Shloka 1.49.10

अहल्याशापमोक्षः — The Release of Ahalya and Indra’s Restoration

Devanagari script

इन्द्रस्तु मेषवृषणस्तदाप्रभृति राघव।गौतमस्य प्रभावेन तपसश्च महात्मन:।।।।

Transliteration

indras tu meṣavṛṣaṇas tadāprabhṛti rāghava |

gautamasya prabhāvena tapasaś ca mahātmanaḥ ||

Translation

O Rāghava, from that time onward Indra bore the testicles of a ram—such was the power of the great-souled Gautama’s austerity (tapas).

Context

O Son of the Raghus! illustrious Gautama's power of ascetism was such that thenceforth Indra possessed the testicles of a ram.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Indra
• Gautama

FAQs

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

Tapas and truth-backed authority: spiritual discipline (tapas) rooted in dharma has transformative power, and wrongdoing meets proportionate consequence.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra explains to Rāma the lasting mark of Indra’s punishment resulting from Gautama’s curse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Gautama’s tapas (austerity) and moral authority—his spiritual force upholds dharma through just consequence.