Valmiki Ramayana 1.49.5 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 5

अहल्याशापमोक्षः

The Release of Ahalya and Indra’s Restoration

Devanagari script

शतक्रतोर्वचश्श्रुत्वा देवास्साग्निपुरोगमा:।पितृदेवानुपेत्याहु स्सह सर्वैर्मरुद्गणै:।।।।

Transliteration

śatakrator vacaḥ śrutvā devāḥ sāgni-purogamāḥ |

pitṛ-devān upetyāhuḥ saha sarvair marud-gaṇaiḥ ||

Translation

Als sie die Worte Śatakratus vernommen hatten, traten die Götter — von Agni angeführt und begleitet von allen Scharen der Maruts — zu den Pitṛ-devas heran und sprachen zu ihnen.

Word by Word

• śatakratoḥ: of Śatakratu (Indra)
• śatakratoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatakratu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि-समास: śata+kratu = ‘one whose rites are a hundred’ (Indra)

• vacaḥ: words/speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त), ‘having heard’

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sa-agni-purogamāḥ: with Agni in the forefront
• sa-agni-purogamāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/स- उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + agni (अग्नि प्रातिपदिक) + purogama (पुरोगम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); समास: agni-purogama (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष ‘Agni as leader/going in front’) with prefixal ‘sa-’ = ‘together with’

• pitṛdevān: the Pitṛ-deities
• pitṛdevān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛdeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: pitṛ + devāḥ = ‘the gods who are Pitṛs / Pitṛ-deities’

• upetya: having approached
• upetya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√i (उप + इ धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), ‘having approached’

• āhuḥ: said
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; preposition-like particle governing Instrumental (तृतीया-सहचर्य)

• sarvaiḥ: with all
• sarvaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• marudgaṇaiḥ: with the hosts of Maruts
• marudgaṇaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marudgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: marut + gaṇa = ‘host of Maruts’

Context

'I have accomplished the objective of the devatas by creating obstacles to Gautama's austerities, evoking in consequence the wrath of the magnanimous sage'.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śatakratu)
• Devas
• Agni
• Maruts (Marudgaṇa)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is shown as operating through ordered consultation and rightful procedure: even divine beings seek resolution through appropriate authorities, reflecting respect for cosmic and ritual hierarchy.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods, after hearing Indra, proceed—Agni at their head and Maruts accompanying—to consult the Pitṛ-devas regarding the situation and remedy.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Collective responsibility and procedural propriety: acting through sanctioned channels rather than unilateral force.