# Bāla Kāṇḍa 48 — Indra’s restoration; Ahalyā released by Rāma *Viśvāmitra recounts the pitṛdevas ’ transfer of a ram’s testicles to Indra, then Rāma enters the hermitage and Ahalyā’s hospitality ends her curse* Portion: Stories of Indra · Verses: 22 · Ref format: 1.48. ## Sequence - 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 (48.1–4) - 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 (48.5–7) - the pitṛdevas make the transfer → Indra thereafter bears a ram's testicles, and such rams become offerings for the pitṛdevas (48.8–10). Returning to the present journey, Viśvāmitra invites Rāma to enter and release Ahalyā (48.11) - 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 (48.12–16) - both brothers bow at her feet → remembering Gautama's words, she welcomes them and offers pādya, arghya and ātithya, which Rāma accepts (48.17–18) - puṣpavṛṣṭi (flower-rain) falls, devadundubhis (divine drums) sound, and gandharvas and apsarases gather to honour her purification (48.19–20) - Gautama returns joyfully, reunites with Ahalyā, and honors Rāma → Rāma receives his welcome and continues to Mithilā (48.21–22). ## Verses **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: **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. **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. **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.” **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: **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. **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.” **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. **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). **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. **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.” **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. **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 — **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) — **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 — **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.