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[Having received the hospitality of king Sumati, Viswamitra, Rama and Lakshmana travel towards Mithila. On enquiry by Rama sage Viswamitra relates the story of Gautama's curse to Ahalya.]

पृष्ट्वा तु कुशलं तत्र परस्परसमागमे।

कथान्ते सुमतिर्वाक्यं व्याजहार महामुनिम्।।1.48.1।।


तत्र there, परस्परसमागमे by mutual gettogether (each of them), सुमति: Sumati, कुशलम् welfare, पृष्ट्वा having enquired, कथान्ते at the end of conversation, महामुनिम् addressing great ascetic Visvamitra, वाक्यम् these words, व्याजहार spoke.

Getting together they enquired one another's health. And then Sumati spoke to the great ascetic (Viswamitra).
इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ।

गजसिंहगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ।।1.48.2।।

पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणी धनुर्धरौ।

अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ।।1.48.3।।

यदृच्छयैव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ।

कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने।।1.48.4।।


मुने O Sage Visvamitra, ते भद्रम् prosperity to you, देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ possessed of prowess equal to that of celestial beings, गजसिंहगती possessed of the gait of elephant or a lion, वीरौ heroic, शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ resembling tiger or bull in appearance, पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ having expansive eyes like lotuspetals, खड्गतूणी धनुर्धरौ armed with scimitars, bows and quivers, रूपेण in beauty, अश्विनाविव like Ashvins, समुपस्थितयौवनौ attained their youth, देवलोकात् from celestial world, यदृच्छयैव by their own free will, (casually), गाम् the earth, प्राप्तौ having reached, अमराविव like devatas, इमौ these two, कुमारौ youths, इह here, पद्भ्याम् on foot, कथम् how, किमर्थम् for what purpose, (अनु)प्राप्तौ have reached, कस्य वा to whom they belong.

"O Sage, wish you well Who are these two youths who seem to possess the prowess of celestial beings. They walk with the gait of an elephant or a lion. They are courageous like tiger or a bull. Their large eyes are like lotuspetals. They are armed with scimitars, bows and quivers. They are young and handsome like Aswinikumaras dropped from heaven casually. Whose sons are they? How did they come here on foot? With what purpose?
भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्।

परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितै:।।1.48.5।।

किमर्थं च मुनिश्रेष्ठ सम्प्राप्तौ दुर्गमे पथि।

वरायुधधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वत:।।1.48.6।।


मुनिश्रेष्ठ O Great ascetic, प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितै: in personality, in expressions and gestures, परस्परस्य each other, सदृशौ resemble, चन्द्रसूर्यौ Moon and Sun, अम्बरमिव in the sky, इमम् this, देशम् country, भूषयन्तौ adorning, वरायुधधरौ holding excellent weapons, वीरौ heroes, दुर्गमे difficult to traverse, पथि paths, किमर्थम् for what purpose, सम्प्राप्तौ have come, तत्त्वत: truly, श्रोतुम् to listen, इच्छामि I am desirous.

O Great ascetic they resemble each other in personality, expression and gestures. They adorn this land like Sun and moon in the sky holding excellent weapons. These heroes have trodden paths difficult to traverse. For what purpose have they come? I want to hear clearly".
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा यथावृत्तं न्यवेदयत्।

सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च राक्षसानां वधं तथा।।1.48.7।।


तस्य his, तत् वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having listened, सिद्धाश्रमनिवासम् च their stay at Siddha ashrama, तथा and, राक्षसानाम् rakshasas, वधम् slaying, यथावृत्तम् all that had actually happened, न्यवेदयत् related.

On hearing his words, he (Viswamitra) related all about their stay at Siddhashrama and the slaying of rakshasas.
विश्वामित्रवचश्श्रुत्वा राजा परमहर्षित:।

अतिथी परमौ प्राप्तौ पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ।।1.48.8।।

पूजयामास विधिवत्सत्कारार्हौ महाबलौ।


राजा king Sumati, विश्वामित्रवच: words of Visvamitra, श्रुत्वा having listened, परमहर्षित: exceedingly delighted, परमौ distinguished, अतिथी two guests, प्राप्तौ having arrived, सत्कारार्हौ worthy of honours, महाबलौ highly valiant, तौ दशरथस्य पुत्रौ those two sons of Dasaratha, विथिवत् in accordance with tradition, पूजयामास extended hospitality.

After hearing Viswamitra, the king (Sumati) got exceedingly delighted and extended
hospitality in accordance with tradition to the highly valiant sons of Dasaratha, the distinguished guests worthy of honour.
तत: परमसत्कारं सुमते: प्राप्य राघवौ।।1.48.9।।

उष्य तत्र निशामेकां जग्मतुर्मिथिलां तत: ।


राघवौ Rama and Lakshmana, तत: from that, सुमते: king Sumati, परमसत्कारम् great honours, प्राप्य having obtained, तत्र there, एकाम् one, निशाम् night, उष्य having stayed, तत: thereafter, मिथिलाम् towards Mithila, जग्मतु: set out.

The descendants of Raghu (Rama and Lakshmana) having received great honour from Sumati, stayed there one night and thereafter set out for Mithila.
तान् दृष्ट्वा मुनयस्सर्वे जनकस्य पुरीं शुभाम्।।1.48.10।।

साधु साध्विति शंसन्तो मिथिलां समपूजयन्।


सर्वे all, मुनय: ascetics, जनकस्य Janaka's, ताम् that, शुभाम् auspicious, पुरीम् city, दृष्ट्वा having seen, साधु साधु इति excellent, excellent, शंसन्त: admiring, मिथिलाम् Mithila, समपूजयन् worshipped.

All the ascetics, having seen that auspicious city of Janaka worshipfully admired Mithila saying, 'Excellent, Excellent'
मिथिलोपवने शून्यमाश्रमं दृश्य राघव:।।1.48.11।।

पुराणं निर्जनं रम्यं पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्।


राघव: Rama, मिथिलोपवने in a grove near Mithila, पुराणम् oldest, निर्जनम् uninhabited, रम्यम् beautiful, शून्यम् deserted, आश्रमम् hermitage, दृश्य having seen, मुनिपुङ्गवम् foremost of ascetics, पप्रच्छ enquired.

At the sight of an old uninhabited, beautiful and desolate hermitage in a grove near Mithila, the descendant of the Raghus enquired of the foremost among the ascetics
(Viswamitra):
श्रीमदाश्रमसङ्काशं किन्न्विदं मुनिवर्जितम्।।1.48.12।।

ज्ञातुमिच्छामि भगवन् कस्यायं पूर्वमाश्रम:।


भगवन् O Venerable one, श्रीमत् propitious, आश्रमसङ्काशम् looking like a hermitage, मुनिवर्जितम् deserted by ascetics, इदम् this, किं नु what could be? पूर्वम् formerly, अयम् this, आश्रम: hermitage, कस्य whose?, ज्ञातुम् to know, इच्छामि I am desirous.

"O Venerable one I wish to know why this auspicios looking hermitage was deserted by ascetics? To whom did this belong in the past."
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवेणोक्तं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारद:।।1.48.13।।

प्रत्युवाच महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।


वाक्यविशारद: proficient in speech, महातेजा: highly lustrous, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, राघवेण by Rama, उक्तम् spoken, वाक्यम् words, श्रुत्वा having listened, प्रत्युवाच replied.

Eloquent and brilliant Viswamitra, replied to the descendant of the Raghus saying:
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि श्रुणु तत्त्वेन राघव।।1.48.14।।

यस्येदमाश्रमपदं शप्तं कोपान्महात्मना।


राघव O Rama, महात्मना magnanimous (by whom), कोपात् out of wrath, शप्तम् cursed, इदम् this, आश्रमपदम् hermitage, यस्य whose, तत्त्वेन truthfully, ते to you, कथयिष्यामि I shall tell, श्रृणु you may listen, हन्त oh

"O Descendant of the Raghus I shall tell all you about this hermitage cursed by the wrath of a great man.
गौतमस्य नरश्रेष्ठ पूर्वमासीन्महात्मन:।।1.48.15।।

आश्रमो दिव्यसङ्काशस्सुरैरपि सुपूजित:।


नरश्रेष्ठ O Best among men, Rama, दिव्यसङ्काश: resembling celestial hermitage, सुरैरपि even by devatas, सुपूजित: well honoured, आश्रम: hermitage, पूर्वम् formerly, महात्मन: of the illustrious, गौतमस्य आसीत् belonged to Gautama.

O Best among men this hermitage resembling a celestial retreat and wellhonoured even by devatas once belonged to illustrious Gautama.
स चेह तप आतिष्ठदहल्यासहित: पुरा।।1.48.16।।

वर्षपूगाननेकांश्च राजपुत्र महायश:।


महायश: highly renowned, राजपुत्र prince, पुरा in ancient times, स: he, अहल्यासहित: in the company of Ahalya, अनेकान् several, वर्षपूगान् series of years, इह here, तप: austerities, अतिष्ठत् practised.

O Highly renowned prince it was here in ancient times that Gautama in the company of Ahalya practised austerities for several years.
तस्यान्तरं विदित्वा तु सहस्राक्षश्शचीपति:।।1.48.17।।

मुनिवेषधरोऽहल्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।


शचीपति: consort of Sachi, सहस्राक्ष: Indra, तस्य his, अन्तरम् opportunity, विदित्वा having found, मुनिवेषधर: assuming the disguise of ascetic, अहल्याम् addressing Ahalya, इदम् वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

The thousandeyed Indra, consort of Sachi, having found an opportunity (during the absence of the ascetic), assumed the guise of the ascetic (Gautama) and said to Ahalya:
ऋतुकालं प्रतीक्षन्ते नार्थिनस्सुसमाहिते।1.48.18

सङ्गमं त्वहमिच्छामि त्वया सह सुमध्यमे।।


सुसमाहिते O Highly beautiful one (with symmetrical limbs), अर्थिन: passionate seekers, ऋतुकालम् a period when women become fresh after menstruation, न प्रतीक्षन्ते would not await, सुमध्यमे O Woman beautiful waist, अहम् I, त्वया सह with you, सङ्गमम् union, इच्छामि am desiring.

'O most beautiful one those overtaken by passion would not await the completion of the menstrual period (favourable for copulation). O woman of fine waist I desire union with you.'
मुनिवेषं सहस्राक्षं विज्ञाय रघुनन्दन।1.48.19

मतिं चकार दुर्मेधा देवराजकुतूहलात्।।


रघुनन्दन O Rama, दुर्मेधा: evilintentioned, मुनिवेषम् in the guise of ascetic, सहस्राक्षम् Indra, विज्ञाय knowing, देवराजकुतूहलात् out of inclination towards the king of celestials, मतिं चकार consented.

O Delight of the Raghus the evilintentioned Ahalya, inclined towards the king of the
celestials and knowing him to be the thousandeyed Indra in the guise of the ascetic, consented for the union.
अथाब्रवीत् नरश्रेष्ठ कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।1.48.20।।

कृतार्थाऽस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमित: प्रभो।

आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात्।1.48.21।।


नरश्रेष्ठ O Foremost of men, अथ afterwards, कृतार्थेन having achieved the purpose, अन्तरात्मना whole heartedly, अब्रवीत् spoke, सुरश्रेष्ठ O Chief of celestials, कृतार्था अस्मि I have succeeded in my desire, प्रभो O Lord, इत: from here, शीघ्रम् quickly, गच्छ go, देवेश O Lord of celestials, आत्मानं च yourself, मां च also me, सर्वदा in all respects, गौतमात् from Gautama, रक्ष protect.

O Foremost of men with her heart's desire fulfilled, Ahalya said: "O Chief of the
celestials I'm satisfied. O Lord, quit this place: O Lord of cthe gods, protect yourself and also me from Gautama in all respects."
इन्द्रस्तु प्रहसन् वाक्यमहल्यामिदमब्रवीत्।

सुश्रोणि परितुष्टोऽस्मि गमिष्यामि यथाऽगतम्।1.48.22।।


इन्द्रस्तु Indra, प्रहसन् smilingly, अहल्याम् addressing Ahalya, इदम् वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke, सुश्रोणि one with lovely hips, परितुष्ट: अस्मि I am gratified, यथागतम् in the way I have come, गमिष्यामि I shall go.

Indra smilingly said to Ahalya, 'O One with lovely hips, I am gratified. I shall go away the way I have come'.
एवं सङ्गम्य तु तया निश्चक्रामोटजात्तत:।।

स सम्भ्रमात्त्वरन् राम शङ्कितो गौतमं प्रति।1.48.23।।


राम O Rama, एवम् in this way, तया with her, सङ्गम्य having united, स: he, सम्भ्रमात् out of fear, त्वरन् quickly, गौतमं प्रति about Gautama, शङ्कित: having apprehension, उटजात् (ततः) from leafy hut, निश्चक्राम came out.

O Rama he (Indra) came out of the leafhut quickly after his union with her, apprehensive of Gautama.
गौतमं तं ददर्शाथ प्रविशन्तं महामुनिम्।

देवदानवदुर्धर्षं तपोबलसमन्वितम्।।1.48.24।।

तीर्थेंदकपरिक्लिन्नं दीप्यमानमिवानलम्।

गृहीतसमिधं तत्र सकुशं मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।1.48.25।।


अथ subsequently, देवदानवदुर्धर्षम् unassilable by devatas and danavas, तपोबलसमन्वितम् endowed with power of ascetism, तीर्थेंदकपरिक्लिन्नम् drenched with by sacrifical waters, अनलमिव like flaming fire, दीप्यमानम् shining, गृहीतसमिधम् carrying sacrificial fuel sticks, सकुशम् along with Kusha grass, मुनिपुङ्गवम् preeminent among sages, गौतमं महामुनिम् great ascetic Gautama, तत्र there, प्रविशन्तम् entering, ददर्श beheld.

Subsequently, Indra beheld the great ascetic Gautama, unassailable by devatas and danavas, endowed with the power of ascetism, drenched with sacrifical waters, shining like flaming fire, carrying sacrificial firewood and Kusha grass and preeminent among sages, entering that leaf hut.
दृष्ट्वा सुरपतिस्त्रस्तो विवर्णवदनोऽभवत्।

अथ दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षं मुनिवेषधरं मुनि:।।1.48.26।।

दुर्वृत्तं वृत्तसम्पन्नो रोषाद्वचनमब्रवीत्।


सुरपति: Devendra, दृष्ट्वा having seen, त्रस्त: afraid of, विवर्णवदन: pale faced, अभवत् became, अथ thereafter, वृत्तसम्पन्न: wellbehaved, मुनि: sage, मुनिवेषधरम् in the guise of an ascetic, दुर्वुत्तम् illbehaved, सहस्राक्षम् Indra, दृष्ट्वा having seen, रोषात् with enrangement, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

On seeing him, the face of the Lord of the gods (Indra) turned pale with fear. Having seen the wicked Indra with a thousandeyed in the guise of an ascetic the gentle sage Gautama got enraged and said:
मम रूपं समास्थाय कृतवानसि दुर्मते।।1.48.27।।

अकर्तव्यमिदं तस्माद्विफलस्त्वं भविष्यसि।


दुर्मते O Wicked natured one, मम my, रूपम् form, समास्थाय assuming, इदम् this, अकर्तव्यम् an act which should not be done, कृतवान् असि have done, तस्मात् for that reason, त्वम् you, विफल: devoid of scrotum, भविष्यसि will become.

"O Wicked natured one assuming my form you have done a forbidden act. For that reason you shall be devoid of scrotum.
गौतमेनैवमुक्तस्य सरोषेण महात्मना।।1.48.28।।

पेततुर्वृषणै भूमौ सहस्राक्षस्य तत्क्षणात्।


सरोषेण with wrath, महात्मना by the eminent, गौतमेन by Gautama, एवम् in this way, उक्तस्य have been uttered, सहस्राक्षस्य Indra, वृषणौ testacles, तत्क्षणात् immediately, भूमौ on earth, पेततु: dropped.

Cursed thus out of anger by eminent Gautama the testicles of Indra immediately dropped down on the earth.
तथा शप्त्वा स वै शक्रमहल्यामपि शप्तवान्।।1.48.29।।

इह वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि त्वं निवत्स्यसि।

वायुभक्षा निराहारा तप्यन्ती भस्मशायिनी।।1.48.30।।

अदृश्या सर्वभूतानां आश्रमेऽस्मिन्निवत्स्यसि।


स: he (the sage), शक्रम् that Indra, तथा in that manner, शप्त्वा having cursed, अहल्यामपि Ahalya also, शप्तवान् had cursed, त्वम् you, इह here, बहूनि many, वर्षसहस्राणि thousands of years, निवत्स्यसि you will live here, वायुभक्षा subsisting on air, निराहारा without food, भस्मशायिनी lying on ashes, तप्यन्ती doing penance, सर्वभूतानाम् to all being, अदृश्या invisible, अस्मिन् in this, आश्रमे Ashrama, निवत्स्यति you will stay on.

Having thus cursed Indra, he also cursed Ahalya: 'You will be staying here for thousands of years without food and subsisting on air, lying down in ashes, doing penance, without being seen by any living beings in this ashrama'.
यदा चैतद्वनं घोरं रामो दशरथात्मज:।।1.48.31।।

आगमिष्यति दुर्धर्षस्तदा पूता भविष्यसि।


दशरथात्मज: son of Dasaratha, दुर्धर्ष: unassailable, राम: Rama, यदा when, घोरम् dreadful, एतत् वनम् this forest, आगमिष्यति will come, तदा then, पूता भविष्यसि you will be purified.

'When the son of Dasaratha, the unassailable Rama enters this dreadful forest, you will be cleansed (of this sin)'.
तस्यातिथ्येन दुर्वुत्ते लोभमोहविवर्जिता।।1.48.32।।

मत्सकाशे मुदा युक्ता स्वं वपुर्धारयिष्यसि।


दुर्वुत्ते O Wicked natured one, तस्य forhim (Rama), आतिथ्येन by offering hospitality, लोभमोह विवर्जिता without covetousness and passion, मुदा with joy, युक्ता endowed, मत्सकाशे in my proximity, स्वम् your present, वपु: body, धारयिष्यसि you will regain (assume).

'O Wickednatured one by offering hospitality to Rama, without covetousness and passion, you will happily live with me by regaining your present form'.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा गौतमो दुष्टचारिणीम्।।1.48.33।।

इममाश्रममुत्सृज्य सिद्धचारणसेविते।

हिमवच्छिखरे पुण्ये तपस्तेपे महातपा:।।1.48.34।।


महातेजा: highly powerful, महातपा: sage having rigid austerities, गौतम: Gautama, दुष्टचारिणीम् possessing bad character, एवम् in this way, उक्त्वा having spoken, इमम् this, आश्रमम् hermitage, उत्सृज्य abandoning, सिद्धचारणसेविते served by Siddhas and Charins, पुण्ये holy, हिमवच्छिखरे peaks of Himavat mountain, तप: austerities, तेपे performed.

"Highly powerful Gautama who had performed rigid austerities thus cursed the wicked Ahalya and left this hermitage, for the peaks of Himavat mountain served by siddhas and charanas. Here he performed austerities"(said Viswamitra).
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे अष्टचत्वारिंशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the fortyeighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.