Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 16

अहल्याशापवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

स चेह तप आतिष्ठदहल्यासहित: पुरा।।।।वर्षपूगाननेकांश्च राजपुत्र महायश:।

Transliteration

sa ceha tapa ātiṣṭhad ahalyāsahitaḥ purā || varṣapūgān anekāṃś ca rājaputra mahāyaśaḥ |

Translation

Wahai pangeran yang termasyhur, dahulu kala di tempat ini sang maharsi yang mulia menjalani tapa-brata selama banyak rentang tahun, bersama Ahalyā.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Vākyasaṃyojaka (वाक्यसंयोजक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place

• tapaḥ: austerity
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of ātiṣṭhat

• ātiṣṭhat: practised
• ātiṣṭhat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, imperfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Eka-vacana (singular); 'undertook/practised'

• ahalyā-sahitaḥ: together with Ahalyā
• ahalyā-sahitaḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ahalyā (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √sah)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'together with Ahalyā' qualifying saḥ (Gautama)

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of time

• varṣa-pūgān: for many years
• varṣa-pūgān: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + pūga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'multitudes/series of years' (कालपरिमाण)

• anekān: many
• anekān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifying varṣa-pūgān

• ca: and
• ca: Vākyasaṃyojaka (वाक्यसंयोजक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

• rāja-putra: O prince
• rāja-putra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'son of a king'

• mahā-yaśaḥ: O greatly renowned one
• mahā-yaśaḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; bahuvrīhi: 'one whose fame is great' addressing Rāma

Context

O Highly renowned prince! it was here in ancient times that Gautama in the company of Ahalya practised austerities for several years.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Gautama
• Ahalyā

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by long discipline: the verse highlights tapas over time, implying that moral and spiritual authority is earned through sustained self-control.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra describes Gautama and Ahalyā residing here and performing austerities for many years.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ascetic perseverance (tapas) and steadiness—qualities that make the later violation of dharma in this setting especially grave.