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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 47: Story of Indra & Ahalyā: Indra’s disguise and Gautama’s curses
Summary. Indra takes Gautama’s form and unites with Ahalyā, Gautama curses him to lose his testicles and her to remain invisible until Rāma’s arrival
Sequence
- Sumati asks who the two splendid, armed youths are and why they have come on foot along this difficult route (1.47.1–6)
- Viśvāmitra recounts Siddhāśrama and the defeat of the rākṣasas → Sumati honors Daśaratha's sons, who stay overnight before continuing toward Mithilā (1.47.7–9)
- near Janaka's city, Rāma notices a beautiful but deserted hermitage and asks about it (1.47.10–13)
- Viśvāmitra identifies it as Gautama's former home with Ahalyā and begins their story. During Gautama's absence, Indra takes his appearance and asks Ahalyā for union, saying that desire does not wait for the fertile season (1.47.14–18)
- Ahalyā recognizes Indra despite the disguise and agrees out of curiosity about the King of the Devas (1.47.19)
- afterward she urges him to leave quickly and protect them both → he says he is satisfied and hurries out, afraid of Gautama (1.47.20–22)
- Gautama returns wet from his sacred bath, blazing like fire, carrying fuel and kuśa grass → seeing him, Indra grows terrified (1.47.23–24)
- Gautama recognizes the impersonation and curses him to lose his potency → Indra's testicles immediately fall to the ground. Gautama also curses Ahalyā to remain in the hermitage for thousands of years, living on air, fasting, lying in ashes, and invisible to living beings (1.47.25–29)
- he declares that Rāma's arrival and her hospitality to him will bring purification, recovery of her form, and reunion with himself (1.47.30–31)
- Gautama leaves for austerity on a Himalayan peak. (1.47.32)
Verses 1.47.1–32
1.47.1
pṛṣṭvā tu kuśalaṃ tatra parasparasamāgame
kathānte sumatir vākyaṃ vyājahāra mahāmunim
Having inquired after (one another's) welfare there at their meeting, at the close of the talk Sumati addressed these words to the great sage:
Words: pṛṣṭvā — having asked after; tu — and; kuśalaṃ — welfare, well-being; tatra — there; parasparasamāgame — at the mutual meeting; kathānte — at the end of the talk; sumatir — Sumati; vākyaṃ — words, speech; vyājahāra — uttered, addressed; mahāmunim — to the great sage
1.47.2
imau kumārau bhadraṃ te devatulyaparākramau
gajasiṃhagatī vīrau śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau
“These two youths — blessings on you — of prowess equal to the gods, with the gait of elephant and lion, heroes like tiger and bull,
Words: imau — these two; kumārau — youths, princes; bhadraṃ — blessing; te — to you; devatulyaparākramau — of prowess equal to the gods; gajasiṃhagatī — with the gait of elephant and lion; vīrau — two heroes; śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau — like a tiger and a bull
1.47.3
padmapatraviśālākṣau khaḍgatūṇīdhanurdharau
aśvināv iva rūpeṇa samupasthitayauvanau
with eyes wide as lotus-petals, bearing sword, quiver, and bow, in form like the two Aśvins, in the bloom of youth,
Words: padmapatraviśālākṣau — with eyes broad as lotus-petals; khaḍgatūṇīdhanurdharau — bearing sword, quiver, and bow; aśvināv — the two Aśvins; iva — like; rūpeṇa — in form, appearance; samupasthitayauvanau — in whom youth has arrived
1.47.4
yadṛcchayaiva gāṃ prāptau devalokād ivāmarau
kathaṃ padbhyām iha prāptau kimarthaṃ kasya vā mune
come to earth as if by mere chance, like two immortals from the world of the gods — how have they come here on foot, for what purpose, and whose (sons) are they, O sage?
Words: yadṛcchayaiva — by mere chance; gāṃ — the earth; prāptau — (the two) arrived; devalokād — from the world of the gods; ivāmarau — like two immortals; kathaṃ — how; padbhyām — on foot, by their two feet; iha — here; prāptau — (the two) arrived; kimarthaṃ — for what purpose; kasya — whose; vā — or; mune — O sage
1.47.5
bhūṣayantāv imaṃ deśaṃ candrasūryāv ivāmbaram
parasparasya sadṛśau pramāṇeṅgitaceṣṭitaiḥ
adorning this land as the moon and sun adorn the sky, resembling each other in stature, gesture, and movement?
Words: bhūṣayantāv — (the two) adorning; imaṃ — this; deśaṃ — land, region; candrasūryāv — the moon and sun; ivāmbaram — as the sky; parasparasya — of each other; sadṛśau — resembling, alike; pramāṇeṅgitaceṣṭitaiḥ — in stature, gesture, and movement
1.47.6
kimarthaṃ ca naraśreṣṭhau saṃprāptau durgame pathi
varāyudhadharau vīrau śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ
And for what purpose have these two best of men, heroes bearing excellent weapons, come by this difficult path? I wish to hear the truth.”
Words: kimarthaṃ — for what purpose; ca — and; naraśreṣṭhau — the two best of men; saṃprāptau — (the two) arrived; durgame — difficult (to traverse); pathi — on the path; varāyudhadharau — bearing excellent weapons; vīrau — two heroes; śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I wish; tattvataḥ — truly, in truth
1.47.7
tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā yathāvṛtthaṃ nyavedayat
siddhāśramanivāsaṃ ca rākṣasānāṃ vadhaṃ tathā
Hearing that speech of his, he (Viśvāmitra) related it just as it had happened — the sojourn at Siddhāśrama and likewise the slaying of the rākṣasas.
Words: tasya — his; tad vacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; yathāvṛtthaṃ — just as it had happened; nyavedayat — related, made known; siddhāśramanivāsaṃ — the sojourn at Siddhāśrama; ca — and; rākṣasānāṃ — of the rākṣasas; vadhaṃ — the slaying; tathā — likewise
1.47.8
viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā rājā paramaharṣitaḥ
atithī paramau prāptau putrau daśarathasya tau
pūjayām āsa vidhivat satkārārhau mahābalau
Hearing Viśvāmitra's words, the king, greatly delighted, honoured according to rule those two mighty sons of Daśaratha, come as supreme guests, worthy of hospitality.
Words: viśvāmitravacaḥ — the words of Viśvāmitra; śrutvā — having heard; rājā — the king; paramaharṣitaḥ — greatly delighted; atithī — two guests; paramau — supreme, foremost; prāptau — come, arrived; putrau — the two sons; daśarathasya — of Daśaratha; tau — those two; pūjayām āsa — honoured, worshipped; vidhivat — according to rule; satkārārhau — worthy of hospitality; mahābalau — the two mighty ones
1.47.9
tataḥ paramasatkāraṃ sumateḥ prāpya rāghavau
uṣya tatra niśām ekāṃ jagmatur mithilāṃ tataḥ
Then the two Rāghavas, having received supreme hospitality from Sumati and spent one night there, went thence to Mithilā.
Words: tataḥ — then; paramasatkāraṃ — supreme hospitality; sumateḥ — from Sumati; prāpya — having received, obtained; rāghavau — the two Rāghavas; uṣya — having dwelt, stayed; tatra — there; niśām — night; ekāṃ — one; jagmatur — the two went; mithilāṃ — to Mithilā; tataḥ — thence, then
1.47.10
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā munayaḥ sarve janakasya purīṃ śubhām
sādhu sādhv iti śaṃsanto mithilāṃ samapūjayan
Seeing that lovely city of Janaka, all the sages, exclaiming 'Excellent! Excellent!', extolled Mithilā.
Words: tāṃ — that; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; munayaḥ — the sages; sarve — all; janakasya — of Janaka; purīṃ — city; śubhām — lovely, auspicious; sādhu — excellent, well done; sādhv iti — 'excellent!' thus; śaṃsanto — praising, extolling; mithilāṃ — Mithilā; samapūjayan — honoured, extolled
1.47.11
mithilopavane tatra āśramaṃ dṛśya rāghavaḥ
purāṇaṃ nirjanaṃ ramyaṃ papraccha munipuṃgavam
There in a grove near Mithilā, Rāghava, seeing an ancient hermitage, deserted yet lovely, asked the bull among sages:
Words: mithilopavane — in the grove near Mithilā; tatra — there; āśramaṃ — a hermitage; dṛśya — having seen; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; purāṇaṃ — ancient, old; nirjanaṃ — deserted, unpeopled; ramyaṃ — lovely, delightful; papraccha — asked; munipuṃgavam — the bull among sages
1.47.12
śrīmadāśramasaṃkāśaṃ kiṃ nv idaṃ munivarjitam
śrotum icchāmi bhagavan kasyāyaṃ pūrva āśramaḥ
“Resembling a glorious hermitage, yet devoid of any sage — what then is this? I wish to hear, O venerable one, whose hermitage this was of old.”
Words: śrīmadāśramasaṃkāśaṃ — resembling a glorious hermitage; kiṃ — what; nv — then, indeed; idaṃ — this; munivarjitam — devoid of sages; śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I wish; bhagavan — O venerable one; kasyāyaṃ — whose is this; pūrva — former, of old; āśramaḥ — hermitage
1.47.13
tac chrutā rāghaveṇoktaṃ vākyaṃ vākya viśāradaḥ
pratyuvāca mahātejā viśvamitro mahāmuniḥ
Hearing those words spoken by Rāghava, the mighty and eloquent great sage Viśvāmitra, skilled in speech, replied:
Words: tac — that; chrutā — having heard; rāghaveṇoktaṃ — spoken by Rāghava; vākyaṃ — words, speech; vākya — in speech; viśāradaḥ — skilled, expert; pratyuvāca — replied, answered; mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvamitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage
1.47.14
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu tattvena rāghava
yasyaitad āśramapadaṃ śaptaṃ kopān mahātmanā
“Come, I shall tell you; listen truly, Rāghava, to whom this hermitage-ground belonged — cursed in wrath by that great soul.
Words: hanta — come!, well!; te — to you; kathayiṣyāmi — I shall tell; śṛṇu — listen, hear; tattvena — truly, in truth; rāghava — O Rāghava; yasyaitad — whose (was) this; āśramapadaṃ — hermitage-ground; śaptaṃ — cursed; kopān — out of wrath; mahātmanā — by the great-souled one
1.47.15
gautamasya naraśreṣṭha pūrvam āsīn mahātmanaḥ
āśramo divyasaṃkāśaḥ surair api supūjitaḥ
O best of men, of old this was the hermitage of the great-souled Gautama, resembling heaven, well honoured even by the gods.
Words: gautamasya — of Gautama; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; pūrvam — formerly, of old; āsīn — was, there was; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; āśramo — hermitage; divyasaṃkāśaḥ — resembling the divine; surair — by the gods; api — even; supūjitaḥ — well honoured
1.47.16
sa ceha tapa ātiṣṭhad ahalyāsahitaḥ purā
varṣapūgāny anekāni rājaputra mahāyaśaḥ
And here of old he practised austerity, together with Ahalyā, for many a series of years, O illustrious prince.
Words: sa — he; ceha — and here; tapa — austerity; ātiṣṭhad — practised, undertook; ahalyāsahitaḥ — together with Ahalyā; purā — of old, formerly; varṣapūgāny — series of years; anekāni — many; rājaputra — O prince; mahāyaśaḥ — O illustrious one
1.47.17
tasyāntaraṃ viditvā tu sahasrākṣaḥ śacīpatiḥ
muniveṣadharo 'halyām idaṃ vacanam abravīt
Learning of his absence, the thousand-eyed lord of Śacī (Indra), in the guise of the sage, spoke these words to Ahalyā:
Words: tasyāntaraṃ — his opportunity/absence; viditvā — having learned, ascertained; tu — and; sahasrākṣaḥ — the thousand-eyed one; śacīpatiḥ — lord of Śacī (Indra); muniveṣadharo — wearing the sage's garb; 'halyām — to Ahalyā; idaṃ — this; vacanam — word, speech; abravīt — said, spoke
1.47.18
ṛtukālaṃ pratīkṣante nārthinaḥ susamāhite
saṃgamaṃ tv aham icchāmi tvayā saha sumadhyame
“Those who desire (a woman) do not wait for the fertile season, O well-composed one; and I desire union with you, O slender-waisted one.”
Words: ṛtukālaṃ — the fertile (menstrual) season; pratīkṣante — wait for, await; nārthinaḥ — those who desire do not; susamāhite — O well-composed one; saṃgamaṃ — union, intercourse; tv — and, but; aham — I; icchāmi — desire; tvayā — with you; saha — together; sumadhyame — O slender-waisted one
1.47.19
muniveṣaṃ sahasrākṣaṃ vijñāya raghunandana
matiṃ cakāra durmedhā devarājakutūhalāt
Recognizing the thousand-eyed one in the sage's garb, O delight of the Raghus, the foolish woman made up her mind, out of curiosity about the king of the gods.
Words: muniveṣaṃ — in the sage's garb; sahasrākṣaṃ — the thousand-eyed one; vijñāya — having recognized; raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus; matiṃ — mind, resolve; cakāra — made, set; durmedhā — foolish, of poor understanding; devarājakutūhalāt — out of curiosity about the king of the gods
1.47.20
athābravīt suraśreṣṭhaṃ kṛtārthenāntarātmanā
kṛtārtho 'si suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghram itaḥ prabho
ātmānaṃ māṃ ca deveśa sarvadā rakṣa mānadaḥ
Then, satisfied in her inmost heart, she said to the best of gods: “You have had your way, O best of gods; go quickly from here, O lord; O lord of gods, bestower of honour, protect yourself and me always.”
Words: athābravīt — then she said; suraśreṣṭhaṃ — to the best of gods; kṛtārthenāntarātmanā — with satisfied inner self; kṛtārtho — you have your purpose fulfilled; 'si — you are; suraśreṣṭha — O best of gods; gaccha — go; śīghram — quickly; itaḥ — from here; prabho — O lord; ātmānaṃ — yourself; māṃ — me; ca — and; deveśa — O lord of gods; sarvadā — always; rakṣa — protect; mānadaḥ — O bestower of honour
1.47.21
indras tu prahasan vākyam ahalyām idam abravīt
suśroṇi parituṣṭo 'smi gamiṣyāmi yathāgatam
But Indra, laughing, spoke these words to Ahalyā: “O fair-hipped one, I am well satisfied; I shall go as I came.”
Words: indras — Indra; tu — but; prahasan — laughing, smiling; vākyam — words; ahalyām — to Ahalyā; idam — this; abravīt — said; suśroṇi — O fair-hipped one; parituṣṭo — well satisfied; 'smi — I am; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; yathāgatam — as I came
1.47.22
evaṃ saṃgamya tu tayā niścakrāmoṭajāt tataḥ
sa saṃbhramāt tvaran rāma śaṅkito gautamaṃ prati
Having thus united with her, he then came forth from the hut; hurrying in his agitation, O Rāma, fearful of Gautama —
Words: evaṃ — thus; saṃgamya — having united, come together; tu — and; tayā — with her; niścakrāmoṭajāt — came out of the hut; tataḥ — then; sa — he; saṃbhramāt — out of agitation, haste; tvaran — hurrying; rāma — O Rāma; śaṅkito — apprehensive, fearful; gautamaṃ prati — of / toward Gautama
1.47.23
gautamaṃ sa dadarśātha praviśanti mahāmunim
devadānavadurdharṣaṃ tapobalasamanvitam
tīrthodakapariklinnaṃ dīpyamānam ivānalam
gṛhītasamidhaṃ tatra sakuśaṃ munipuṅgavam
Then he saw the great sage Gautama entering — unassailable by gods and demons, endowed with the power of austerity, wet with the water of a sacred bathing-place, blazing like fire, the bull among sages, holding firewood and kuśa-grass —
Words: gautamaṃ — Gautama; sa — he; dadarśātha — then saw; praviśanti — entering; mahāmunim — the great sage; devadānavadurdharṣaṃ — unassailable by gods and demons; tapobalasamanvitam — endowed with the power of austerity; tīrthodakapariklinnaṃ — wet with sacred bathing-water; dīpyamānam — blazing, shining; ivānalam — like fire; gṛhītasamidhaṃ — holding firewood; tatra — there; sakuśaṃ — with kuśa-grass; munipuṅgavam — the bull among sages
1.47.24
dṛṣṭvā surapatis trasto viṣaṇṇavadano 'bhavat
seeing whom, the lord of the gods became terrified, his face downcast.
Words: dṛṣṭvā — having seen; surapatis — the lord of the gods (Indra); trasto — terrified, alarmed; viṣaṇṇavadano — with dejected face; 'bhavat — became
1.47.25
atha dṛṣṭvā sahasrākṣaṃ muniveṣadharaṃ muniḥ
durvṛttaṃ vṛttasaṃpanno roṣād vacanam abravīt
Then the sage, endowed with good conduct, seeing the thousand-eyed one in the sage's garb — the ill-behaved one — spoke these words in wrath:
Words: atha — then; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; sahasrākṣaṃ — the thousand-eyed one; muniveṣadharaṃ — wearing the sage's garb; muniḥ — the sage (Gautama); durvṛttaṃ — the ill-behaved one; vṛttasaṃpanno — endowed with good conduct; roṣād — out of wrath; vacanam — word, speech; abravīt — spoke
1.47.26
mama rūpaṃ samāsthāya kṛtavān asi durmate
akartavyam idaṃ yasmād viphalas tvaṃ bhaviṣyati
“Having assumed my form, you have done, O evil-minded one, this that ought never to be done; therefore you shall become impotent.”
Words: mama — my; rūpaṃ — form, appearance; samāsthāya — having assumed, taken on; kṛtavān — you have done; asi — you are; durmate — O evil-minded one; akartavyam — what ought not to be done; idaṃ — this; yasmād — because, since; viphalas — fruitless, impotent; tvaṃ — you; bhaviṣyati — shall become (=bhaviṣyasi)
1.47.27
gautamenaivam uktasya saroṣeṇa mahātmanā
petatur vṛṣaṇau bhūmau sahasrākṣasya tatkṣaṇāt
When he had been thus addressed by the wrathful great-souled Gautama, the two testicles of the thousand-eyed one fell to the ground that very instant.
Words: gautamenaivam — by Gautama thus; uktasya — of the one addressed; saroṣeṇa — wrathful, angry; mahātmanā — by the great-souled one; petatur — the two fell; vṛṣaṇau — the two testicles; bhūmau — on the ground; sahasrākṣasya — of the thousand-eyed one; tatkṣaṇāt — that very instant
1.47.28
tathā śaptvā sa vai śakraṃ bhāryām api ca śaptavān
iha varṣasahasrāṇi bahūni tvaṃ nivatsyasi
Having thus cursed Śakra, he cursed his wife as well: “For many thousands of years you shall dwell here,
Words: tathā — thus; śaptvā — having cursed; sa — he; vai — indeed; śakraṃ — Śakra (Indra); bhāryām — his wife; api — also; ca — and; śaptavān — cursed; iha — here; varṣasahasrāṇi — thousands of years; bahūni — many; tvaṃ — you; nivatsyasi — you shall dwell
1.47.29
vāyubhakṣā nirāhārā tapyantī bhasmaśāyinī
adṛśyā sarvabhūtānām āśrame 'smin nivatsyasi
feeding on air, without food, doing penance, lying in ashes, invisible to all beings — in this hermitage you shall dwell.
Words: vāyubhakṣā — feeding on air; nirāhārā — without food; tapyantī — doing penance, tormenting herself; bhasmaśāyinī — lying in ashes; adṛśyā — invisible, unseen; sarvabhūtānām — to all beings; āśrame — in the hermitage; 'smin — this; nivatsyasi — you shall dwell
1.47.30
yadā caitad vanaṃ ghoraṃ rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ
āgamiṣyati durdharṣas tadā pūtā bhaviṣyasi
And when Rāma, the unassailable son of Daśaratha, shall come to this terrible forest, then you shall become purified.
Words: yadā — when; caitad — and this; vanaṃ — forest; ghoraṃ — terrible, dreadful; rāmo — Rāma; daśarathātmajaḥ — son of Daśaratha; āgamiṣyati — shall come; durdharṣas — unassailable; tadā — then; pūtā — purified, cleansed; bhaviṣyasi — you shall become
1.47.31
tasyātithyena durvṛtte lobhamohavivarjitā
matsakāśe mudā yuktā svaṃ vapur dhārayiṣyasi
By showing him hospitality, O ill-behaved one, freed from greed and delusion, and full of joy in my presence, you shall regain your own form.”
Words: tasyātithyena — by hospitality to him; durvṛtte — O ill-behaved one; lobhamohavivarjitā — freed from greed and delusion; matsakāśe — in my presence; mudā — with joy; yuktā — joined, filled; svaṃ — your own; vapur — body, form; dhārayiṣyasi — you shall bear, hold, regain
1.47.32
evam uktvā mahātejā gautamo duṣṭacāriṇīm
imam āśramam utsṛjya siddhacāraṇasevite
himavacchikhare ramye tapas tepe mahātapāḥ
Having spoken thus to the ill-behaved woman, the mighty Gautama abandoned this hermitage and, on a lovely peak of the Himālaya frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas, the great ascetic performed his austerity.
Words: evam uktvā — having spoken thus; mahātejā — of great splendour; gautamo — Gautama; duṣṭacāriṇīm — the ill-behaved woman; imam — this; āśramam — hermitage; utsṛjya — having abandoned, left; siddhacāraṇasevite — frequented by Siddhas and Cāraṇas; himavacchikhare — on a peak of the Himālaya; ramye — lovely, delightful; tapas — austerity; tepe — performed; mahātapāḥ — the great ascetic
← 1.46 Story of Indra & Diti: The Maruts’ regions and Viśālā’s lineage · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.48 Indra’s restoration; Ahalyā released by Rāma →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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