Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 20
अहल्याशापवर्णनम्
The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā
अथाब्रवीत् नरश्रेष्ठ कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।।।कृतार्थाऽस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमित: प्रभो।आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात्।।।
athābravīt naraśreṣṭha kṛtārthenāntarātmanā |
kṛtārthā ’smi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghram itaḥ prabho |
ātmānaṃ māṃ ca deveśa sarvadā rakṣa gautamāt ||
そのとき、胸の願いが満たされた彼女は言った。「おお、神々のうち最勝の御方よ、わたしは満ち足りました。主よ、ここより速やかにお去りください。神々の主よ、常にガウタマから、あなたご自身を—そしてわたしをも—お守りください。」
O Foremost of men! with her heart's desire fulfilled, Ahalya said: "O Chief of thecelestials! I'm satisfied. O Lord, quit this place: O Lord of cthe gods, protect yourself and also me from Gautama in all respects."
FAQs
Actions have consequences under dharma: wrongdoing produces fear and the need to evade accountability, contrasting with the Ramayana’s ideal of truthful, responsible conduct (satya and dharma).
After Indra’s illicit union with Ahalyā, she urges him to leave quickly and warns him to guard against Gautama’s return and anger.
Not virtue but moral tension: the verse highlights anxiety after adharma, showing how transgression destabilizes peace of mind.