Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 24

अहल्याशापवर्णनम्

The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā

Devanagari script

गौतमं तं ददर्शाथ प्रविशन्तं महामुनिम्।देवदानवदुर्धर्षं तपोबलसमन्वितम्।।।।तीर्थेंदकपरिक्लिन्नं दीप्यमानमिवानलम्।गृहीतसमिधं तत्र सकुशं मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।।।

Transliteration

gautamaṃ taṃ dadarśātha praviśantaṃ mahāmunim |

devadānavadurdharṣaṃ tapobalasamanvitam ||

tīrthodakapariklinnaṃ dīpyamānam ivānalam |

gṛhītasamidhaṃ tatra sakuśaṃ munipuṅgavam ||

Translation

Alors il vit entrer le grand muni Gautama, redoutable même pour les dieux et les dānavas, pourvu de la puissance de l’ascèse. Trempé de l’eau sacrée du tīrtha, il flamboyait tel un feu ; il portait des bûchettes de combustible et de l’herbe kuśa, ce premier des ascètes.

Word by Word

• गौतमम्: Gautama
• गौतमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• प्रविशन्तम्: entering
• प्रविशन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महामुनिम्: the great sage
• महामुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः महा + मुनि (कर्मधारयः)

• देवदानवदुर्धर्षम्: unassailable by gods and demons
• देवदानवदुर्धर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव-दानव-दुर्धर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः देवदानव + दुर्धर्ष (तत्पुरुषः: 'hard to assail by gods and demons')

• तपोबलसमन्वितम्: endowed with ascetic power
• तपोबलसमन्वितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपोबलसमन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः तपोबल + समन्वित (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः: 'endowed with')

Context

Subsequently, Indra beheld the great ascetic Gautama, unassailable by devatas and danavas, endowed with the power of ascetism, drenched with sacrifical waters, shining like flaming fire, carrying sacrificial firewood and Kusha grass and pre-eminent among sages, entering that leaf- hut.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Indra
• Devas
• Dānavas
• Kuśa grass
• Uṭaja (leaf-hut)

FAQs

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

Dharma is upheld by tapas and rishi-authority: the sage’s disciplined life grants moral and spiritual power that protects social order and punishes deception.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra sees Gautama returning to the hut, radiant from ritual observances and carrying sacrificial materials.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Gautama’s austerity (tapas), purity, and disciplined conduct—sources of spiritual authority in the epic.