Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 30
अहल्याशापवर्णनम्
The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā
तथा शप्त्वा स वै शक्रमहल्यामपि शप्तवान्।।1.48.29।।इह वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि त्वं निवत्स्यसि।वायुभक्षा निराहारा तप्यन्ती भस्मशायिनी।।1.48.30।।अदृश्या सर्वभूतानां आश्रमेऽस्मिन्निवत्स्यसि।
tasyātithyena durvṛtte lobha-moha-vivarjitā |
mat-sakāśe mudā yuktā svaṃ vapur dhārayiṣyasi |
ああ、道を誤った者よ。彼を客としてもてなし、貪りと迷いを離れ、喜びに満たされるなら、汝は自らの身を取り戻し、我が傍らに住まうであろう。
Having thus cursed Indra, he also cursed Ahalya: 'You will be staying here for thousands of years without food and subsisting on air, lying down in ashes, doing penance, without being seen by any living beings in this ashrama'.
FAQs
Atithi-dharma (righteous hospitality) is portrayed as a purifying act when performed with inner reform—freedom from greed (lobha) and delusion (moha).
Gautama specifies the practical condition of Ahalyā’s restoration: she must receive Rāma as a guest with purified intent, after which she regains her form.
The virtue is inner clarity: renouncing lobha and moha and acting joyfully in accordance with dharma.