Bala Kanda, Sarga 48

पृष्ट्वा तु कुशलं तत्र परस्परसमागमे। कथान्ते सुमतिर्वाक्यं व्याजहार महामुनिम्।।1.48.1।।

pṛṣṭvā tu kuśalaṃ tatra parasparasamāgame| kathānte sumatirvākyaṃ vyājahāra mahāmunim

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।।

imau kumārau bhadraṃ te devatulyaparākramau| gajasiṃhagatī vīrau śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau padmapatraviśālākṣau khaḍgatūṇī dhanurdharau| aśvināviva rūpeṇa samupasthitayauvanau yadṛcchayaiva gāṃ prāptau devalokādivāmarau| kathaṃ padbhyāmiha prāptau kimarthaṃ kasya vā mune

"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?

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।।

imau kumārau bhadraṃ te devatulyaparākramau| gajasiṃhagatī vīrau śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau padmapatraviśālākṣau khaḍgatūṇī dhanurdharau| aśvināviva rūpeṇa samupasthitayauvanau yadṛcchayaiva gāṃ prāptau devalokādivāmarau| kathaṃ padbhyāmiha prāptau kimarthaṃ kasya vā mune

"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?

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।।

imau kumārau bhadraṃ te devatulyaparākramau| gajasiṃhagatī vīrau śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau padmapatraviśālākṣau khaḍgatūṇī dhanurdharau| aśvināviva rūpeṇa samupasthitayauvanau yadṛcchayaiva gāṃ prāptau devalokādivāmarau| kathaṃ padbhyāmiha prāptau kimarthaṃ kasya vā mune

"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।।

bhūṣayantāvimaṃ deśaṃ candrasūryāvivāmbaram| parasparasya sadṛśau pramāṇeṅgitaceṣṭitai: kimarthaṃ ca muniśreṣṭha samprāptau durgame pathi| varāyudhadharau vīrau śrotumicchāmi tattvata:

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".

भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्। परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितै:।।1.48.5।। किमर्थं च मुनिश्रेष्ठ सम्प्राप्तौ दुर्गमे पथि। वरायुधधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वत:।।1.48.6।।

bhūṣayantāvimaṃ deśaṃ candrasūryāvivāmbaram| parasparasya sadṛśau pramāṇeṅgitaceṣṭitai: kimarthaṃ ca muniśreṣṭha samprāptau durgame pathi| varāyudhadharau vīrau śrotumicchāmi tattvata:

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।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā yathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayat| siddhāśramanivāsaṃ ca rākṣasānāṃ vadhaṃ tathā

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।

viśvāmitravacaśśrutvā rājā paramaharṣita:| atithī paramau prāptau putrau daśarathasya tau pūjayāmāsa vidhivatsatkārārhau mahābalau|

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: ।

tata: paramasatkāraṃ sumate: prāpya rāghavau uṣya tatra niśāmekāṃ jagmaturmithilāṃ tata: |

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।

tān dṛṣṭvā munayassarve janakasya purīṃ śubhām sādhu sādhviti śaṃsanto mithilāṃ samapūjayan|

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।

mithilopavane śūnyamāśramaṃ dṛśya rāghava: purāṇaṃ nirjanaṃ ramyaṃ papraccha munipuṅgavam|

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:।

śrīmadāśramasaṅkāśaṃ kinnvidaṃ munivarjitam jñātumicchāmi bhagavan kasyāyaṃ pūrvamāśrama:|

"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:।

tacchrutvā rāghaveṇoktaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśārada: pratyuvāca mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāmuni:|

Eloquent and brilliant Viswamitra, replied to the descendant of the Raghus saying:

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि श्रुणु तत्त्वेन राघव।।1.48.14।। यस्येदमाश्रमपदं शप्तं कोपान्महात्मना।

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śruṇu tattvena rāghava yasyedamāśramapadaṃ śaptaṃ kopānmahātmanā|

"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:।

gautamasya naraśreṣṭha pūrvamāsīnmahātmana: āśramo divyasaṅkāśassurairapi supūjita:|

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:।

sa ceha tapa ātiṣṭhadahalyāsahita: purā varṣapūgānanekāṃśca rājaputra mahāyaśa:|

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।

tasyāntaraṃ viditvā tu sahasrākṣaśśacīpati: muniveṣadharo'halyāmidaṃ vacanamabravīt|

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।।

ṛtukālaṃ pratīkṣante nārthinassusamāhite|1.48.18 saṅgamaṃ tvahamicchāmi tvayā saha sumadhyame||

'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।।

muniveṣaṃ sahasrākṣaṃ vijñāya raghunandana|1.48.19 matiṃ cakāra durmedhā devarājakutūhalāt||

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।।

athābravīt naraśreṣṭha kṛtārthenāntarātmanā|1.48.20|| kṛtārthā'smi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghramita: prabho| ātmānaṃ māṃ ca deveśa sarvadā rakṣa gautamāt|1.48.21||

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."

अथाब्रवीत् नरश्रेष्ठ कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।1.48.20।। कृतार्थाऽस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमित: प्रभो। आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात्।1.48.21।।

athābravīt naraśreṣṭha kṛtārthenāntarātmanā|1.48.20|| kṛtārthā'smi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghramita: prabho| ātmānaṃ māṃ ca deveśa sarvadā rakṣa gautamāt|1.48.21||

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।।

indrastu prahasan vākyamahalyāmidamabravīt| suśroṇi parituṣṭo'smi gamiṣyāmi yathā'gatam|1.48.22||

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।।

evaṃ saṅgamya tu tayā niścakrāmoṭajāttata:|| sa sambhramāttvaran rāma śaṅkito gautamaṃ prati|1.48.23||

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।।

gautamaṃ taṃ dadarśātha praviśantaṃ mahāmunim| devadānavadurdharṣaṃ tapobalasamanvitam tīrtheṃdakapariklinnaṃ dīpyamānamivānalam| gṛhītasamidhaṃ tatra sakuśaṃ munipuṅgavam

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.

गौतमं तं ददर्शाथ प्रविशन्तं महामुनिम्। देवदानवदुर्धर्षं तपोबलसमन्वितम्।।1.48.24।। तीर्थेंदकपरिक्लिन्नं दीप्यमानमिवानलम्। गृहीतसमिधं तत्र सकुशं मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।1.48.25।।

gautamaṃ taṃ dadarśātha praviśantaṃ mahāmunim| devadānavadurdharṣaṃ tapobalasamanvitam tīrtheṃdakapariklinnaṃ dīpyamānamivānalam| gṛhītasamidhaṃ tatra sakuśaṃ munipuṅgavam

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।

dṛṣṭvā surapatistrasto vivarṇavadano'bhavat| atha dṛṣṭvā sahasrākṣaṃ muniveṣadharaṃ muni: durvṛttaṃ vṛttasampanno roṣādvacanamabravīt|

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।

mama rūpaṃ samāsthāya kṛtavānasi durmate akartavyamidaṃ tasmādviphalastvaṃ bhaviṣyasi|

"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।

gautamenaivamuktasya saroṣeṇa mahātmanā petaturvṛṣaṇai bhūmau sahasrākṣasya tatkṣaṇāt|

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।

tathā śaptvā sa vai śakramahalyāmapi śaptavān iha varṣasahasrāṇi bahūni tvaṃ nivatsyasi| vāyubhakṣā nirāhārā tapyantī bhasmaśāyinī adṛśyā sarvabhūtānāṃ āśrame'sminnivatsyasi|

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'.

तथा शप्त्वा स वै शक्रमहल्यामपि शप्तवान्।।1.48.29।। इह वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि त्वं निवत्स्यसि। वायुभक्षा निराहारा तप्यन्ती भस्मशायिनी।।1.48.30।। अदृश्या सर्वभूतानां आश्रमेऽस्मिन्निवत्स्यसि।

tathā śaptvā sa vai śakramahalyāmapi śaptavān iha varṣasahasrāṇi bahūni tvaṃ nivatsyasi| vāyubhakṣā nirāhārā tapyantī bhasmaśāyinī adṛśyā sarvabhūtānāṃ āśrame'sminnivatsyasi|

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।

yadā caitadvanaṃ ghoraṃ rāmo daśarathātmaja: āgamiṣyati durdharṣastadā pūtā bhaviṣyasi|

'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।

tasyātithyena durvutte lobhamohavivarjitā matsakāśe mudā yuktā svaṃ vapurdhārayiṣyasi|

'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।।

evamuktvā mahātejā gautamo duṣṭacāriṇīm imamāśramamutsṛjya siddhacāraṇasevite| himavacchikhare puṇye tapastepe mahātapā:

"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.