Sarga 48: Indra and Ahalya
Ahalya Shapa Vrittanta
Vishvamitra tells the tale of Gautama's deserted hermitage near Mithila: Indra seduces Ahalya in the guise of the absent sage, is caught and cursed to impotence, and Ahalya is cursed to invisible austerity until Rama's arrival redeems her.
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पृष्ट्वा तु कुशलं तत्र परस्परसमागमे। कथान्ते सुमतिर्वाक्यं व्याजहार महामुनिम्।।1.48.1।।
Meaning
Having asked after each other's welfare there at that meeting, at the end of their talk Sumati spoke this word to the great sage.
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।।
Meaning
These two princes, of godlike valor, may you prosper — heroic, with the gait of elephant and lion, resembling tiger and bull, with eyes wide as lotus petals, bearing sword, quiver, and bow, resembling the Ashvins in form, come here as if by chance from the world of gods, like immortals — how have they arrived here on foot, for what purpose, and whose sons are they, sage?
भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्। परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितै:।।1.48.5।। किमर्थं च मुनिश्रेष्ठ सम्प्राप्तौ दुर्गमे पथि। वरायुधधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वत:।।1.48.6।।