; atra tapa aatiSThat= there - in this hermitage, in asceticism, sat tight.

"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]

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tasya antaram viditvaa tu sahasraakSaH shacii patiH |
muni veSa dharo bhuutvaa ahalyaam idam abraviit || 1-48-17

17. shacii patiH sahasraakSaH= Sachi Devi's, husband, Thousand-eyed, Indra; tasya= his [Gautama's]; antaram= meantime, gap period [from his stay with his wife in ascetics]; viditvaa= on knowing; muni veSa dharaH= sage's [Gautama's,] guise, wearing; bhuutvaa= on becoming [like Gautama]; ahalyaam idam abraviit= to Ahalya, this, said.

"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]

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R^itu kaalam pratiikSante na arthinaH susamaahite |
sa.ngamam tu aham icChaami tvayaa saha sumadhyame || 1-48-18

18. su samaahite= oh, finely limbed one; arthinaH= indulgers; R^itu kaalam na pratiikSante= seasonal [conceiving,] time, not, watch out for; su madhyame= oh, well-waisted one; aham tu= I, for my part; tvayaa saha= you, along with; sangamam icChaami= copulation, I, desire.

" 'Oh, finely limbed lady, indulgers do not watch out for the time to conceive, as such oh, slender-waisted one, I desire copulation with you. [1-48-18]

Vividly: 'Oh, Ahalya, Brahma crafted you so well that all your limbs are symmetrically conjoined, so who in the universe will not yearn to have intercourse with you... and on seeing your slender waist and thickset hips I wish to copulate with you now itself... and let there be no fear of safe period or unsafe period for I do not wish to have any progeny of mine from you...

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muni veSam sahasraakSam vij~naaya raghuna.ndana |
matim cakaara durmedhaa deva raaja kutuuhalaat || 1-48-19

19. raghunandana= oh, Rahu's, legatee; dur medhaa= ill, advisedly; muni veSam sahasraakSam vij~naaya= in sage's, guise, of Thousand-eyed one, [though] knowing; deva raaja kutuuhalaat= for god's, king's, impassion; matim cakaara= mind, made - inclined to have intercourse.

"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]

Her thinking is: 'This is none but Indra in the guise of my husband, for my husband never asks me like this nor he violates times... I heard that Indra is seeking me for a long time... and when King of Gods expresses such a desire, it cannot be refused... let him have it…

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atha abraviit surashreSTham kR^itaarthena a.ntaraatmanaa |
kR^itaarthaa asmi surashreSTha gacCha shiighram itaH prabho || 1-48-20
aatmaanam maam ca devesha sarvadaa rakSa gautamaat |

20, 21a. atha= then; kR^itaarthena antara atmanaa= fulfilled, means, in heart, of hearts; surashreSTham= of gods, to the best one - Indra; abraviit= said; surashreSTha= oh, best of gods; kR^ita arthaa asmi= fulfilled, purpose - gratified, I am; prabho= oh, lord; itaH shiighram gacCha= from here, quickly, get going; deva iisha= oh, god's, ruler; aatmaanam= yourself; maam ca= me, also; sarvadaa gautamaat rakSa= always, from Gautama, safeguard.

"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]

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indraH tu prahasan vaakyam ahalyaam idam abraviit || 1-48-21
sushroNi parituSTo asmi gamiSyaami yathaa aagatam |

21b, 22a. indraH tu= Indra, on his part; prahasan= smilingly; ahalyaam idam vaakyam abraviit= to Ahalya, this, sentence, said; su shroNi= oh, well-hipped lady; pari tuSTaH asmi= quite, delighted, I am; yathaa aagatam gamiSyaami= as I have come, I will go away.

"Indra on his part smilingly said this word to Ahalya, 'oh, well-hipped lady, I am quite delighted, here I go as I have came.' [1-48-21b, 22a]

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evam sa.ngamya tu tayaa nishcakraama uTajaat tataH || 1-48-22
sa sa.mbhramaat tvaran raama shankito gautamam prati |

22b, 23a. raama= oh, Rama; evam tayaa sangamya= thus, with her, having copulated; saH= he - Indra; sambhramaat tvaran= by fluster, hastily; gautamam prati shankitaH= at Gautama, towards [his arrival,] uncertain of; tataH= then; uTajaat= from cottage; niS cakraama= out, he came.

"Oh, Rama, Indra then came out of the cottage flustering hurriedly after copulating with her with an uncertainty about the arrival of Sage Gautama. [1-48-22b, 23a]

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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
gR^ihiita samidham tatra sa kusham muni pu.ngavam |

23b, 24, 25a. atha= then; saH= he - Indra; deva daanava durdharSam= for gods, for demons, an unassailable one; tapaH bala samanvitam= with ascetic, prowess, possessing; tiirtha udaka pari klinnam= with pious-river's, water, thoroughly, wetted; diipya maanam analam iva= luminous, ritual-fire, as with; gR^ihiita samidham= handling, ritual-firewood; sa kusham= with, sacred Darbha grass; such a; muni pungavam= among saints, the foremost one; gautamam mahaamunim= Gautama, great-saint; tatra= there - into hermitage; pravishantam= entering; dadarsha= has seen.

"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]

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dR^iSTvaa sura patiH trasto viSaNNa vadano abhavat || 1-48-25
atha dR^iSTvaa sahasraakSam muni veSa dharam muniH |
dur.hvR^ittam vR^itta sa.mpanno roSaat vacanam abraviit || 1-48-26

25b, 26. sura patiH= gods, lord of - Indra; dR^iSTvaa= having seen - the sage; trastaH= he is scared; viSaNNa [vivarNa] vadanaH abhavat= dreary [colourless], faced, he became; atha= then; vR^itta sampannaH= in behaviour, rich one [well-behaved Gautama]; muniH= saint [Gautama]; muni veSa dharma= saint's, guise, who is wearing - Indra; dur vR^ittam= ill, behaved one; sahasraakSam= at Thousand-eyed Indra; dR^iSTvaa= on seeing; roSaat vacanam abraviit= by furiousness, words, spoke.

"On seeing the sage the lord of gods Indra is scared and became dreary-faced. Then the well-behaved Gautama furiously spoke these words on seeing the ill-behaved Thousand-eyed Indra who is donning the guise of a saint. [1-48-25b, 26]

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mama ruupam samaasthaaya kR^itavaan asi dur.hmate |
akartavyam idam yasmaat viphalaH tvam bhaviSyati || 1-48-27

27. dur mate= oh, dirty, minded one; mama ruupam samaasthaaya= my, form, taking hold of; idam= this; a + kartavyam= not, performable - unacceptable deed; kR^itavaan asi= effectuated, you have; yasmaat= whereby; tvam= you; vi + phalaH= devoid of, fruits - infecund; bhaviSyati= you will become.

" 'Oh, dirty-minded Indra, taking hold of my form you have effectuated this unacceptable deed, whereby you shall become infecund.' Thus, Gautama cursed Indra. [1-48-27]

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gautamena evam uktasya sa roSeNa mahaatmanaa |
petatuH vR^iSaNau bhuumau sahasraakSasya tat kSaNaat || 1-48-28

28. sa roSeNa mahaatmanaa= with, rancour, by great-souled sage; gautamena= by Gautama; evam uktasya= that way, of the one who is spoken to [cursed, Indra's]; sahasraakSasya= of Thousand-eyed Indra; vR^iSaNau= testicles; tat kSaNaatthat= that, very moment; bhuumau petatuH= onto ground, fell down.

"When that great-souled sage Gautama spoke that way with rancour, the testicles of the cursed Thousand-eyed Indra fell down onto ground at that very moment. [1-48-28]

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tathaa shaptvaa ca vai shakram bhaaryaam api ca shaptavaan |
iha varSa sahasraaNi bahuuni nivaSisyasi || 1-48-29
vaayu bhakSaa niraahaaraa tapyantii bhasma shaayinii |
adR^ishyaa sarva bhuutaanaam aashrame asmin vaSisyasi || 1-48-30

29. shakram tathaa shaptvaa= Indra, thus, on cursing; bhaaryaam api ca shaptavaan= wife, even, also, he cursed; iha= here; bahuuni varSa sahasraaNi= many, years, thousands of; nivaSisyasi= you will live - tarry on; vaayu bhakSaa nir aahaaraa= air, consuming, without, food; bhasma shaayinii= on ashes - dust, recumbent; tapyantii= searing [contritely]; sarva bhuutaanaam= for all, by beings; a +dR^ishyaa= un, seen; asmin aashrame vaSisyasi= in this, hermitage, you live on.

"On cursing Indra thus the sage cursed even his wife saying, 'you shall tarry here for many thousands of years to come without food and consuming air alone, and unseen by all beings you shall live on in this hermitage while contritely recumbent in dust. [1-48-29, 30]

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yadaa tu etat vanam ghoram raamo dasharatha aatmajaH |
aagamiSyati durdharSaH tadaa puutaa bhaviSyasi || 1-48-31

31. dasharatha aatmajaH= Dasharatha's, soul-born son; durdharSaH= unassailable one; raamaH= Rama; yadaa= when; ghoram etat vanam= sqalid, this, to forest; aagamiSyati= arrives; tadaa puutaa bhaviSyasi= then, purified, you will be.

" 'When that unassailable son of Dasharatha, namely Rama, arrives at this squalid forest, for it will be henceforth rendered so along with you, then you will be purified. [1-48-31]

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tasya aatithyena dur.hvR^itte lobha moha vivarjitaa |
mat sakaashe mudaa yuktaa svam vapuH dhaarayiSyasi || 1-48-32

32. dur vR^itte= oh, ill-behaved woman; tasya= to him - to Rama; aatithyena= by giving warm welcome; lobha moha vivarjitaa= greed, craze, divested of; mudaa yuktaa= rejoice, with; mat sakaashe= in my, proximity; svam vapuH dhaarayiSyasi= your own, body, you wear [assume.]

" 'On your welcoming Rama, oh, ill-behaved woman, you will be divested of your greed and craze in which you lingered so far, and then you will assume your own body and then you can be in my proximity, rejoicingly.' Thus, Sage Gautama cursed his wife Ahalya. [1-48-32]

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evam uktvaa mahaatejaa gautamo duSTa caariNiim |
imam aashramam utsR^ijya siddha caaraNa sevite |
himavat shikhare ramye tapaH tepe mahaatapaaH || 1-48-33

33. mahaatejaa= great-resplendent one; mahaatapaaH= great-ascetic; gautamaH= Gautama; duSTa caariNiim= to bad, behaved one - to immodest Ahalya; evam uktvaa= thus, on saying [cursing]; imam aashramam utsR^ijya= this one, hermitage, shedding; siddha caaraNa sevite= by siddha-s, caarana-s, adored by; ramye himavat shikhare= pleasant ones, on Himalayas, peaks; tapaH tepe asceticism, practised.

"On cursing immodest Ahalya thus, that great-resplendent Sage Gautama shed this hermitage which was once adored by celestials like siddha-sand caarana-s, and that great-ascetic Gautama practised his asceticism on the pleasant peaks of Himalayas." Thus, Vishvamitra continued his narration about the legend of Ahalya. [1-48-33]

 

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe aSTa catvaarimshaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 48th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.


Verse Locator for Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties : Chapter 48

 

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Sarga 48 in English Prose

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© Oct, 2002, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : November 04]