Shloka 1.49.17
अहल्याशापमोक्षः — The Release of Ahalya and Indra’s Restoration
स्मरन्ती गौतमवच: प्रतिजग्राह सा च तौ।।।।पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथाऽऽतिथ्यं चकार सुसमाहिता।प्रतिजग्राह काकुत्स्थो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा।।।।
kurvatā tapaso vighnaṃ gautamasya mahātmanaḥ |
krodham utpādya hi mayā surakāryam idaṃ kṛtam ||
“By obstructing the austerities of the great-souled Gautama, I provoked his wrath; thus I performed this deed as a service to the gods.”
Recalling the words of Gautama, she received them with water to wash their feet and offerings made with due devotion Rama accepted her hospitality extended in accordance tradition.
Dharma emphasizes that ends do not justify unethical means: obstructing a sage’s tapas and provoking wrath is adharma, and the speaker’s attempt to frame it as ‘service’ highlights moral self-deception and the inevitability of consequences.
Indra explains to the gods that he deliberately interfered with Sage Gautama’s austerities, provoking the sage’s anger, claiming it was done for a divine objective.
Indirectly, Gautama’s steadfastness in tapas is emphasized; by contrast, Indra’s lapse shows the need for restraint and truthfulness in action.