Shloka 1.48.33
अहल्याशापवर्णनम् (The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā)
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा गौतमो दुष्टचारिणीम्।।।।इममाश्रममुत्सृज्य सिद्धचारणसेविते।हिमवच्छिखरे पुण्ये तपस्तेपे महातपा:।।।।
bhūṣayantāv imaṃ deśaṃ candra-sūryāv ivāmbaram |
parasparasya sadṛśau pramāṇa-iṅgita-ceṣṭitaiḥ || 1.48.5 ||
kimarthaṃ ca muni-śreṣṭha samprāptau durgame pathi |
vara-āyudha-dharau vīrau śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ || 1.48.6 ||
They adorn this land like the moon and the sun in the sky, alike to one another in stature, expression, and movement. O best of sages, for what purpose have these heroic bearers of excellent weapons come upon this difficult path? I wish to hear the truth of it clearly.
"Highly powerful Gautama who had performed rigid austerities thus cursed the wicked Ahalya and left this hermitage, for the peaks of Himavat mountain served by siddhas and charanas. Here he performed austerities"(said Viswamitra).ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē aṣṭacatvāriṅśassarga:৷৷Thus ends the fortyeighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
The verse emphasizes satya-oriented inquiry (tattvataḥ): seeking accurate truth from a qualified authority (a muniśreṣṭha) is itself a dharmic act.
The observer continues questioning Viśvāmitra, noting the princes’ radiance and similarity, and asks the real purpose of their journey on a difficult route.
Discernment and humility: the speaker asks to hear “tattvataḥ,” indicating a preference for truth over speculation.