Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 27

अहल्याशापवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

मम रूपं समास्थाय कृतवानसि दुर्मते।।।।अकर्तव्यमिदं तस्माद्विफलस्त्वं भविष्यसि।

Transliteration

mama rūpaṃ samāsthāya kṛtavān asi durmate |

akartavyam idaṃ tasmād viphalaḥ tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi ||

Translation

‘ಓ ದುರ್ಮತೇ! ನನ್ನ ರೂಪವನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ ನೀನು ಅಕರ್ತವ್ಯವಾದ ಕೃತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೀಯ. ಆದಕಾರಣ ನೀನು ನಿಷ್ಫಲನಾಗುವಿ—ಪುರುಷತ್ವವಂಚಿತನಾಗುವಿ.’

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समास्थाय: having assumed
• समास्थाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having assumed/taken up'

• कृतवान्: having done
• कृतवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (perfect participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• असि: are/have
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• दुर्मते: O evil-minded one
• दुर्मते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (दुष्टा मतिः यस्य)

• अकर्तव्यम्: not to be done/forbidden
• अकर्तव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकर्तव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; कृदन्त-निर्माणः: कर्तव्य (कृ + तव्यत्) with नञ्-प्रत्यय (a-): 'not to be done'

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययप्रयोगः (ablatival adverb/conjunction: therefore/from that reason)

• विफलः: fruitless/unsuccessful
• विफलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विफल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (शापफलरूपेण)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भविष्यसि: will become
• भविष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

"O Wicked natured one! assuming my form you have done a forbidden act. For that reason you shall be devoid of scrotum.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Indra

FAQs

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

Dharma asserts proportional consequence for deceit and violation of another’s household: impersonation and forbidden acts invite immediate moral retribution.

What is the narrative situation?

Gautama confronts Indra, who had taken Gautama’s appearance to approach Ahalyā, and pronounces a curse.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Gautama’s commitment to truth and moral order—he identifies the deception and enforces consequence.