पृष्ट्वा तु कुशलं तत्र परस्परसमागमे | कथान्ते सुमतिर्वाक्यं व्याजहार महामुनिम् || १-४८-१
pR^iShTvaa tu kushalam tatra paraspara samaagame | kathaaante sumatiH vaakyam vyaajahaara mahaamunim || 1-48-1
When those two, Vishvamitra and Sumati, have met one another there at that place, king Sumati raised the topic of Rama and Lakshmana, after exchanging greetings and enquiring about the well-being of the great-saint Vishvamitra. [1-48-1]
इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ | गजसिंहगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ || १-४८-२ पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ | अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ || १-४८-३ यदृच्छयैव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ | कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने || १-४८-४
imau kumaarau bhadram te deva tulya paraakramau | gaja siMha gatii viirau shaarduula vR^iShabha upamau || 1-48-2 padma patra vishaalaakShau khaDga tuuNii dhanur dharau | ashvinau iva ruupeNa samupasthita yauvanau || 1-48-3 yadR^icChayaa eva gaam praaptau devalokaat iva amarau | katham padbhyaam iha praaptau kim artham kasya vaa mune || 1-48-4
"These two youngsters, oh, sage, let safety betide you, striding like audacious elephants and arrogant lions, bearing a similitude to adventurous tigers and adamantine bulls, and wielding quivers, swords, and bows, are valorous with their valour matching that of Vishnu, and with their eyes broad like lotus-petals and with youthfulness in the offing they look like the exceptionally beautiful twin-gods, Ashwin-brothers, by their physique. How these two have footslogged and chanced here as though immortals have chanced on earth from the abode of gods at their pleasure? What for they have come here, and whose scions are they? [1-48-2, 3, 4]
भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम् | परस्परेण सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितैः || १-४८-५ किमर्थं च नरश्रेष्ठौ संप्राप्तौ दुर्गमे पथि | वरायुधधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः || १-४८-६
vishvaamitra vacaH shrutvaa raajaa parama vismitaH || 1-48-7c atithii paramau praaptam putrau dasharathasya tau | puujayaamaasa vidhivat satkaara ar.hhau mahaabalau || 1-48-8
"These two best ones among men are identical to one another by their bodily proportion, facial-language, and by bodily gestures, and with their presence they refurbish this province like the Moon and Sun brightening the firmament. In truth, I would like to know for what reason these valiant ones who are wielding best weapons have arrived here travelling on an arduous path." Thus, king Sumati asked Vishvamitra. [1-48-5, 6]
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा यथावृत्तं न्यवेदयत् | सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च राक्षसानां वधं तथा | १-४८-७
taam dR^iShTvaa munayaH sarve janakasya puriim shubhaam | saadhu saadhu iti shaMsanto mithilaam samapuujayan || 1-48-10
On hearing those words of King Sumati, Vishvamitra informed him about the visit of Rama and Lakshmana to the Hermitage of Accomplishment, also about the elimination of demons, as it has happened. [1-48-7a, 7b]
विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा राजा परमविस्मितः || १-४८-७ अतिथी परमौ प्राप्तं पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ | पूजयामास विधिवत् सत्कारार्हौ महाबलौ || १-४८-८
mithila upavane tatra aashramam dR^ishya raaghavaH | puraaNam nirjanam raMyam papracCha muni puMgavam || 1-48-11
King Sumati is highly astonished to hear the words of Vishvamitra about the visit of Rama and Lakshmana, and treating them to have come as the most prominent and honour-worthy guests that king started to honour those two great-mighty sons of Dasharatha customarily. [1-48-7c, 8]
ततः परमसत्कारं सुमतेः प्राप्य राघवौ | उष्य तत्र निशामेकां जग्मतुर्मिथिलां ततः || १-४८-९
idam aashrama saMkaasham kim nu idam muni varjitam | shrotum icChaami bhagavan kasya ayam puurva aashramaH || 1-48-12
On getting high honours from King Sumati, Raghava-s stayed there along with Vishvamitra and with the community of sages for one night, and then they all have moved on to Mithila. [1-48-9]
तां दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे जनकस्य पुरीं शुभाम् | साधु साध्विति शंसन्तो मिथिलां समपूजयन् || १-४८-१०
tat shrutaa raaghaveNa uktam vaakyam vaakya vishaaradaH | prati uvaaca mahaatejaa vishvamitro mahaamuniH || 1-48-13
On seeing Janaka's auspicious city Mithila, all of the saints who are accompanying Vishvamitra, Rama, and Lakshmana, extolled it saying, "Splendid! Splendid!" and admired it highly. [1-48-10]
मिथिलोपवने तत्र आश्रमं दृश्य राघवः | पुराणं निर्जनं रम्यं पप्रच्छ मुनिपुंगवम् || १-४८-११
hanta te kathayiShyaami shR^iNu tattvena raaghava | yasya etat aashrama padam shaptam kopaan mahaatmanaa || 1-48-14
On seeing a hermitage in the fringes of Mithila, that appeared to be age-old, but now uninhabited, yet pleasing, Rama asked the eminent sage Vishvamitra. [1-48-11]
इदमाश्रमसंकाशं किं न्विदं मुनिवर्जितम् | श्रोतुमिच्छामि भगवन् कस्यायं पूर्व आश्रमः || १-४८-१२
gautamasya narashreShTha puurvam aasiit mahaatmanaH | aashramo divya saMkaashaH suraiH api supuujitaH || 1-48-15
"This is semblable to a hermitage but sages seem to have discarded it. Oh, venerable sage, whose is this hermitage previously, I wish to listen of it." Thus, Rama asked Vishvamitra. [1-48-12]
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवेणोक्तं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः | प्रत्युवाच महातेजा विश्वमित्रो महामुनिः || १-४८-१३
sa ca atra tapa aatiShThat ahalyaa sahitaH puraa | varSha puugaani anekaani raajaputra mahaayashaH || 1-48-16
On hearing that sentence spoken by Raghava, the expert in sententiousness, a great resplendent sage and eminent-saint Vishvamitra replied him in this way. [1-48-13]
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव | यस्यैतदाश्रमपदं शप्तं कोपान्महात्मना || १-४८-१४
tasya antaram viditvaa tu sahasraakShaH shacii patiH | muni veSha dharo bhuutvaa ahalyaam idam abraviit || 1-48-17
What a pleasure! You may listen as I narrate, Raghava, whose hermitage is this factually, and which great soul has resentfully cursed this. [1-48-14]
गौतमस्य नरश्रेष्ठ पूर्वमासीन्महात्मनः | आश्रमो दिव्यसंकाशः सुरैरपि सुपूजितः || १-४८-१५
R^itu kaalam pratiikShante na arthinaH susamaahite | saMgamam tu aham icChaami tvayaa saha sumadhyame || 1-48-18
Oh, the best one among men Rama, this hermitage with a heavenly glisten, and highly hallowed even by gods, once belonged to the great-souled sage Gautama. [1-48-15]
स चात्र तप आतिष्ठदहल्यासहितः पुरा | वर्षपूगान्यनेकानि राजपुत्र महायशः || १-४८-१६
muni veSham sahasraakSham viGYaaya raghunaMdana | matim cakaara durmedhaa deva raaja kutuuhalaat || 1-48-19
In this hermitage, oh, prince Rama, once that highly renowned Sage Gautama sat tight in asceticism for numerous cycle of years along with his wife Ahalya. [1-48-16]
तस्यान्तरं विदित्वा तु सहस्राक्षः शचीपतिः | मुनिवेषधरो भूत्वाऽहल्यामिदमब्रवीत् || १-४८-१७
atha abraviit surashreShTham kR^itaarthena aMtaraatmanaa | kR^itaarthaa asmi surashreShTha gacCha shiighram itaH prabho || 1-48-20 aatmaanam maam ca devesha sarvadaa rakSha gautamaat |
On knowing the meantime of Gautama's availability at hermitage, Indra, the husband of Shaci Devi and the Thousand-eyed god wearing the guise of sage Gautama and becoming such a sage, approached Ahalya and said this to her. [1-48-17]
ऋतुकालं प्रतीक्षन्ते नार्थिनः सुसमाहिते | संगमं त्वहमिच्छामि त्वया सह सुमध्यमे || १-४८-१८
indraH tu prahasan vaakyam ahalyaam idam abraviit || 1-48-21 sushroNi parituShTo asmi gamiShyaami yathaa aagatam |
Oh, finely limbed lady, indulgers do not watch out for the time to conceive, as such oh, slender-waisted one, I desire copulation with you. [1-48-18]
मुनिवेषं सहस्राक्षं विज्ञाय रघुनंदन | मतिं चकार दुर्मेधा देवराजकुतूहलात् || १-४८-१९
evam saMgaMya tu tayaa nishcakraama uTajaat tataH || 1-48-22 sa saMbhramaat tvaran raama shankito gautamam prati |
Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, though knowing him as the Thousand-eyed Indra in the guise of her husband Gautama, she is inclined to have intercourse ill-advisedly, only to satisfy the impassion of the King of Gods. [1-48-19]
अथाब्रवीत् सुरश्रेष्ठं कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना | कृतार्थास्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमितः प्रभो || १-४८-२० आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात् |
gautamam sa dadarsha atha pravishaMtam mahaamunim || 1-48-23 deva daanava durdharSham tapo bala samanvitam | tiirtha udaka pariklinnam diipyamaanam iva analam || 1-48-24 gR^ihiita samidham tatra sa kusham muni puMgavam |
She felt fulfilled in her heart of hearts and then she said this to that best god Indra, 'I am gratified in complying with your wish, oh, best of gods, get going oh, lord, from here quickly, oh, ruler of gods, always safeguard yourself and me from Sage Gautama.' Thus, Ahalya said to Indra. [1-48-20, 21a]
इन्द्रस्तु प्रहसन् वाक्यमहल्यामिदमब्रवीत् || १-४८-२१ सुश्रोणि परितुष्टोऽस्मि गमिष्यामि यथागतम् |
dR^iShTvaa sura patiH trasto viShaNNa vadano abhavat || 1-48-25 atha dR^iShTvaa sahasraakSham muni veSha dharam muniH | dur.hvR^ittam vR^itta saMpanno roShaat vacanam abraviit || 1-48-26
Indra on his part smilingly said this word to Ahalya, 'oh, well-hipped lady, I am quite delighted, here I go as I have came.' [1-48-21b, 22a]
एवं संगम्य तु तया निश्चक्रामोटजात्ततः || १-४८-२२ स संभ्रमात्त्वरन् राम शङ्कितो गौतमं प्रति |
mama ruupam samaasthaaya kR^itavaan asi dur.hmate | akartavyam idam yasmaat viphalaH tvam bhaviShyati || 1-48-27
Oh, Rama, Indra then came out of the cottage flustering hurriedly after copulating with her with an uncertainty about the arrival of Sage Gautama. [1-48-22b, 23a]
गौतमं स ददर्शाथ प्रविशन्तं महामुनिम् || १-४८-२३ देवदानवदुर्धर्षं तपोबलसमन्वितम् | तीर्थोदकपरिक्लिन्नं दीप्यमानमिवानलम् || १-४८-२४ गृहीतसमिधं तत्र सकुशं मुनिपुंगवम् |
gautamena evam uktasya sa roSheNa mahaatmanaa | petatuH vR^iShaNau bhuumau sahasraakShasya tat kShaNaat || 1-48-28
Indra looked at Gautama..the one who is great saint, inaccessible to gods and demons, full of ascetic power, purified with holy water, bright like fire, holding Samidha-s and kusha grass in hands, and eminent Sage entering into the hermitage. [1-48-23b, 24, 25a]
दृष्ट्वा सुरपतिस्त्रस्तो विषण्णवदनोऽभवत् || १-४८-२५ अथ दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षं मुनिवेषधरं मुनिः | दुर्वृत्तं वृत्तसंपन्नो रोषाद्वचनमब्रवीत् || १-४८-२६
yadaa tu etat vanam ghoram raamo dasharatha aatmajaH | aagamiShyati durdharShaH tadaa puutaa bhaviShyasi || 1-48-31
On seeing the sage the lord of gods Indra is scared and became dreary-faced. Then the well-behaved Gautama furiously spoke these words on seeing the ill-behaved Thousand-eyed Indra who is donning the guise of a saint. [1-48-25b, 26]
मम रूपं समास्थाय कृतवानसि दुर्मते | अकर्तव्यमिदं यस्मात् विफलस्त्वं भविष्यति || १-४८-२७
evam uktvaa mahaatejaa gautamo duShTa caariNiim | imam aashramam utsR^ijya siddha caaraNa sevite | himavat shikhare raMye tapaH tepe mahaatapaaH || 1-48-33
'Oh, dirty-minded Indra, taking hold of my form you have effectuated this unacceptable deed, whereby you shall become infecund.' Thus, Gautama cursed Indra. [1-48-27]
गौतमेनैवमुक्तस्य स रोषेण महात्मना | पेततुर्वृषणौ भूमौ सहस्राक्षस्य तत्क्षणात् || १-४८-२८
When that great-souled sage Gautama spoke that way with rancour, the testicles of the cursed Thousand-eyed Indra fell down onto ground at that very moment. [1-48-28]
तथा शप्त्वा च वै शक्रं भार्यामपि च शप्तवान् | इह वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि निवसिष्यसि || १-४८-२९ वायुभक्षा निराहारा तप्यन्ती भस्मशायिनी | अदृश्या सर्वभूतानामाश्रमेऽस्मिन् निवत्स्यसि || १-४८-३०
On cursing Indra thus the sage cursed even his wife saying, 'you shall tarry here for many thousands of years to come without food and consuming air alone, and unseen by all beings you shall live on in this hermitage while contritely recumbent in dust.' [1-48-29, 30]
यदा त्वेतद्वनं घोरं रामो दशरथात्मजः | आगमिष्यति दुर्धर्षस्तदा पूता भविष्यसि || १-४८-३१
When that unassailable son of Dasharatha, namely Rama, arrives at this squalid forest, for it will be henceforth rendered so along with you, then you will be purified. [1-48-31]
तस्यातिथ्येन दुर्वृत्ते लोभमोहविवर्जिता | मत्सकाशे मुदा युक्ता स्वं वपुर्धारयिष्यसि || १-४८-३२
'On your welcoming Rama, oh, ill-behaved woman, you will be divested of your greed and craze in which you lingered so far, and then you will assume your own body and then you can be in my proximity, rejoicingly.' Thus, Sage Gautama cursed his wife Ahalya. [1-48-32]
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा गौतमो दुष्टचारिणीम् | इममाश्रममुत्सृज्य सिद्धचारणसेविते | हिमवच्छिखरे रम्ये तपस्तेपे महातपाः || १-४८-३३
"On cursing immodest Ahalya thus, that great-resplendent Sage Gautama shed this hermitage which was once adored by celestials like siddha-sand caarana-s, and that great-ascetic Gautama practised his asceticism on the pleasant peaks of Himalayas." Thus, Vishvamitra continued his narration about the legend of Ahalya. [1-48-33]
