Verse 1
पृष्ट्वा तु कुशलं तत्र परस्पर समागमे ।
कथान्ते सुमतिः वाक्यं व्याजहार महामुनिम् ॥
After meeting one another there and enquiring about each other’s welfare, King Sumati spoke to the great sage Vishvamitra.
Verse 2
इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देव तुल्य पराक्रमौ ।
गज सिंह गती वीरौ शार्दूल वृषभ उपमौ ॥
These two young princes are heroic, possessing strength equal to that of the gods. Their movements are like elephants and lions, and they resemble tigers and bulls in valour.
Verse 3
पद्म पत्र विशालाक्षौ खड्ग तूणी धनुर् धरौ ।
अश्विनौ इव रूपेण समुपस्थित यौवनौ ॥
Their eyes are broad like lotus petals, and they carry swords, quivers and bows. In appearance and youthful beauty, they resemble the Ashvin twins.
Verse 4
यदृच्छया एव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकात् इव अमरौ ।
कथं पद्भ्याम् इह प्राप्तौ किम् अर्थं कस्य वा मुने ॥
They appear like immortals who have come to earth from the celestial world. O sage, how have they come here on foot? For what purpose have they come, and whose sons are they?
Verse 5
भूषयन्तौ इमं देशं चन्द्र सूर्यौ इवांबरम् ।
परस्परेण सदृशौ प्रमाण इङ्गित चेष्टितैः ॥
These two, alike in bodily form, gestures and movements, beautify this land just as the Moon and Sun beautify the sky.
Verse 6
किम् अर्थं च नर श्रेष्ठौ संप्राप्तौ दुर्गमे पथि ।
वर आयुध धरौ वीरौ श्रोतुम् इच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥
Why have these two excellent and heroic men, bearing magnificent weapons, come along this difficult path? I wish to know the truth.
Verse 7
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा यथा वृत्तं न्यवेदयत् ।
सिद्ध आश्रम निवासं च राक्षसानां वधं तथा ॥
Hearing those words, Vishvamitra narrated what had happened, including their stay at Siddhashrama and the destruction of the Rakshasas.
Verse 8
विश्वामित्र वचः श्रुत्वा राजा परम विस्मितः ।
अतिथी परमौ प्राप्तौ पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ ॥
Hearing the words of Vishvamitra, the king was greatly astonished that the two sons of Dasharatha had arrived as distinguished guests.
Verse 9
पूजयामास विधिवत् सत्कार अर्हौ महाबलौ ।
ततः परम सत्कारं सुमतेः प्राप्य राघवौ ॥
He properly honoured those two mighty princes, who were worthy of hospitality. Having received great honour from King Sumati, the two descendants of Raghu…
Verse 10
उष्य तत्र निशाम् एकाम् जग्मतुः मिथिलां ततः ।
तां दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे जनकस्य पुरीं शुभाम् ॥
…spent one night there and then proceeded toward Mithila. Seeing the auspicious city of King Janaka, all the sages…
Verse 11
साधु साधु इति शंसन्तो मिथिलां समपूजयन् ।
मिथिल उपवने तत्र आश्रमं दृश्य राघवः ॥
…praised Mithila, saying, “Excellent! Excellent!” In the woodland near Mithila, Rama saw an hermitage…
Verse 12
पुराणं निर्जनं रम्यं पप्रच्छ मुनि पुंगवम् ।
इदम् आश्रम संकाशं किम् नु इदम् मुनि वर्जितम् ॥
…ancient, beautiful and deserted, and asked the foremost of sages: “What is this place that resembles an hermitage but has been abandoned by sages?”
Verse 13
श्रोतुम् इच्छामि भगवन् कस्य अयं पूर्व आश्रमः ।
तत् श्रुत्वा राघवेण उक्तं वाक्यं वाक्य विशारदः ॥
“O Bhagavan, I wish to hear whose hermitage this formerly was.” Hearing Rama’s words, the eloquent sage…
Verse 14
प्रति उवाच महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव ॥
…the greatly radiant great sage Vishvamitra, replied: “O Raghava, I shall tell you. Listen to the truth.”
Verse 15
यस्य एतत् आश्रम पदं शप्तं कोपान् महात्मना ।
गौतमस्य नरश्रेष्ठ पूर्वम् आसीत् महात्मनः ॥
“O best among men, this hermitage, which was cursed in anger by a great-souled one, formerly belonged to the great sage Gautama.
Verse 16
आश्रमो दिव्य संकाशः सुरैः अपि सुपूजितः ।
स च अत्र तप आतिष्ठत् अहल्या सहितः पुरा ॥
This hermitage was heavenly in appearance and highly revered even by the gods. Long ago, Gautama performed austerities here together with Ahalya.
Verse 17
वर्ष पूगानि अनेकानि राजपुत्र महायशः ।
तस्य अन्तरं विदित्वा तु सहस्राक्षः शची पतिः ॥
O greatly renowned prince, they remained there for many years. Knowing the opportunity when Gautama was away, Indra, the husband of Shachi and the thousand-eyed one…
Verse 18
मुनि वेष धरो भूत्वा अहल्याम् इदम् अब्रवीत् ।
ऋतु कालं प्रतीक्षन्ते न अर्थिनः सुसमाहिते ॥
…assuming the guise of a sage, spoke to Ahalya: “Those who seek pleasure do not wait for the proper season.
Verse 19
संगमं तु अहम् इच्छामि त्वया सह सुमध्यमे ।
मुनि वेषं सहस्राक्षं विज्ञाय रघुनंदन ॥
“O slender-waisted one, I desire union with you.” O delight of the Raghu dynasty, Ahalya recognized the thousand-eyed Indra in the guise of the sage…
Verse 20
मतिं चकार दुर्मेधा देवराज कुतूहलात् ।
अथ अब्रवीत् सुरश्रेष्ठं कृतार्थेन अंतरात्मना ॥
…but, overcome by curiosity about the king of the gods, she consented. Then, feeling satisfied within herself, she spoke to the foremost of the gods:
Verse 21
कृतार्था अस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रम् इतः प्रभो ।
आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात् ॥
“O foremost of the gods, I am satisfied. O Lord, go quickly from here. O Lord of the gods, always protect yourself and me from Gautama.”
Verse 22
इन्द्रः तु प्रहसन् वाक्यम् अहल्याम् इदम् अब्रवीत् ।
सुश्रोणि परितुष्टोऽस्मि गमिष्यामि यथागतम् ॥
Indra smiled and said to Ahalya, “O beautiful-hipped lady, I am completely satisfied. I shall depart by the way I came.”
Verse 23
एवं संगम्य तु तया निश्चक्राम उटजात् ततः ।
स संभ्रमात् त्वरन् राम शङ्कितो गौतमं प्रति ॥
Having thus united with her, Indra came out of the hut. O Rama, he hurried away in confusion, fearing the arrival of Gautama.
Verse 24
गौतमं स ददर्शाथ प्रविशन्तं महामुनिम् ।
देव दानव दुर्धर्षं तपो बल समन्वितम् ॥
He then saw the great sage Gautama entering. Gautama was formidable to gods and Danavas and endowed with the power of austerity.
Verse 25
तीर्थ उदक परिक्लिन्नं दीप्यमानम् इवानलम् ।
गृहीत समिधं तत्र स कुशं मुनि पुंगवम् ॥
The foremost of sages was wet from the sacred waters and shone like fire, carrying sacrificial fuel and kusha grass.
Verse 26
दृष्ट्वा सुर पतिः त्रस्तो विषण्ण वदनोऽभवत् ।
अथ दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षं मुनि वेष धरं मुनिः ॥
Seeing him, Indra, the lord of the gods, became frightened and his face became pale. The sage then saw the thousand-eyed Indra disguised as a sage…
Verse 27
दुर्वृत्तं वृत्त संपन्नो रोषाद् वचनम् अब्रवीत् ।
मम रूपं समास्थाय कृतवान् असि दुर्मते ॥
Gautama, righteous in conduct, angrily spoke to the wicked Indra: “O evil-minded one, taking my form, you have committed this improper act.
Verse 28
अकर्तव्यम् इदं यस्मात् विफलः त्वं भविष्यति ।
गौतमेन एवम् उक्तस्य स रोषेण महात्मना ॥
“Because you have done what should not be done, you shall become without virility.” Thus, when the great-souled Gautama spoke in anger…
Verse 29
पेततुर् वृषणौ भूमौ सहस्राक्षस्य तत्क्षणात् ।
तथा शप्त्वा च वै शक्रं भार्याम् अपि च शप्तवान् ॥
…the testicles of the thousand-eyed Indra fell to the ground at that very moment. Having thus cursed Shakra, Gautama also cursed his wife.
Verse 30
इह वर्ष सहस्राणि बहूनि निवत्स्यसि ।
वायु भक्षा निराहारा तप्यन्ती भस्म शायिनी ॥
“You shall remain here for many thousands of years, living on air and without food, performing austerities and lying upon ashes.
Verse 31
अदृश्या सर्व भूतानाम् आश्रमेऽस्मिन् वत्स्यसि ।
यदा त्वेतद् वनं घोरं रामो दशरथात्मजः ॥
“You shall remain in this hermitage unseen by all beings. When Rama, the son of Dasharatha, comes to this dreadful forest…
Verse 32
आगमिष्यति दुर्धर्षस् तदा पूता भविष्यसि ।
तस्य आतिथ्येन दुर्वृत्ते लोभ मोह विवर्जिता ॥
…the unassailable Rama will come, and then you shall be purified. O ill-behaved woman, by offering him hospitality and becoming free from greed and delusion…
Verse 33
मत् सकाशे मुदा युक्ता स्वं वपुर्धारयिष्यसि ।
एवम् उक्त्वा महातेजा गौतमो दुष्ट चारिणीम् ॥
…you shall joyfully regain your own form in my presence.” Having spoken thus to the wicked Ahalya…
Verse 34
इमम् आश्रमम् उत्सृज्य सिद्ध चारण सेविते ।
हिमवत् शिखरे रम्ये तपः तेपे महातपाः ॥
…the greatly radiant Gautama abandoned this hermitage and performed austerities upon a beautiful peak of the Himalayas, frequented by Siddhas and Charanas.
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे अष्टचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ।
Thus ends the forty-eighth Sarga of the Bala Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana, the original epic.