अथ शप्तश्न भगवान् गौतमेन पुरन्दर: । अहल्यां कामयानो वै धर्मार्थ च न हिंसित:,महर्षि गौतमने ऐश्वर्यशाली इन्द्रको अहल्यापर आसक्त होनेके कारण शाप दे दिया था। केवल धर्मकी रक्षाके लिये उनके प्राण नहीं लिये
atha śaptaśna bhagavān gautamena purandaraḥ | ahalyāṃ kāmayāno vai dharmārthaṃ ca na hiṃsitaḥ ||
अथ शप्तश्च भगवान् गौतमेन पुरन्दरः। अहल्यां कामयानो वै धर्मार्थं च न हिंसितः॥
अजुन उवाच
Even when wrongdoing arises from desire, dharma may require measured response: punishment can be imposed (a curse) while avoiding excessive violence, preserving life for the larger protection of righteous order.
Arjuna recalls the episode where Indra (Purandara), having desired Ahalyā, was cursed by the sage Gautama; yet Indra was not killed—his life was spared explicitly for the sake of dharma.