Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 28

अहल्याशापवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

गौतमेनैवमुक्तस्य सरोषेण महात्मना।।।।पेततुर्वृषणै भूमौ सहस्राक्षस्य तत्क्षणात्।

Transliteration

gautamenaivam uktasya saroṣeṇa mahātmanā |

petatur vṛṣaṇau bhūmau sahasrākṣasya tatkṣaṇāt ||

Translation

ครั้นมหาตมาโคตมะกล่าวดังนี้ด้วยโทสะ ในบัดดลนั้นเอง อัณฑะของผู้มีพันเนตร (พระอินทร์) ก็ตกลงสู่พื้นดิน

Word by Word

• गौतमेन: by Gautama
• गौतमेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• उक्तस्य: of the one addressed / of what was spoken
• उक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of (him) who was spoken to / of what was said’

• सरोषेण: with anger, wrathfully
• सरोषेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying महात्मना)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled (sage)
• महात्मना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + आत्मा (कर्मधारय)

• पेततुः: fell, dropped
• पेततुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वृषणौ: the two testicles
• वृषणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्तृ/Subject), द्विवचन

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• सहस्राक्षस्य: of Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्राणि अक्षाणि यस्य (Indra)

• तत्क्षणात्: immediately, at that very moment
• तत्क्षणात्: Kāla (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्क्षण (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः—तत् + क्षण; पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्ययप्रयोगः (ablatival adverb)

Context

Cursed thus out of anger by eminent Gautama the testicles of Indra immediately dropped down on the earth.

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• Bhūmi (earth/ground)

FAQs

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

The verse dramatizes karmic immediacy: grave deception against dharma can yield swift, embodied consequences, reinforcing the primacy of satya and self-restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Gautama’s curse takes effect instantly, physically marking Indra for his transgression.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The authority of ascetic truth (tapas joined to satya): Gautama’s words carry irreversible moral force.