After mutual homage and pleasantries were exchanged king Sumathi asked of the sage " Who are the two princes whose divine looks, rival those of the Aswini devatas? They look like the immortals come down to bejewel mother earth. Whose sons are they? How did they come here on foot and for what purpose? They adorn the land like the sun and the moon". Astonished at their regal bearing and their vibrant youth the king marveled at the fact that they had undertaken the long and arduous journey without even horses. Visvamitra then told him of all that had come to pass, of their stay at Siddashrama and of the slaying of the rakshasas. King Sumati delighted to play host to the illustrious sons of an illustrious father extended loving hospitality to the Ikshvaku princes.

Rama and Lakshmna having been honored by king Sumathi, stayed there for the night. Next day on their way to Mithila they beheld an ancient hermitage in a grove that was beautiful but deserted. Wen Rama asked about it Visvamitra said "Rama this hermitage formerly belonged to the illustrious Gautama where he and Ahalya practiced austerities for several years. One day when Gautama was away Indra used that opportunity to come to the hermitage, in the guise of Guatama. Dominated by his passion he sought union with Ahalya who consented though she saw through the guise. Later even as Ahalya was urging Indra to leave to protect him from Gautama;s wrath, Gautama who walked in wet, wrapped in bark, holding sacrificial sticks and radiating an effulgence like that of the Sun. Invincible by the devatas, danavas and the ascetic endowed with spiritual splendor Bhagiratha saw through Indra's masquerade and flew into a terrible fury. Cursing him to lose his virility for having committed that which was forbidden he also cursed Ahalya saying, ''May you remain here for thousands of years without food, living on air, lying in ashes, doing penance and invisible to all. When the son of Dasaratha, Rama enters this dreadful forest you will be cleansed of your sin. By offering him hospitality without covetousness and passion you will regain your present form and live with me". Guatama then left for the Himalayas."