Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 5
अहल्याशापवर्णनम्
The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā
भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्।परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितै:।।।।किमर्थं च मुनिश्रेष्ठ सम्प्राप्तौ दुर्गमे पथि।वरायुधधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वत:।।।।
bhūṣayantāv imaṃ deśaṃ candra-sūryāv ivāmbaram |
parasparasya sadṛśau pramāṇa-iṅgita-ceṣṭitaiḥ || 1.48.5 ||
kimarthaṃ ca muni-śreṣṭha samprāptau durgame pathi |
vara-āyudha-dharau vīrau śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ || 1.48.6 ||
یہ دونوں اس دیس کو یوں آراستہ کر رہے ہیں جیسے آکاش میں چاند اور سورج؛ قد و قامت، اشارہ و ادا اور چال ڈھال میں ایک دوسرے کے ہم مثل ہیں۔ اے مُنیوں کے شریشٹھ! یہ دونوں ویر، شریشٹھ ہتھیار دھارے ہوئے، اس دشوار راہ پر کس مقصد سے آئے ہیں؟ میں اس کا تत्त्व صاف صاف سننا چاہتا ہوں۔
"Highly powerful Gautama who had performed rigid austerities thus cursed the wicked Ahalya and left this hermitage, for the peaks of Himavat mountain served by siddhas and charanas. Here he performed austerities"(said Viswamitra).ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē aṣṭacatvāriṅśassarga:৷৷Thus ends the fortyeighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
The verse emphasizes satya-oriented inquiry (tattvataḥ): seeking accurate truth from a qualified authority (a muniśreṣṭha) is itself a dharmic act.
The observer continues questioning Viśvāmitra, noting the princes’ radiance and similarity, and asks the real purpose of their journey on a difficult route.
Discernment and humility: the speaker asks to hear “tattvataḥ,” indicating a preference for truth over speculation.