Shloka 1.48.17
अहल्याशापवर्णनम् (The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā)
तस्यान्तरं विदित्वा तु सहस्राक्षश्शचीपति:।।।।मुनिवेषधरोऽहल्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।
tasyāntaraṃ viditvā tu sahasrākṣaḥ śacīpatiḥ || muniveṣadharo 'halyām idaṃ vacanam abravīt |
But Indra, the thousand-eyed lord of Śacī, finding his opportunity, took on the guise of a sage and spoke these words to Ahalyā.
The thousand-eyed Indra, consort of Sachi, having found an opportunity (during the absence of the ascetic), assumed the guise of the ascetic (Gautama) and said to Ahalya:
The verse warns against adharma through deception: taking a holy disguise to pursue desire violates satya and corrupts sacred trust.
Indra exploits Gautama’s absence, disguises himself as an ascetic, and approaches Ahalyā to speak to her.
By contrast (through violation), the virtue emphasized is truthfulness: the harm begins with false appearance and misuse of religious symbols.