Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 15
अहल्याशापवर्णनम्
The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā
गौतमस्य नरश्रेष्ठ पूर्वमासीन्महात्मन:।।।।आश्रमो दिव्यसङ्काशस्सुरैरपि सुपूजित:।
gautamasya naraśreṣṭha pūrvam āsīn mahātmanaḥ || āśramo divyasaṅkāśaḥ surair api supūjitaḥ |
“Wahai insan termulia, āśrama ini—bercahaya laksana kediaman surgawi dan dihormati bahkan oleh para dewa—dahulu milik resi agung Gautama.”
O Best among men! this hermitage resembling a celestial retreat and well-honoured even by devatas once belonged to illustrious Gautama.
FAQs
Honor is shown to tapas and sanctity: a hermitage becomes ‘divine’ through righteous practice, and even devas respect such dharmic power.
Viśvāmitra identifies the deserted place as Gautama’s former āśrama, setting up the Ahalyā-Gautama-Indra account.
Gautama’s spiritual stature (mahātman) and the reverence it commands, implying the value of disciplined ascetic dharma.