Valmiki Ramayana 1.48.28: Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 28

अहल्याशापवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

गौतमेनैवमुक्तस्य सरोषेण महात्मना ॥२८॥

पेततुर्वृषणै भूमौ सहस्राक्षस्य तत्क्षणात् ।

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.48.28

Transliteration

gautamenaivam uktasya saroṣeṇa mahātmanā ||28||

petatur vṛṣaṇau bhūmau sahasrākṣasya tatkṣaṇāt |

Translation

जब बड़े रिशि गौतम ने गुस्से में आके यह बात कही, उसी वक्त इंद्र के टेस्टिकल्स ज़मीन पर गिर गए।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• गौतमेन: by Gautama
• गौतमेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• उक्तस्य: of the one addressed / of what was spoken
• उक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of (him) who was spoken to / of what was said’

• सरोषेण: with anger, wrathfully
• सरोषेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying महात्मना)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled (sage)
• महात्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + आत्मा (कर्मधारय)

• पेततुः: fell, dropped
• पेततुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वृषणौ: the two testicles
• वृषणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्तृ/Subject), द्विवचन

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• सहस्राक्षस्य: of Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्राणि अक्षाणि यस्य (Indra)

• तत्क्षणात्: immediately, at that very moment
• तत्क्षणात्: Kāla (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्क्षण (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः—तत् + क्षण; पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययप्रयोगः (ablatival adverb)

Context

Cursed thus out of anger by eminent Gautama the testicles of Indra immediately dropped down on the earth.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• Bhūmi (earth/ground)

FAQs

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

The verse dramatizes karmic immediacy: grave deception against dharma can yield swift, embodied consequences, reinforcing the primacy of satya and self-restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Gautama’s curse takes effect instantly, physically marking Indra for his transgression.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The authority of ascetic truth (tapas joined to satya): Gautama’s words carry irreversible moral force.