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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 48: Indra’s restoration; Ahalyā released by Rāma

Summary. Viśvāmitra recounts the pitṛdevas ’ transfer of a ram’s testicles to Indra, then Rāma enters the hermitage and Ahalyā’s hospitality ends her curse

Sequence

  1. Viśvāmitra continues the earlier story: Indra tells the Devas that provoking Gautama's anger served their interests by consuming Gautama's tapas (ascetic power) in a curse → he asks them to restore his potency (1.48.1–4)
  2. the Devas, led by Agni, appeal to the pitṛdevas (ancestral deities), asking them to transfer a ram's testicles to Indra → they promise satisfaction through future offerings of castrated rams (1.48.5–7)
  3. the pitṛdevas make the transfer → Indra thereafter bears a ram's testicles, and such rams become offerings for the pitṛdevas. Returning to the present journey, Viśvāmitra invites Rāma to enter and release Ahalyā (1.48.8–11)
  4. the brothers follow him inside → Rāma sees her radiance, strengthened by austerity, like fire through smoke, moonlight through mist, or sunlight amid water → Gautama's curse had kept her concealed until this arrival (1.48.12–16)
  5. both brothers bow at her feet → remembering Gautama's words, she welcomes them and offers pādya, arghya and ātithya, which Rāma accepts (1.48.17–18)
  6. puṣpavṛṣṭi (flower-rain) falls, devadundubhis (divine drums) sound, and gandharvas and apsarases gather to honour her purification (1.48.19–20)
  7. Gautama returns joyfully, reunites with Ahalyā, and honors Rāma → Rāma receives his welcome and continues to Mithilā. (1.48.21–22)

Verses 1.48.1–22

1.48.1

aphalas tu tataḥ śakro devān agnipurogamān
abravīt trastavadanaḥ sarṣisaṃghān sacāraṇān

Then Śakra, rendered impotent, his face fearful, spoke to the gods led by Agni, together with the hosts of sages and the Cāraṇas:

Words: aphalas — made fruitless, impotent; tu — and; tataḥ — then; śakro — Śakra (Indra); devān — to the gods; agnipurogamān — led by Agni; abravīt — said, spoke; trastavadanaḥ — with fearful face; sarṣisaṃghān — together with the hosts of sages; sacāraṇān — together with the Cāraṇas

1.48.2

kurvatā tapaso vighnaṃ gautamasya mahātmanaḥ
krodham utpādya hi mayā surakāryam idaṃ kṛtam

“In causing an obstruction to the austerity of the great-souled Gautama, by provoking his wrath, I have indeed accomplished this task for the gods.

Words: kurvatā — by (me) making; tapaso — of the austerity; vighnaṃ — an obstruction, hindrance; gautamasya — of Gautama; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; krodham — wrath, anger; utpādya — having produced, provoked; hi — indeed; mayā — by me; surakāryam — the task of the gods; idaṃ — this; kṛtam — (has been) done

1.48.3

aphalo 'smi kṛtas tena krodhāt sā ca nirākṛtā
śāpamokṣeṇa mahatā tapo 'syāpahṛtaṃ mayā

I have been made impotent by him out of wrath, and she has been cast off; but through a mighty utterance of curse, his austerity has been carried off by me.

Words: aphalo — fruitless, impotent; 'smi — I am; kṛtas — made; tena — by him; krodhāt — out of wrath; sā — she; ca — and; nirākṛtā — cast off, repudiated; śāpamokṣeṇa — by the release/uttering of a curse; mahatā — great; tapo — austerity; 'syāpahṛtaṃ — his (was) carried off; mayā — by me

1.48.4

tan māṃ suravarāḥ sarve sarṣisaṃghāḥ sacāraṇāḥ
surasāhyakaraṃ sarve saphalaṃ kartum arhatha

Therefore, all you best of gods, with the hosts of sages and the Cāraṇas — all of you ought to make me, the helper of the gods, potent again.”

Words: tan — therefore, so; māṃ — me; suravarāḥ — best of gods; sarve — all; sarṣisaṃghāḥ — with the hosts of sages; sacāraṇāḥ — with the Cāraṇas; surasāhyakaraṃ — the helper of the gods; sarve — all; saphalaṃ — potent, fruitful; kartum — to make; arhatha — you ought

1.48.5

śatakrator vacaḥ śrutvā devāḥ sāgnipurogamāḥ
pitṛdevān upetyāhuḥ saha sarvair marudgaṇaiḥ

Hearing the words of Śatakratu (Indra), the gods led by Agni, together with all the hosts of Maruts, approached the ancestral gods (Pitṛs) and said:

Words: śatakrator — of Śatakratu (Indra, of a hundred rites); vacaḥ — words; śrutvā — having heard; devāḥ — the gods; sāgnipurogamāḥ — led by Agni; pitṛdevān — the ancestral gods (Pitṛs); upetyāhuḥ — having approached, said; saha — together with; sarvair — all; marudgaṇaiḥ — with the hosts of Maruts

1.48.6

ayaṃ meṣaḥ savṛṣaṇaḥ śakro hy avṛṣaṇaḥ kṛtaḥ
meṣasya vṛṣaṇau gṛhya śakrāyāśu prayacchata

“This ram has testicles, while Śakra has been made testicle-less; take the ram's testicles and give them quickly to Śakra.

Words: ayaṃ — this; meṣaḥ — ram; savṛṣaṇaḥ — possessing testicles; śakro — Śakra; hy — indeed; avṛṣaṇaḥ — without testicles; kṛtaḥ — made; meṣasya — of the ram; vṛṣaṇau — the two testicles; gṛhya — having taken; śakrāyāśu — to Śakra quickly; prayacchata — give (pl.)

1.48.7

aphalas tu kṛto meṣaḥ parāṃ tuṣṭiṃ pradāsyati
bhavatāṃ harṣaṇārthāya ye ca dāsyanti mānavāḥ

And the ram made barren shall bestow the highest satisfaction; and so too the men who shall offer (such rams) for your gladdening.”

Words: aphalas — made barren, testicle-less; tu — and; kṛto — made; meṣaḥ — ram; parāṃ — supreme, highest; tuṣṭiṃ — satisfaction, contentment; pradāsyati — shall bestow, give; bhavatāṃ — of you, for you; harṣaṇārthāya — for the sake of gladdening; ye — who; ca — and; dāsyanti — shall give, offer; mānavāḥ — men, mortals

1.48.8

agnes tu vacanaṃ śrutvā pitṛdevāḥ samāgatāḥ
utpāṭya meṣavṛṣaṇau sahasrākṣe nyavedayan

Hearing Agni's words, the assembled ancestral gods tore out the ram's testicles and presented them to the thousand-eyed one.

Words: agnes — of Agni; tu — and; vacanaṃ — words; śrutvā — having heard; pitṛdevāḥ — the ancestral gods (Pitṛs); samāgatāḥ — assembled, gathered; utpāṭya — having torn out; meṣavṛṣaṇau — the ram's two testicles; sahasrākṣe — to the thousand-eyed one; nyavedayan — presented, offered

1.48.9

tadā prabhṛti kākutstha pitṛdevāḥ samāgatāḥ
aphalān bhuñjate meṣān phalais teṣām ayojayan

From that time on, O Kākutstha, the assembled ancestral gods partake of castrated rams; and (the gods) endowed him (Indra) with their fruits (testicles).

Words: tadā prabhṛti — from that time on; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; pitṛdevāḥ — the ancestral gods (Pitṛs); samāgatāḥ — assembled; aphalān — castrated, barren; bhuñjate — partake of, enjoy; meṣān — rams; phalais — with the fruits (testicles); teṣām — of them; ayojayan — joined, endowed (with)

1.48.10

indras tu meṣavṛṣaṇas tadā prabhṛti rāghava
gautamasya prabhāvena tapasaś ca mahātmanaḥ

And Indra, O Rāghava, from that time on bore a ram's testicles, through the power of the great-souled Gautama and of his austerity.

Words: indras — Indra; tu — and; meṣavṛṣaṇas — having a ram's testicles; tadā prabhṛti — from that time on; rāghava — O Rāghava; gautamasya — of Gautama; prabhāvena — through the power, might; tapasaś ca — and of the austerity; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one

1.48.11

tadāgaccha mahāteja āśramaṃ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ
tārayaināṃ mahābhāgām ahalyāṃ devarūpiṇīm

So come, O mighty one, to the hermitage of the holy-deeded (Gautama); redeem this illustrious Ahalyā, of divine form.”

Words: tadāgaccha — then come; mahāteja — O mighty one; āśramaṃ — hermitage; puṇyakarmaṇaḥ — of the holy-deeded one; tārayaināṃ — redeem her; mahābhāgām — the illustrious one; ahalyāṃ — Ahalyā; devarūpiṇīm — of divine form

1.48.12

viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā rāghavaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya āśramaṃ praviveśa ha

Hearing Viśvāmitra's words, Rāghava, together with Lakṣmaṇa, placing Viśvāmitra in front, entered the hermitage.

Words: viśvāmitravacaḥ — the words of Viśvāmitra; śrutvā — having heard; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; puraskṛtya — having placed in front, put first; āśramaṃ — the hermitage; praviveśa — entered; ha — indeed

1.48.13

dadarśa ca mahābhāgāṃ tapasā dyotitaprabhām
lokair api samāgamya durnirīkṣyāṃ surāsuraiḥ

And he saw the illustrious one, her radiance kindled by austerity, hard to look upon even for the worlds gathered together, and for gods and demons —

Words: dadarśa — saw; ca — and; mahābhāgāṃ — the illustrious one; tapasā — by austerity; dyotitaprabhām — with kindled radiance; lokair — by the worlds/people; api — even; samāgamya — gathered together; durnirīkṣyāṃ — hard to look upon; surāsuraiḥ — by gods and demons

1.48.14

prayatnān nirmitāṃ dhātrā divyāṃ māyāmayīm iva
dhūmenābhiparītāṅgīṃ pūrṇacandraprabhām iva

created with effort by the Creator, divine, as if wrought of illusion, her limbs enwrapped as if by smoke, like the radiance of the full moon (veiled) —

Words: prayatnān — with effort; nirmitāṃ — created, fashioned; dhātrā — by the Creator (Dhātṛ); divyāṃ — divine; māyāmayīm — made of illusion; iva — as if, like; dhūmenābhiparītāṅgīṃ — with limbs enveloped as if by smoke; pūrṇacandraprabhām — the radiance of the full moon; iva — like

1.48.15

satuṣārāvṛtāṃ sābhrāṃ pūrṇacandraprabhām iva
madhye 'mbhaso durādharṣāṃ dīptāṃ sūryaprabhām iva

like the radiance of the full moon veiled by mist and cloud; unassailable in the midst of the waters, blazing like the light of the sun —

Words: satuṣārāvṛtāṃ — veiled by mist/frost; sābhrāṃ — with cloud; pūrṇacandraprabhām — the radiance of the full moon; iva — like; madhye — in the middle; 'mbhaso — of the water; durādharṣāṃ — unassailable; dīptāṃ — blazing, shining; sūryaprabhām — the radiance of the sun; iva — like

1.48.16

sa hi gautamavākyena durnirīkṣyā babhūva ha
trayāṇām api lokānāṃ yāvad rāmasya darśanam

For by Gautama's word she had become hard to look upon, even for the three worlds, until the coming of Rāma.

Words: sa — she; hi — for, indeed; gautamavākyena — by Gautama's word; durnirīkṣyā — hard to look upon; babhūva — had become; ha — indeed; trayāṇām — for the three; api — even; lokānāṃ — of the worlds; yāvad — until; rāmasya — of Rāma; darśanam — the sight, appearance

1.48.17

rāghavau tu tatas tasyāḥ pādau jagṛhatus tadā
smarantī gautamavacaḥ pratijagrāha sā ca tau

Then the two Rāghavas clasped her feet; and she, remembering Gautama's words, received the two of them.

Words: rāghavau — the two Rāghavas; tu — and; tatas — then; tasyāḥ — her; pādau — the two feet; jagṛhatus — the two clasped; tadā — then; smarantī — remembering; gautamavacaḥ — Gautama's words; pratijagrāha — received, welcomed; sā — she; ca — and; tau — the two of them

1.48.18

pādyam arghyaṃ tathātithyaṃ cakāra susamāhitā
pratijagrāha kākutstho vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

With full attention she made offering of water for the feet, the guest-offering, and hospitality; and Kākutstha accepted it with the rite prescribed by injunction.

Words: pādyam — water for the feet; arghyaṃ — the guest-offering; tathātithyaṃ — and hospitality; cakāra — made, performed; susamāhitā — well-composed, attentive; pratijagrāha — accepted, received; kākutstho — Kākutstha (Rāma); vidhidṛṣṭena — prescribed by rule; karmaṇā — with the rite, act

1.48.19

puṣpavṛṣṭir mahaty āsīd devadundubhinisvanaiḥ
gandharvāpsarasāṃ cāpi mahān āsīt samāgamaḥ

There was a great rain of flowers, amid the sounds of the celestial drums; and there was also a great gathering of Gandharvas and Apsarases.

Words: puṣpavṛṣṭir — a rain of flowers; mahaty — great; āsīd — there was; devadundubhinisvanaiḥ — with the sounds of the divine drums; gandharvāpsarasāṃ — of Gandharvas and Apsarases; cāpi — and also; mahān — great; āsīt — there was; samāgamaḥ — gathering, assembly

1.48.20

sādhu sādhv iti devās tām ahalyāṃ samapūjayan
tapobalaviśuddhāṅgīṃ gautamasya vaśānugām

“Excellent! Excellent!” — thus the gods honoured Ahalyā, her body purified by the power of austerity, obedient to Gautama's will.

Words: sādhu — excellent; sādhv iti — 'excellent!' thus; devās — the gods; tām — her; ahalyāṃ — Ahalyā; samapūjayan — honoured, extolled; tapobalaviśuddhāṅgīṃ — with body purified by the power of austerity; gautamasya — of Gautama; vaśānugām — obedient to the will

1.48.21

gautamo 'pi mahātejā ahalyāsahitaḥ sukhī
rāmaṃ saṃpūjya vidhivat tapas tepe mahātapāḥ

Gautama too, of great splendour, happy, reunited with Ahalyā, having duly honoured Rāma, the great ascetic performed his austerity.

Words: gautamo — Gautama; 'pi — too, also; mahātejā — of great splendour; ahalyāsahitaḥ — reunited with Ahalyā; sukhī — happy, at ease; rāmaṃ — Rāma; saṃpūjya — having honoured; vidhivat — according to rule; tapas — austerity; tepe — performed; mahātapāḥ — the great ascetic

1.48.22

rāmo 'pi paramāṃ pūjāṃ gautamasya mahāmuneḥ
sakāśād vidhivat prāpya jagāma mithilāṃ tataḥ

Rāma too, having duly received supreme honour from the great sage Gautama, then went on to Mithilā.

Words: rāmo — Rāma; 'pi — too; paramāṃ — supreme, highest; pūjāṃ — honour, worship; gautamasya — of Gautama; mahāmuneḥ — the great sage; sakāśād — from the presence of; vidhivat — according to rule; prāpya — having received; jagāma — went; mithilāṃ — to Mithilā; tataḥ — then

← 1.47 Story of Indra & Ahalyā: Indra’s disguise and Gautama’s curses · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.49 Arrival in Mithilā: Janaka receives the travellers →

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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