Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 117, Shloka 9
अत्र्याश्रमगमनम् तथा अनसूयोपदेशः
Arrival at Atri’s Hermitage and Anasuya’s Counsel
दश वर्षाण्यनावृष्ट्या दग्धे लोके निरन्तरम्।।।।यया मूलफले सृष्टे जाह्नवी च प्रवर्तिता।उग्रेण तपसा युक्ता नियमैश्चाप्यलङ्कृता।।।।दश वर्ष सहास्राणि तया तप्तं महत्तपः।अनसूया व्रतै स्स्नाता प्रत्यूहाश्च निवर्तिताः।।।।देवकार्यनिमित्तं च यया सन्त्वरमाणया।दशरात्रं कृता रात्रि स्सेयं मातेव तेऽनघ।।।।
daśa varṣāṇy anāvṛṣṭyā dagdhe loke nirantaram |
yayā mūlaphale sṛṣṭe jāhnavī ca pravartitā | ugreṇa tapasā yuktā niyamaiś cāpy alaṅkṛtā |
daśa varṣa-sahasrāṇi tayā taptaṃ mahat tapaḥ | anasūyā vrataiḥ snātā pratyūhāś ca nivartitāḥ |
devakārya-nimittaṃ ca yayā santvaramāṇayā | daśarātraṃ kṛtā rātriḥ sā iyaṃ māteva te ’nagha ||
O blameless Rāma, when the world was continually scorched by drought for ten years, it was she who brought forth roots and fruits and set the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) flowing. Joined to fierce austerity and adorned with sacred observances, she performed great tapas for ten thousand years; bathed in her vows, she turned back every obstacle. And, hastening for the sake of the gods’ work, she even made ten nights become a single night. Such is Anasūyā—like a mother to you.
O blameless one (Rama), once this world was consecutively ravaged by drought for ten years. It was the virtuous Anasuya who created roots and fruits and caused Ganga to flow. She was engaged in severe mortifications and self-imposed religious observances. She practised severe asceticism for ten thousand years bathed in her vows. Solicited on behalf of the gods, she removed all impediments and converted ten nights into one. She is like a your mother to you.
FAQs
Dharma as disciplined spiritual power used for the welfare of the world: Anasūyā’s tapas and vows remove suffering and obstacles, serving divine and public good.
Atri narrates Anasūyā’s extraordinary merits and austerities to Rāma, establishing her as a revered, mother-like figure.
Anasūyā’s self-restraint (niyama), steadfast vows (vrata), and compassionate use of ascetic power for others.