Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 21
अहल्याशापवर्णनम्
The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā
अथाब्रवीत् नरश्रेष्ठ कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।1.48.20।।कृतार्थाऽस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमित: प्रभो।आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात्।1.48.21।।
athābravīt naraśreṣṭha kṛtārthenāntarātmanā | 1.48.20 ||
kṛtārthā ’smi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghram itaḥ prabho |
ātmānaṃ māṃ ca deveśa sarvadā rakṣa gautamāt | 1.48.21 ||
तब अंतःकरण में अभिलाषा पूर्ण होने पर उसने कहा— “हे देवश्रेष्ठ! मैं कृतार्थ हूँ। हे प्रभो, यहाँ से शीघ्र चले जाइए। हे देवेश! गौतम से सदा अपनी और मेरी भी रक्षा कीजिए।”
O Foremost of men with her heart's desire fulfilled, Ahalya said: "O Chief of the celestials I'm satisfied. O Lord, quit this place: O Lord of cthe gods, protect yourself and also me from Gautama in all respects."
FAQs
The verse underscores the instability created by adharma: instead of truth and accountability (satya), the characters anticipate concealment and fear, which dharma literature treats as the natural fruit of wrongdoing.
This is a repeated/overlapping numbering presentation of the same utterance: Ahalyā urges Indra to depart quickly and beware Gautama.
A cautionary emphasis: the absence of self-restraint and truthfulness leads to fear and urgency.