Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 4
अहल्याशापमोक्षः
The Release of Ahalya and Indra’s Restoration
तस्मात्सुरवरास्सर्वे सर्षिस्सङ्घास्सचारणा: ।सुरसाह्यकरं सर्वे सफलं कर्तुमर्हथ।।।।
tasmāt suravarāḥ sarve saṛṣi-saṅghāḥ sa-cāraṇāḥ |
sura-sāhyakaraṃ sarve saphalaṃ kartum arhatha ||
«Ainsi donc, ô meilleurs des dieux—avec les assemblées de rishis et les Cāraṇas—puisque j’ai agi pour l’avantage des dieux, veuillez faire en sorte que je sois rétabli dans mon intégrité.»
Amidst sounds of celestial kettle-drums, devatas showered flowers, gandharvas sang and apsarasa danced. There was a great assemblage (of divinities).
FAQs
The verse raises the dharmic question of restitution and responsibility: even if one claims a public purpose, adharma cannot be excused, and ‘deserving’ compensation is ethically contested.
After suffering the curse’s consequence, Indra urges the assembled divine and semi-divine beings to restore him, arguing that his act was for the gods’ cause.
The implied virtue is discernment (viveka) in leadership—whether a community should reward actions that violate righteousness, even if framed as beneficial.