Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 21
अहल्याशापवर्णनम्
The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā
अथाब्रवीत् नरश्रेष्ठ कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।1.48.20।।कृतार्थाऽस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमित: प्रभो।आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात्।1.48.21।।
athābravīt naraśreṣṭha kṛtārthenāntarātmanā | 1.48.20 ||
kṛtārthā ’smi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghram itaḥ prabho |
ātmānaṃ māṃ ca deveśa sarvadā rakṣa gautamāt | 1.48.21 ||
அப்போது உள்ளம் நிறைவு பெற்றவளாய் அவள் கூறினாள்— “தேவர்களில் சிறந்தவனே! நான் கृतார்த்தை. ஆண்டவனே, இங்கிருந்து விரைவாகச் செல். தேவேசனே, கௌதமரிடமிருந்து எப்போதும் உன்னையும் என்னையும் காத்தருள்வாய்.”
O Foremost of men with her heart's desire fulfilled, Ahalya said: "O Chief of the celestials I'm satisfied. O Lord, quit this place: O Lord of cthe gods, protect yourself and also me from Gautama in all respects."
FAQs
The verse underscores the instability created by adharma: instead of truth and accountability (satya), the characters anticipate concealment and fear, which dharma literature treats as the natural fruit of wrongdoing.
This is a repeated/overlapping numbering presentation of the same utterance: Ahalyā urges Indra to depart quickly and beware Gautama.
A cautionary emphasis: the absence of self-restraint and truthfulness leads to fear and urgency.