Sarga 49: Ahalya Freed
Ahalya Shapa Mokshana
Indra regains virility through a ram-testicle graft, establishing the custom of gelded-ram sacrifice; Rama and Lakshmana enter Gautama's hermitage, and Ahalya, freed from her curse, is reunited with Gautama before Rama departs for Mithila.
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तदागच्छ महातेज आश्रमं पुण्यकर्मण:। तारयैनां महाभागामहल्यां देवरूपिणीम्।।1.49.11।।
Meaning
Now, greatly splendid one, come to the hermitage of that man of virtuous deeds, and deliver this greatly fortunate Ahalya, of divine form.
विश्वामित्रवचश्श्रुत्वा राघवस्सहलक्ष्मण:। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य तमाश्रममथाविशत्।।1.49.12।।
Meaning
Hearing Vishvamitra's words, Raghava together with Lakshmana, placing Vishvamitra before them, then entered that hermitage.
ददर्श च महाभागां तपसा द्योतितप्रभाम्। लोकैरपि समागम्य दुर्निरीक्ष्यां सुरासुरै:।।1.49.13।। प्रयत्नान्निर्मितां धात्रा दिव्यां मायामयीमिव। स तुषारावृतां साभ्रां पूर्णचन्द्रप्रभामिव।।1.49.14।।
Meaning
He beheld the greatly fortunate one, her radiance shining forth through her austerity, unseeable even by gods and demons come together — as though fashioned with great effort by the Creator, divine and seemingly illusory, veiled in mist like the moon shrouded in cloud, unassailable, blazing like the sun's brilliance amid the waters.
मध्येंऽभसो दुराधर्षां दीप्तां सूर्यप्रभामिव।।1.49.15।।
Meaning
Unassailable in the midst of the sky, radiant as the light of the sun.
सा हि गौतमवाक्येन दुर्निरीक्ष्या बभूव ह।।1.49.15।। त्रयाणामपि लोकानां यावद्रामस्य दर्शनम्।
Meaning
By Gautama's own word she had become unseeable to all three worlds, until the moment she should behold Rama.
शापस्यान्तमुपागम्य तेषां दर्शनमागता।।1.49.16।। राघवौ तु ततस्तस्या: पादौ जगृहतुस्तदा।
Meaning
Having reached the end of her curse, she came into their sight; then the two Raghavas took hold of her feet.
स्मरन्ती गौतमवच: प्रतिजग्राह सा च तौ।।1.49.17।। पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथाऽऽतिथ्यं चकार सुसमाहिता। प्रतिजग्राह काकुत्स्थो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा।।1.49.18।।
Meaning
Remembering Gautama's word, she received them both; composed and attentive, she offered water for the feet, guest-water, and full hospitality, which Kakutstha accepted in the manner prescribed.
पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीद्देवदुन्दुभिनिस्वनै:। गन्धर्वाप्सरसां चैव महानासीत्समागम:।।1.49.19।।
Meaning
A great shower of flowers fell to the sound of divine drums, and a great gathering of Gandharvas and Apsaras took place.
साधु साध्विति देवास्तामहल्यां समपूजयन्। तपोबलविशुद्धाङ्गी गौतमस्य वशानुगाम्।।1.49.20।।
Meaning
Crying 'well done, well done,' the gods honored Ahalya, her body purified by the power of austerity, once more devoted to Gautama.
गौतमोऽपि महातेजा अहल्यासहितस्सुखी। रामं सम्पूज्य विधिवत्तपस्तेपे महातपा:।।1.49.21।।
Meaning
Gautama too, greatly splendid, now happy together with Ahalya, having duly honored Rama, resumed his great austerity.