Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 20

अहल्याशापवर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

अथाब्रवीत् नरश्रेष्ठ कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना।।।कृतार्थाऽस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमित: प्रभो।आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वदा रक्ष गौतमात्।।।

Transliteration

athābravīt naraśreṣṭha kṛtārthenāntarātmanā |

kṛtārthā ’smi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghram itaḥ prabho |

ātmānaṃ māṃ ca deveśa sarvadā rakṣa gautamāt ||

Translation

于是，她内心所愿已遂，便说道：“噢，诸天中最胜者，我已满足。主啊，请速速离开此处。噢，天界之主，愿你常常护持你自己——也护持我——免遭乔达摩之祸。”

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरश्रेष्ठ: O best of men
• नरश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः नर + श्रेष्ठ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/कर्मधारय-प्रायः)

• कृतार्थेन: with fulfilled purpose
• कृतार्थेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृतार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः कृत + अर्थ (कर्मधारयः: 'fulfilled purpose')

• अन्तरात्मना: with inner self/wholeheartedly
• अन्तरात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः अन्तर् + आत्मन् (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः)

Context

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."

Characters & Entities

• Ahalya
• Indra
• Gautama

FAQs

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

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).

What is the narrative situation?

After Indra’s illicit union with Ahalyā, she urges him to leave quickly and warns him to guard against Gautama’s return and anger.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not virtue but moral tension: the verse highlights anxiety after adharma, showing how transgression destabilizes peace of mind.