The Curse of Ahalya

Shloka 1 (bala.48.1)

पृष्ट्वा तु कुशलं तत्र परस्परसमागमे। कथान्ते सुमतिर्वाक्यं व्याजहार महामुनिम् ॥ १-४८-१ ॥

pṛṣṭvā tu kuśalaṃ tatra parasparasamāgame| kathānte sumatirvākyaṃ vyājahāra mahāmunim || 1-48-1 ||

There, having exchanged greetings and asked after each other's welfare, Sumati, at the close of their talk, spoke this word to the great sage.

Shloka 2 (bala.48.2)

इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ। गजसिंहगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ ॥ १-४८-२ ॥

imau kumārau bhadraṃ te devatulyaparākramau| gajasiṃhagatī vīrau śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau || 1-48-2 ||

"Blessings upon you! These two princes are valiant as gods, moving with the gait of the elephant and the lion, and resembling in might the tiger and the bull."

Shloka 3 (bala.48.3)

पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ। अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ ॥ १-४८-३ ॥

padmapatraviśālākṣau khaḍgatūṇīdhanurdharau| aśvināviva rūpeṇa samupasthitayauvanau || 1-48-3 ||

Their eyes are wide as lotus-petals; they bear swords, quivers and bows; and, on the very threshold of youth, they are as beautiful in form as the twin Ashvins.

Shloka 4 (bala.48.4)

यदृच्छयैव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ। कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने ॥ १-४८-४ ॥

yadṛcchayaiva gāṃ prāptau devalokādivāmarau| kathaṃ padbhyāmiha prāptau kimarthaṃ kasya vā mune || 1-48-4 ||

They seem as if two immortals had, by mere chance, alighted upon this earth from the world of the gods. O sage, how have they come here on foot, for what purpose, and whose sons are they?

Shloka 5 (bala.48.5)

भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्। परस्परेण सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितैः ॥ १-४८-५ ॥

bhūṣayantāvimaṃ deśaṃ candrasūryāvivāmbaram| paraspareṇa sadṛśau pramāṇeṅgitaceṣṭitaiḥ || 1-48-5 ||

They adorn this land as the moon and sun adorn the sky, and in stature, in bearing, and in gesture, each is the very image of the other.

Shloka 6 (bala.48.6)

किमर्थं च नरश्रेष्ठौ संप्राप्तौ दुर्गमे पथि। वरायुधधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥ १-४८-६ ॥

kimarthaṃ ca naraśreṣṭhau saṃprāptau durgame pathi| varāyudhadharau vīrau śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ || 1-48-6 ||

For what reason have these foremost of men, these heroes armed with the finest weapons, come by so arduous a road? I truly wish to hear the whole of it." Thus King Sumati asked Vishvamitra.

Shloka 7 (bala.48.7)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा यथावृत्तं न्यवेदयत्। सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च राक्षसानां वधं तथा। विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा राजा परमविस्मितः ॥ १-४८-७ ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā yathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayat| siddhāśramanivāsaṃ ca rākṣasānāṃ vadhaṃ tathā| viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā rājā paramavismitaḥ || 1-48-7 ||

Hearing his question, Vishvamitra related to him all that had truly occurred — their stay at Siddhashrama and the slaying of the demons there. Hearing Vishvamitra's account, the king was struck with the greatest wonder.

Shloka 8 (bala.48.8)

अतिथी परमौ प्राप्तं पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ। पूजयामास विधिवत् सत्कारार्हौ महाबलौ ॥ १-४८-८ ॥

atithī paramau prāptaṃ putrau daśarathasya tau| pūjayāmāsa vidhivat satkārārhau mahābalau || 1-48-8 ||

Recognising those two mighty sons of Dasharatha as guests most excellent, worthy of every honour, he venerated them according to due rite.

Shloka 9 (bala.48.9)

ततः परमसत्कारं सुमतेः प्राप्य राघवौ। उष्य तत्र निशामेकां जग्मतुर्मिथिलां ततः ॥ १-४८-९ ॥

tataḥ paramasatkāraṃ sumateḥ prāpya rāghavau| uṣya tatra niśāmekāṃ jagmaturmithilāṃ tataḥ || 1-48-9 ||

Then, having received the highest hospitality from Sumati, the two Raghavas spent that one night there, and thereafter set out for Mithila.

Shloka 10 (bala.48.10)

तां दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे जनकस्य पुरीं शुभाम्। साधु साध्विति शंसन्तो मिथिलां समपूजयन् ॥ १-४८-१० ॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā munayaḥ sarve janakasya purīṃ śubhām| sādhu sādhviti śaṃsanto mithilāṃ samapūjayan || 1-48-10 ||

Beholding Janaka's fair city, all the sages exclaimed 'excellent, excellent!' and warmly praised Mithila.

Shloka 11 (bala.48.11)

मिथिलोपवने तत्र आश्रमं दृश्य राघवः। पुराणं निर्जनं रम्यं पप्रच्छ मुनिपुंगवम् ॥ १-४८-११ ॥

mithilopavane tatra āśramaṃ dṛśya rāghavaḥ| purāṇaṃ nirjanaṃ ramyaṃ papraccha munipuṃgavam || 1-48-11 ||

There, in a grove near Mithila, seeing an ancient hermitage — deserted, yet lovely — Raghava questioned that foremost of sages.

Shloka 12 (bala.48.12)

इदमाश्रमसंकाशं किं न्विदं मुनिवर्जितम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि भगवन् कस्यायं पूर्व आश्रमः ॥ १-४८-१२ ॥

idamāśramasaṃkāśaṃ kiṃ nvidaṃ munivarjitam| śrotumicchāmi bhagavan kasyāyaṃ pūrva āśramaḥ || 1-48-12 ||

"O venerable one, this seems to be a hermitage, yet it is bereft of any sage — whose hermitage was this once? I wish to hear of it."

Shloka 13 (bala.48.13)

तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवेणोक्तं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा विश्वमित्रो महामुनिः ॥ १-४८-१३ ॥

tacchrutvā rāghaveṇoktaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ| pratyuvāca mahātejā viśvamitro mahāmuniḥ || 1-48-13 ||

Hearing this question of Raghava's, the great, resplendent sage Vishvamitra, skilled in speech, made this reply.

Shloka 14 (bala.48.14)

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव। यस्यैतदाश्रमपदं शप्तं कोपान्महात्मना ॥ १-४८-१४ ॥

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu tattvena rāghava| yasyaitadāśramapadaṃ śaptaṃ kopānmahātmanā || 1-48-14 ||

"Listen, Raghava, and I shall tell you truly by whom, and in what wrath, this hermitage-site was once cursed."

Shloka 15 (bala.48.15)

गौतमस्य नरश्रेष्ठ पूर्वमासीन्महात्मनः। आश्रमो दिव्यसंकाशः सुरैरपि सुपूजितः ॥ १-४८-१५ ॥

gautamasya naraśreṣṭha pūrvamāsīnmahātmanaḥ| āśramo divyasaṃkāśaḥ surairapi supūjitaḥ || 1-48-15 ||

O best of men, this hermitage, radiant as if divine and honoured even by the gods, belonged of old to the great-souled Gautama.

Shloka 16 (bala.48.16)

स चात्र तप आतिष्ठदहल्यासहितः पुरा। वर्षपूगान्यनेकानि राजपुत्र महायशः ॥ १-४८-१६ ॥

sa cātra tapa ātiṣṭhadahalyāsahitaḥ purā| varṣapūgānyanekāni rājaputra mahāyaśaḥ || 1-48-16 ||

O prince, here of old that greatly renowned Gautama dwelt in austerity for many long years, together with Ahalya.

Shloka 17 (bala.48.17)

तस्यान्तरं विदित्वा तु सहस्राक्षः शचीपतिः। मुनिवेषधरो भूत्वाऽहल्यामिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १-४८-१७ ॥

tasyāntaraṃ viditvā tu sahasrākṣaḥ śacīpatiḥ| muniveṣadharo bhūtvā'halyāmidamabravīt || 1-48-17 ||

Learning of his absence, Shachi's lord, the Thousand-eyed Indra, assuming the guise of the sage, spoke thus to Ahalya.

Shloka 18 (bala.48.18)

ऋतुकालं प्रतीक्षन्ते नार्थिनः सुसमाहिते। संगमं त्वहमिच्छामि त्वया सह सुमध्यमे ॥ १-४८-१८ ॥

ṛtukālaṃ pratīkṣante nārthinaḥ susamāhite| saṃgamaṃ tvahamicchāmi tvayā saha sumadhyame || 1-48-18 ||

"O composed lady, those driven by desire do not wait for the fitting season; O slender-waisted one, I long to unite with you."

Shloka 19 (bala.48.19)

मुनिवेषं सहस्राक्षं विज्ञाय रघुनंदन। मतिं चकार दुर्मेधा देवराजकुतूहलात् ॥ १-४८-१९ ॥

muniveṣaṃ sahasrākṣaṃ vijñāya raghunaṃdana| matiṃ cakāra durmedhā devarājakutūhalāt || 1-48-19 ||

O delight of Raghu's line, though she recognised the Thousand-eyed one beneath the sage's guise, that ill-counselled woman, out of curiosity toward the king of gods, resolved to accept him.

Shloka 20 (bala.48.20)

अथाब्रवीत् सुरश्रेष्ठं कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना। कृतार्थास्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमितः प्रभो ॥ १-४८-२० ॥

athābravīt suraśreṣṭhaṃ kṛtārthenāntarātmanā| kṛtārthāsmi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghramitaḥ prabho || 1-48-20 ||

Then, her heart satisfied, she said to that best of gods: "O foremost of gods, I am gratified; now, my lord, go quickly from this place."

Shloka 21 (bala.48.21)

आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात्। इन्द्रस्तु प्रहसन् वाक्यमहल्यामिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १-४८-२१ ॥

ātmānaṃ māṃ ca deveśa sarvadā rakṣa gautamāt| indrastu prahasan vākyamahalyāmidamabravīt || 1-48-21 ||

"O lord of gods, forever guard both yourself and me from Gautama." At this, Indra, smiling, spoke these words to Ahalya.

Shloka 22 (bala.48.22)

सुश्रोणि परितुष्टोऽस्मि गमिष्यामि यथागतम्। एवं संगम्य तु तया निश्चक्रामोटजात्ततः ॥ १-४८-२२ ॥

suśroṇi parituṣṭo'smi gamiṣyāmi yathāgatam| evaṃ saṃgamya tu tayā niścakrāmoṭajāttataḥ || 1-48-22 ||

"O fair-hipped lady, I am well content; I shall go now as I came." Having thus united with her, he then came forth from the cottage.

Shloka 23 (bala.48.23)

स संभ्रमात्त्वरन् राम शङ्कितो गौतमं प्रति। गौतमं स ददर्शाथ प्रविशन्तं महामुनिम् ॥ १-४८-२३ ॥

sa saṃbhramāttvaran rāma śaṅkito gautamaṃ prati| gautamaṃ sa dadarśātha praviśantaṃ mahāmunim || 1-48-23 ||

O Rama, hastening in confusion, fearful of Gautama, he then beheld that very great sage Gautama entering the hermitage.

Shloka 24 (bala.48.24)

देवदानवदुर्धर्षं तपोबलसमन्वितम्। तीर्थोदकपरिक्लिन्नं दीप्यमानमिवानलम् ॥ १-४८-२४ ॥

devadānavadurdharṣaṃ tapobalasamanvitam| tīrthodakapariklinnaṃ dīpyamānamivānalam || 1-48-24 ||

That sage, unassailable even by gods and demons, endowed with the power of his austerity, wet still with the water of the holy ford, blazed like fire itself.

Shloka 25 (bala.48.25)

गृहीतसमिधं तत्र सकुशं मुनिपुंगवम्। दृष्ट्वा सुरपतिस्त्रस्तो विषण्णवदनोऽभवत् ॥ १-४८-२५ ॥

gṛhītasamidhaṃ tatra sakuśaṃ munipuṃgavam| dṛṣṭvā surapatistrasto viṣaṇṇavadano'bhavat || 1-48-25 ||

Beholding that foremost of sages, samidha-wood and kusha grass in hand, the lord of the gods was struck with terror, and his face fell in dismay.

Shloka 26 (bala.48.26)

अथ दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षं मुनिवेषधरं मुनिः। दुर्वृत्तं वृत्तसंपन्नो रोषाद्वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १-४८-२६ ॥

atha dṛṣṭvā sahasrākṣaṃ muniveṣadharaṃ muniḥ| durvṛttaṃ vṛttasaṃpanno roṣādvacanamabravīt || 1-48-26 ||

Then Gautama, that sage of perfect conduct, seeing the ill-behaved Thousand-eyed one disguised as a sage, spoke in wrath these words.

Shloka 27 (bala.48.27)

मम रूपं समास्थाय कृतवानसि दुर्मते। अकर्तव्यमिदं यस्मात् विफलस्त्वं भविष्यति ॥ १-४८-२७ ॥

mama rūpaṃ samāsthāya kṛtavānasi durmate| akartavyamidaṃ yasmāt viphalastvaṃ bhaviṣyati || 1-48-27 ||

"O evil-minded one, assuming my very form, you have done this deed which should never be done; therefore you shall become bereft of your virility."

Shloka 28 (bala.48.28)

गौतमेनैवमुक्तस्य स रोषेण महात्मना। पेततुर्वृषणौ भूमौ सहस्राक्षस्य तत्क्षणात् ॥ १-४८-२८ ॥

gautamenaivamuktasya sa roṣeṇa mahātmanā| petaturvṛṣaṇau bhūmau sahasrākṣasya tatkṣaṇāt || 1-48-28 ||

No sooner had the great-souled Gautama spoken thus in wrath than, that very instant, the Thousand-eyed one's testicles fell to the ground.

Shloka 29 (bala.48.29)

तथा शप्त्वा च वै शक्रं भार्यामपि च शप्तवान्। इह वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि निवसिष्यसि ॥ १-४८-२९ ॥

tathā śaptvā ca vai śakraṃ bhāryāmapi ca śaptavān| iha varṣasahasrāṇi bahūni nivasiṣyasi || 1-48-29 ||

Having thus cursed Indra, he cursed his wife also, saying: "Here you shall dwell for many thousands of years,"

Shloka 30 (bala.48.30)

वायुभक्षा निराहारा तप्यन्ती भस्मशायिनी। अदृश्या सर्वभूतानामाश्रमेऽस्मिन् निवत्स्यसि ॥ १-४८-३० ॥

vāyubhakṣā nirāhārā tapyantī bhasmaśāyinī| adṛśyā sarvabhūtānāmāśrame'smin nivatsyasi || 1-48-30 ||

"living on air alone, without food, consumed by austerity, lying upon ashes, invisible to all living beings, you shall remain in this very hermitage."

Shloka 31 (bala.48.31)

यदा त्वेतद्वनं घोरं रामो दशरथात्मजः। आगमिष्यति दुर्धर्षस्तदा पूता भविष्यसि ॥ १-४८-३१ ॥

yadā tvetadvanaṃ ghoraṃ rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ| āgamiṣyati durdharṣastadā pūtā bhaviṣyasi || 1-48-31 ||

"When the unassailable Rama, son of Dasharatha, comes to this dread forest, then only shall you be purified."

Shloka 32 (bala.48.32)

तस्यातिथ्येन दुर्वृत्ते लोभमोहविवर्जिता। मत्सकाशे मुदा युक्ता स्वं वपुर्धारयिष्यसि ॥ १-४८-३२ ॥

tasyātithyena durvṛtte lobhamohavivarjitā| matsakāśe mudā yuktā svaṃ vapurdhārayiṣyasi || 1-48-32 ||

"O errant woman, by offering him hospitality, freed of your greed and delusion, you shall joyfully regain your own true form in my presence."

Shloka 33 (bala.48.33)

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा गौतमो दुष्टचारिणीम्। इममाश्रममुत्सृज्य सिद्धचारणसेविते। हिमवच्छिखरे रम्ये तपस्तेपे महातपाः ॥ १-४८-३३ ॥

evamuktvā mahātejā gautamo duṣṭacāriṇīm| imamāśramamutsṛjya siddhacāraṇasevite| himavacchikhare ramye tapastepe mahātapāḥ || 1-48-33 ||

Having thus cursed that errant woman, the great, resplendent Gautama abandoned this hermitage, and on a lovely peak of the Himalaya, frequented by siddhas and charanas, that great ascetic took up his austerities anew. Thus Vishvamitra told the tale of Ahalya.