Chapter 48

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

पृष्ट्वा तु कुशलम् तत्र परस्पर समागमे
कथाअन्ते सुमतिः वाक्यम् व्याजहार महामुनिम्

pṛṣṭvā tu kuśalam tatra paraspara samāgame
kathāante sumatiḥ vākyam vyājahāra mahāmunim

SYNONYMS

tatra: there | paraspara: paraH paraH = one with the other Sumati with Vishvamitra | samāgame: on meeting | sumatiḥ kuśalam pṛṣṭvā: king Sumati, well-being, having asked | katha ānte: episode, end of [at end of the exchanging greetings] | mahāmunim vākyam vyājahāra = vith great: saint, words, started - raised the topic of Rama and Lakshmana. |

TRANSLATION

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]

VERSE 2

इमौ कुमारौ भद्रम् ते देव तुल्य पराक्रमौ
गज सिंह गती वीरौ शार्दूल वृषभ उपमौ

imau kumārau bhadram te deva tulya parākramau
gaja siṃha gatī vīrau śārdūla vṛṣabha upamau

SYNONYMS

mune: oh, saint | te bhadram: you, be safe | deva tulya parākramau: with god Vishnu, matching, in valour | gaja simha gatī: [like audacious] elephant, [like arrogant] lion, with strides | vīrau: two valrous ones | śārdūla vṛṣabha upamau: [adventurous] tiger, [adamantine] Holy Bull, in similitude | padma patra viśāla akṣau: lotus, petal, broad, eyed ones | khaḍga tūṇī dhanuḥ dharau: sword, quiver, bow, wielding | rūpeṇa aśvinau iva: by physique, Ashwin, the Twin-god brothers, like | sam upasthita yauvanau: in the offing, youthfulness is | deva lokāt: from gods', abode | yadṛcchayā iva: at their pleasure, as if | gām prāptau: on earth, chanced | a marau: not, dying ones [deathless, immortals] | iva: as if like | imau kumārau: these, youngsters | iha: here, to this place | padbhyām: with two feet by footslogging | katham: how | kim artham: what, for | prāptau: how, they chanced | kasya vā: whose [scions,] are they. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

PURPORT

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.'
VERSE 5

भूषयन्तौ इमम् देशम् चन्द्र सूर्यौ इव अंबरम्
परस्परेण सदृशौ प्रमाण इन्गित चेष्टितैः

bhūṣayantau imam deśam candra sūryau iva aṃbaram
paraspareṇa sadṛśau pramāṇa ingita ceṣṭitaiḥ

SYNONYMS

nara śreṣṭhau: two best ones among men Rama, Lakshmana | pramāṇa ingita ceṣṭitaiḥ: by bodily proportions, [and] by facial-language, [and] by gestures | paraspareṇa sadṛśau: to one another, identical | candra sūryau ambaram iva: Moon, Sun, [decorate the] firmament, as with | imam deśam bhūṣayantau: this, province, they are refurbishing | vara āyudha dharau: best, weapons, wielders of | vīrau: valiant ones | dur game pathi = not, passable, on a route: an arduous path | kim artham samprāptau: for what, reason, they have chanced here | tattvataḥ śrotum icchāmi = in truth, to listen: know, I wish to. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

PURPORT

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...'
VERSE 7

तस्य तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा यथा वृत्तम् न्यवेदयत्
सिद्ध आश्रम निवासम् च राक्षसानाम् वधम् तथा
१४८७ब्

tasya tad vacanam śrutvā yathā vṛttam nyavedayat
siddha āśrama nivāsam ca rākṣasānām vadham tathā
1-48-7b

SYNONYMS

a, b| tasya tat vacanam śrutvā: his [Sumati's,] that, word, on hearing | siddha āśrama nivāsam ca: in Accomplishment, hermitage, visit [of Rama and Lakshmana,] also | tathā: like that | rākṣasānām vadham: demons, elimination | yathā vṛttam: as, it happened | nyavedayat = submitted: Vishvamitra informed Sumati. |

TRANSLATION

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]

VERSE 8

विश्वामित्र वचः श्रुत्वा राजा परम विस्मितः

viśvāmitra vacaḥ śrutvā rājā parama vismitaḥ

SYNONYMS

c, 8| rājā: king Sumati | viśvāmitra vacaḥ śrutvā: Vishvamitra's, words, on hearing | parama vismitaḥ: highly, astonished | paramau atithī prāptam = most prominent ones, guests, canced: at his place | satkāra arhau: for honour, worthy ones | mahābalau = great: mighty - princes | tau daśarathasya putrau: to those two, of Dasharatha, sons | vidhivat pūjayāmāsa: customarily, started to honour. |

TRANSLATION

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]

VERSE 9

ततः परम सत्कारम् सुमतेः प्राप्य राघवौ
उष्य तत्र निशाम् एकाम् जग्मतुः मिथिलाम् ततः

tataḥ parama satkāram sumateḥ prāpya rāghavau
uṣya tatra niśām ekām jagmatuḥ mithilām tataḥ

SYNONYMS

rāghavau: Raghava-s | tataḥ: then | sumateḥ parama satkāram prāpya: from Sumati, high, honour, on getting | tatra ekām niśām uṣya: there, one, night, on staying | tataḥ mithilām jagmatuḥ: then, to Mithila, they moved on. |

TRANSLATION

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]

VERSE 10

ताम् दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे जनकस्य पुरीम् शुभाम्
साधु साधु इति शंसन्तो मिथिलाम् समपूजयन्

tām dṛṣṭvā munayaḥ sarve janakasya purīm śubhām
sādhu sādhu iti śaṃsanto mithilām samapūjayan

SYNONYMS

sarve munayaḥ: all, saints | janakasya: Janaka's | tām śubhām purīm dṛṣṭvā: that, auspicious, city [Mithila,] on seeing | sādhu sādhu iti śamsantaḥ: splendid, splendid, thus, extolled | mithilām sam apūjayan: at Mithila, well-worshipped. |

TRANSLATION

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]

PURPORT

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.
VERSE 11

मिथिल उपवने तत्र आश्रमम् दृश्य राघवः
पुराणम् निर्जनम् रंयम् पप्रच्छ मुनि पुंगवम्

mithila upavane tatra āśramam dṛśya rāghavaḥ
purāṇam nirjanam raṃyam papraccha muni puṃgavam

SYNONYMS

rāghavaḥ: Raghava | tatra: there | mithila upa vane = ṃithila, near at, in vūdlands: in fringe woods of Mithila | purāṇam: age-old | nir janam = vithout, people: uninhibited | ramyam: pleasing | āśramam dṛśya: hermitage, on seeing | muni pungavam papraccha: sage, the eminent, asked. |

TRANSLATION

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]

VERSE 12

इदम् आश्रम संकाशम् किम् नु इदम् मुनि वर्जितम्
श्रोतुम् इच्छामि भगवन् कस्य अयम् पूर्व आश्रमः

idam āśrama saṃkāśam kim nu idam muni varjitam
śrotum icchāmi bhagavan kasya ayam pūrva āśramaḥ

SYNONYMS

bhagavan: oh, venerable one | āśrama sankāśam: hermitage, semblable with | muni varjitam: by sages, discarded | idam kim nu: this is, what, really | pūrvaḥ ayam āśramaḥ kasya: previously, this, hermitage, whose is it | śrotum icchāmi: to listen, I wish. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 13

तत् श्रुता राघवेण उक्तम् वाक्यम् वाक्य विशारदः
प्रति उवाच महातेजा विश्वमित्रो महामुनिः

tat śrutā rāghaveṇa uktam vākyam vākya viśāradaḥ
prati uvāca mahātejā viśvamitro mahāmuniḥ

SYNONYMS

vākya viśāradaḥ: in sententiousness, expert | mahātejā: great resplendent [sage] | viśvamitraḥ: Vishvamitra | rāghaveṇa uktam: by Raghava, spoken | tat vākyam: that, sentence | śrutvā: on hearing | mahāmuniḥ prati uvāca: eminent-saint Vishvamitra, in reply, said. |

TRANSLATION

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]

VERSE 14

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव
यस्य एतत् आश्रम पदम् शप्तम् कोपान् महात्मना

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu tattvena rāghava
yasya etat āśrama padam śaptam kopān mahātmanā

SYNONYMS

rāghava: oh, Raghava | mahā ātmanā: by [which] great-souled one [Gautama] | kopān: resentfully | śaptam: cursed | etat āśrama padam: this, hermitage, threshold | yasya: whose is it | tattvena te kathayiṣyāmi: factually, to you, I will narrate | śṛṇu: listen | hanta = vhat a pleasure: to tell about it to you. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

PURPORT

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.
VERSE 15

गौतमस्य नरश्रेष्ठ पूर्वम् आसीत् महात्मनः
आश्रमो दिव्य संकाशः सुरैः अपि सुपूजितः

gautamasya naraśreṣṭha pūrvam āsīt mahātmanaḥ
āśramo divya saṃkāśaḥ suraiḥ api supūjitaḥ

SYNONYMS

naraśreṣṭha: oh, best among men, Rama | divya sankāśaḥ: heavenly, glistening | suraiḥ api su pūjitaḥ: by gods, even, highly hallowed | āśramaḥ: [this] hermitage | pūrvam: once | maha ātmanaḥ gautamasya āsīt = of great: souled one, Gautama's, was there - belonged to. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 16

स च अत्र तप आतिष्ठत् अहल्या सहितः पुरा
वर्ष पूगानि अनेकानि राजपुत्र महायशः

sa ca atra tapa ātiṣṭhat ahalyā sahitaḥ purā
varṣa pūgāni anekāni rājaputra mahāyaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahāyaśaḥ: oh, highly renowned | rāja putra: oh, king's, son, [prince Rama] | purā: once | saḥ = he: Gautama | ahalyā sahitaḥ = āhalya [his vife,] along vith an ekāni = not, one: numerous | varṣa pūgāni: year, cycles of | atra tapa ātiṣṭhat = there: in this hermitage, in asceticism, sat tight. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 17

तस्य अन्तरम् विदित्वा तु सहस्राक्षः शची पतिः
मुनि वेष धरो भूत्वा अहल्याम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

tasya antaram viditvā tu sahasrākṣaḥ śacī patiḥ
muni veṣa dharo bhūtvā ahalyām idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

śacī patiḥ sahasrākṣaḥ: Sachi Devi's, husband, Thousand-eyed, Indra | tasya: his [Gautama's] | antaram: meantime, gap period [from his stay with his wife in ascetics] | viditvā: on knowing | muni veṣa dharaḥ: sage's [Gautama's,] guise, wearing | bhūtvā: on becoming [like Gautama] | ahalyām idam abravīt: to Ahalya, this, said. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 18

ऋतु कालम् प्रतीक्षन्ते न अर्थिनः सुसमाहिते
संगमम् तु अहम् इच्छामि त्वया सह सुमध्यमे

ṛtu kālam pratīkṣante na arthinaḥ susamāhite
saṃgamam tu aham icchāmi tvayā saha sumadhyame

SYNONYMS

su samāhite: oh, finely limbed one | arthinaḥ: indulgers | ṛtu kālam na pratīkṣante: seasonal [conceiving,] time, not, watch out for | su madhyame: oh, well-waisted one | aham tu: I, for my part | tvayā saha: you, along with | sangamam icchāmi: copulation, I, desire. |

TRANSLATION

" '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]

PURPORT

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...
VERSE 19

मुनि वेषम् सहस्राक्षम् विज्ञाय रघुनंदन
मतिम् चकार दुर्मेधा देव राज कुतूहलात्

muni veṣam sahasrākṣam vijñāya raghunaṃdana
matim cakāra durmedhā deva rāja kutūhalāt

SYNONYMS

raghunandana: oh, Rahu's, legatee | dur medhā: ill, advisedly | muni veṣam sahasrākṣam vijñāya: in sage's, guise, of Thousand-eyed one, [though] knowing | deva rāja kutūhalāt: for god's, king's, impassion | matim cakāra = mind, made: inclined to have intercourse. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

PURPORT

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
VERSE 20

अथ अब्रवीत् सुरश्रेष्ठम् कृतार्थेन अंतरात्मना
कृतार्था अस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रम् इतः प्रभो

atha abravīt suraśreṣṭham kṛtārthena aṃtarātmanā
kṛtārthā asmi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghram itaḥ prabho

SYNONYMS

, 21a| atha: then | kṛtārthena antara atmanā: fulfilled, means, in heart, of hearts | suraśreṣṭham = of gods, to the best one: Indra | abravīt: said | suraśreṣṭha: oh, best of gods | kṛta arthā asmi = fulfilled, purpose: gratified, I am | prabho: oh, lord | itaḥ śīghram gaccha: from here, quickly, get going | deva īśa: oh, god's, ruler | ātmānam: yourself | mām ca: me, also | sarvadā gautamāt rakṣa: always, from Gautama, safeguard. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 21

इन्द्रः तु प्रहसन् वाक्यम् अहल्याम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

indraḥ tu prahasan vākyam ahalyām idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

b, 22a| indraḥ tu: Indra, on his part | prahasan: smilingly | ahalyām idam vākyam abravīt: to Ahalya, this, sentence, said | su śroṇi: oh, well-hipped lady | pari tuṣṭaḥ asmi: quite, delighted, I am | yathā āgatam gamiṣyāmi: as I have come, I will go away. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 22

एवम् संगंय तु तया निश्चक्राम उटजात् ततः

evam saṃgaṃya tu tayā niścakrāma uṭajāt tataḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 23a| rāma: oh, Rama | evam tayā sangamya: thus, with her, having copulated | saḥ = he: Indra | sambhramāt tvaran: by fluster, hastily | gautamam prati śankitaḥ: at Gautama, towards [his arrival,] uncertain of | tataḥ: then | uṭajāt: from cottage | niṣ cakrāma: out, he came. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 23

गौतमम् स ददर्श अथ प्रविशंतम् महामुनिम्

gautamam sa dadarśa atha praviśaṃtam mahāmunim

SYNONYMS

mahātejā: great-resplendent one | mahātapāḥ: great-ascetic | gautamaḥ: Gautama | duṣṭa cāriṇīm = to bad, behaved one: to immodest Ahalya | evam uktvā: thus, on saying [cursing] | imam āśramam utsṛjya: this one, hermitage, shedding | siddha cāraṇa sevite: by siddha-s, caarana-s, adored by | ramye himavat śikhare: pleasant ones, on Himalayas, peaks | tapaḥ tepe: asceticism, practised. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 25

दृष्ट्वा सुर पतिः त्रस्तो विषण्ण वदनो अभवत्

dṛṣṭvā sura patiḥ trasto viṣaṇṇa vadano abhavat

SYNONYMS

b, 26| sura patiḥ = gods, lord of: Indra | dṛṣṭvā = having sīn: the sage | trastaḥ: he is scared | viṣaṇṇa [vivarṇa] vadanaḥ abhavat: dreary [colourless], faced, he became | atha: then | vṛtta sampannaḥ: in behaviour, rich one [well-behaved Gautama] | muniḥ: saint [Gautama] | muni veṣa dharma = saint's, guise, vho is vearing: Indra | dur vṛttam: ill, behaved one | sahasrākṣam: at Thousand-eyed Indra | dṛṣṭvā: on seeing | roṣāt vacanam abravīt: by furiousness, words, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 27

मम रूपम् समास्थाय कृतवान् असि दुर्मते
अकर्तव्यम् इदम् यस्मात् विफलः त्वम् भविष्यति

mama rūpam samāsthāya kṛtavān asi durmate
akartavyam idam yasmāt viphalaḥ tvam bhaviṣyati

SYNONYMS

dur mate: oh, dirty, minded one | mama rūpam samāsthāya: my, form, taking hold of | idam: this | a kartavyam = not, performable: unacceptable deed | kṛtavān asi: effectuated, you have | yasmāt: whereby | tvam: you | vi phalaḥ = devoid of, fruits: infecund | bhaviṣyati: you will become. |

TRANSLATION

" '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]

VERSE 28

गौतमेन एवम् उक्तस्य स रोषेण महात्मना
पेततुः वृषणौ भूमौ सहस्राक्षस्य तत् क्षणात्

gautamena evam uktasya sa roṣeṇa mahātmanā
petatuḥ vṛṣaṇau bhūmau sahasrākṣasya tat kṣaṇāt

SYNONYMS

sa roṣeṇa mahātmanā: with, rancour, by great-souled sage | gautamena: by Gautama | evam uktasya: that way, of the one who is spoken to [cursed, Indra's] | sahasrākṣasya: of Thousand-eyed Indra | vṛṣaṇau: testicles | tat kṣaṇātthat: that, very moment | bhūmau petatuḥ: onto ground, fell down. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 29

तथा शप्त्वा च वै शक्रम् भार्याम् अपि च शप्तवान्
इह वर्ष सहस्राणि बहूनि निवषिस्यसि

tathā śaptvā ca vai śakram bhāryām api ca śaptavān
iha varṣa sahasrāṇi bahūni nivaṣisyasi

SYNONYMS

śakram tathā śaptvā: Indra, thus, on cursing | bhāryām api ca śaptavān: wife, even, also, he cursed | iha: here | bahūni varṣa sahasrāṇi: many, years, thousands of | nivaṣisyasi = you vill live: tarry on | vāyu bhakṣā nir āhārā: air, consuming, without, food | bhasma śāyinī = on aśes: dust, recumbent | tapyantī: searing [contritely] | sarva bhūtānām: for all, by beings | a dṛśyā: un, seen | asmin āśrame vaṣisyasi: in this, hermitage, you live on. |

TRANSLATION

"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]

VERSE 31

यदा तु एतत् वनम् घोरम् रामो दशरथ आत्मजः
आगमिष्यति दुर्धर्षः तदा पूता भविष्यसि

yadā tu etat vanam ghoram rāmo daśaratha ātmajaḥ
āgamiṣyati durdharṣaḥ tadā pūtā bhaviṣyasi

SYNONYMS

daśaratha ātmajaḥ: Dasharatha's, soul-born son | durdharṣaḥ: unassailable one | rāmaḥ: Rama | yadā: when | ghoram etat vanam: sqalid, this, to forest | āgamiṣyati: arrives | tadā pūtā bhaviṣyasi: then, purified, you will be. |

TRANSLATION

" '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]

VERSE 32

तस्य आतिथ्येन दुर्वृत्ते लोभ मोह विवर्जिता
मत् सकाशे मुदा युक्ता स्वम् वपुः धारयिष्यसि

tasya ātithyena durvṛtte lobha moha vivarjitā
mat sakāśe mudā yuktā svam vapuḥ dhārayiṣyasi

SYNONYMS

dur vṛtte: oh, ill-behaved woman | tasya = to him: to Rama | ātithyena: by giving warm welcome | lobha moha vivarjitā: greed, craze, divested of | mudā yuktā: rejoice, with | mat sakāśe: in my, proximity | svam vapuḥ dhārayiṣyasi: your own, body, you wear [assume.] |

TRANSLATION

" '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]

VERSE 33

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे अष्ट चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe aṣṭa catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahātejā: great-resplendent one | mahātapāḥ: great-ascetic | gautamaḥ: Gautama | duṣṭa cāriṇīm = to bad, behaved one: to immodest Ahalya | evam uktvā: thus, on saying [cursing] | imam āśramam utsṛjya: this one, hermitage, shedding | siddha cāraṇa sevite: by siddha-s, caarana-s, adored by | ramye himavat śikhare: pleasant ones, on Himalayas, peaks | tapaḥ tepe: asceticism, practised. |

TRANSLATION

"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]