Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 20
अहल्याशापवर्णनम्
The Account of Ahalyā’s Curse and the Deserted Hermitage near Mithilā
अथाब्रवीत् नरश्रेष्ठ कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।।।कृतार्थाऽस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमित: प्रभो।आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात्।।।
athābravīt naraśreṣṭha kṛtārthenāntarātmanā |
kṛtārthā ’smi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghram itaḥ prabho |
ātmānaṃ māṃ ca deveśa sarvadā rakṣa gautamāt ||
Bấy giờ, với tâm nguyện đã toại trong lòng, nàng thưa: “Ôi bậc tối thượng giữa chư thiên, thiếp đã mãn nguyện. Xin Ngài mau rời khỏi nơi này, hỡi Chúa tể. Ôi Đấng chủ của các thần, xin luôn gìn giữ Ngài—và cả thiếp nữa—mọi lúc khỏi hiền thánh Gautama.”
O Foremost of men! with her heart's desire fulfilled, Ahalya said: "O Chief of thecelestials! I'm satisfied. O Lord, quit this place: O Lord of cthe gods, protect yourself and also me from Gautama in all respects."
FAQs
Actions have consequences under dharma: wrongdoing produces fear and the need to evade accountability, contrasting with the Ramayana’s ideal of truthful, responsible conduct (satya and dharma).
After Indra’s illicit union with Ahalyā, she urges him to leave quickly and warns him to guard against Gautama’s return and anger.
Not virtue but moral tension: the verse highlights anxiety after adharma, showing how transgression destabilizes peace of mind.