Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 49, Shloka 2

अहल्याशापमोक्षः

The Release of Ahalya and Indra’s Restoration

Devanagari script

कुर्वता तपसो विघ्नं गौतमस्य महात्मन:।क्रोधमुत्पाद्य हि मया सुरकार्यमिदं कृतम्।।।।

Transliteration

kurvatā tapaso vighnaṃ gautamasya mahātmanaḥ |

krodham utpādya hi mayā surakāryam idaṃ kṛtam ||

Translation

ମହାତ୍ମା ଗୌତମଙ୍କ ତପସ୍ୟାରେ ବିଘ୍ନ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରି ମୁଁ ତାଙ୍କ କ୍ରୋଧ ଉତ୍ପନ୍ନ କରିଦେଲି; ଦେବକାର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଭାବି ଏହି କାମ ମୁଁ କରିଛି।

Word by Word

• अफलः: without testicles
• अफलः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमाना)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अफल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कृतः: made
• कृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘made’ (with implied passive)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• क्रोधात्: from anger, due to anger
• क्रोधात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (because of)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• निराकृता: was rejected
• निराकृता: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘rejected/banished’

• शापमोक्षेण: by (the act of) releasing from the curse
• शापमोक्षेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप + मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः—शापस्य मोक्षः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• महता: great
• महता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying शापमोक्षेण)

• तपः: austerity, ascetic power
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपहृतम्: has been taken away
• अपहृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘taken away’

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Context

Recalling the words of Gautama, she received them with water to wash their feet and offerings made with due devotion Rama accepted her hospitality extended in accordance tradition.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śatakratu)
• Gautama
• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

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

Dharma emphasizes that ends do not justify unethical means: obstructing a sage’s tapas and provoking wrath is adharma, and the speaker’s attempt to frame it as ‘service’ highlights moral self-deception and the inevitability of consequences.

What is the narrative situation?

Indra explains to the gods that he deliberately interfered with Sage Gautama’s austerities, provoking the sage’s anger, claiming it was done for a divine objective.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Indirectly, Gautama’s steadfastness in tapas is emphasized; by contrast, Indra’s lapse shows the need for restraint and truthfulness in action.