Shloka 1

अहल्याशापमोक्षः

The Release of Ahalya and Indra’s Restoration

Devanagari script

अफलस्तु ततश्शक्रो देवानग्निपुरोगमान्।अब्रवीत्त्रस्तवदनस्सर्षिस्सङ्घान् सचारणान्।।।।

Transliteration

aphalas tu tataḥ śakro devān agnipurogamān |

abravīt trastavadanaḥ sarṣi-saṅghān sacāraṇān ||

Translation

ਤਦੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ਤਵ ਤੋਂ ਵੰਚਿਤ ਅਤੇ ਡਰੇ ਹੋਏ ਚਿਹਰੇ ਵਾਲਾ ਸ਼ਕ੍ਰ (ਇੰਦਰ), ਅਗਨੀ ਨੂੰ ਅਗੇ ਰੱਖ ਕੇ ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ, ਰਿਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਸਮੂਹਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਚਾਰਣਾਂ ਸਮੇਤ ਸਭਾ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਬੋਲਿਆ।

Word by Word

• कुर्वता: while doing / by (me) doing
• कुर्वता: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘by me while doing’

• तपसः: of austerity
• तपसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विघ्नम्: obstacle
• विघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• गौतमस्य: of Gautama
• गौतमस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying गौतमस्य)

• क्रोधम्: anger
• क्रोधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• उत्पाद्य: having produced
• उत्पाद्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having produced/caused’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (for/indeed)

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

• सुरकार्यम्: the gods' task
• सुरकार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—सुराणां कार्यम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying सुरकार्यम्)

• कृतम्: has been done
• कृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

Context

Deprived of testicles, Indra with a frightened face addressed hordes of rishis and charanas with agni in the forefront.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Agni
• Devas
• Ṛṣis
• Cāraṇas

FAQs

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

Adharma brings consequence: even powerful beings face the results of wrongdoing; fear and public accountability follow moral transgression.

What is the narrative situation?

In the backstory to Ahalyā’s curse, Indra—punished—approaches the divine and sage assemblies, led by Agni, to speak in distress.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Implied contrast: the verse highlights the absence of virtue in Indra’s conduct and the inevitability of karmic repercussion.