वसिष्ठवचनं श्रुत्वा रामो वक्ष्यति धर्मवित्। अस्या दोषो न चैवास्ति दोषोयं पाकशासने
Hearing Vasiṣṭha's words, Rāma, knower of dharma, will say: 'This woman has no fault; the fault lies with the one who inflicted the punishment.'
एवमुक्ते तु रामेण त्यक्त्वा रूपं जुगुप्सितं। दिव्यं रूपं समास्थाय मद्गृहं चागमिष्यसि
When Rāma has spoken thus, you will cast off your loathsome form, assume a divine body, and come to my house.
शप्त्वा तु गौतमस्तां हि तपस्तप्तुं गतो वनम्। ततोत्यंतं शुष्करूपा तथैव पथि संस्थिता
Having cursed her, Gautama went to the forest to perform austerities; then she, extremely emaciated, remained there by the path.
रामस्य वचनादेव गौतमं पुनरागता। गौतमोपि तया सार्द्धमद्यैवं दिवि तिष्ठति
By Rāma's words alone, she returned to Gautama; and Gautama, together with her, now dwells in heaven.
इंद्रोपि त्रपयायुक्तः स्थितश्चांतर्जले चिरम्। स्थित्वा चांतर्जले देवीमस्तौदिंद्राक्षिसंज्ञिताम्
Indra too, filled with shame, remained for a long time in the water; and, staying in the water, he praised the goddess called Indrākṣī.
सुप्रसन्ना ततो देवी स्तोत्रेण परितोषिता। गत्वोवाच ततः सा च वरोस्मत्तो विगृह्यताम्
Then the goddess, well-pleased and satisfied by his hymn, said to him, 'Now, choose a boon from me.'
ततो देवीमुवाचेदं शक्रः परपुरंजयः। त्वत्प्रसादाच्च मे देवि वैरूप्यं मुनिशापजम्
Then Indra, conqueror of enemy cities, said to the goddess: 'By your grace, O goddess, may the disfigurement caused by the sage's curse—'
किंतु बुद्धिं सृजाम्यद्य येन लोकैर्न लक्ष्यते
But today I will create a thought by which I will not be noticed by the people.
योनिमध्यगतं दृष्टि सहस्रं ते भविष्यति। सहस्राक्ष इति ख्यातस्सुरराज्यं करिष्यसि
A thousand eyes will appear upon you at the center of your loins; you will be known as 'Thousand-Eyed,' and you shall attain the kingship of the gods.
मेषांडं तव शिश्नं च भविष्यति च मद्वरात्। इत्युक्त्वा सा जगन्माता तत्रैवांतरधीयत५० 1.54.
By my boon, your phallus will become a ram's testicle. Having spoken thus, the Mother of the Universe vanished right there.
शक्रो देववरैः पूज्यो ह्यद्यापि दिवि वर्तते। इंद्रस्यैतादृशी कामादवस्था द्विजसत्तम
Śakra, honored by the best of the gods, even now dwells in heaven; such is the condition of Indra, brought about by desire, O best of twice-born.
इति श्रीपाद्मपुराणे प्रथमे सृष्टिखंडे अहल्याहरणंनाम चतुष्पंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः
Thus, in the glorious Padma Purāṇa, in the first section on creation, ends the fifty-fourth chapter, called 'The Abduction of Ahalyā.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच- अपरं च प्रवक्ष्यामि कामेनाधिष्ठितस्य च। पुरा भागीरथी तीरे द्विजः परमहंसकः
The Blessed Lord said: I will tell you another tale, concerning one overpowered by desire. Long ago, on the banks of the Bhāgīrathī, there was a twice-born sage of the highest order.
उपदेष्टा सहस्राणां द्विजानां शांतिदः परः। एकदंडधरः साक्षात्कूर्मवद्धरणी स्थितः
He was the teacher of thousands of twice-born, a supreme giver of peace, bearing a single staff, standing firm on the earth like a tortoise.
एकाकिनः सतस्तस्य देवागारे विनिष्कृते। पत्युर्गृहात्परं गेहं गंतुं सायं समुद्यता
While he was alone, his wife, having left the house of her husband, prepared in the evening to go to another home.
अकस्माद्युवती नारी मिलिता रूपधारिणी। दृष्ट्वा तां भगवान्विप्रो मन्मथस्य भयार्दितः
Suddenly, a young woman of striking appearance approached. Seeing her, the venerable sage was seized by the fear of Kāma.
अगारजठरे कृत्वा स चैनां प्राक्षिपत्क्षपाम्। अर्गलं सा दृढं कृत्वा देवागारे सुशोभने
He brought her into the house and locked her away for the night, securing the beautiful divine chamber with a strong bolt.
कदाचिदपि तं द्वारादागंतुं न ददाति ह। एवंभूतः समाधिस्थः क्षपां क्षिप्त्वा विलप्य सः
At no time did she allow him to enter through the door. Thus, remaining in meditation, he spent the night lamenting.
चिंतयंस्तां वरारोहां द्वारि किं वा कृतं मम। एवं संचिंत्यतामाह द्वारं देहीह नः प्रिये
Thinking of that beautiful woman, he wondered at the door, 'What have I done?' Thus reflecting, he said, 'Give me the door, beloved.'
पतिश्च वशगः कांते दयितस्ते भविष्यति। ततस्तं प्राह सा विप्रं वृद्धं कामप्रलालसम्
'Your husband, O lovely one, will be under your control; your beloved will be yours.' Then she addressed the sage, old and maddened by desire.
अनन्विता गिरःस्तात वक्तुं त्वं नार्हसि प्रभो। अथासौ भगवान्प्राह प्रचुरं चास्ति मे वसु
'Father, such words are not fitting for you to speak.' But the venerable one replied, 'I possess abundant wealth.'
तव दास्यामि कल्याणि प्रस्फोटय कपाटिकाम्। विप्रमाह पुनः सा च त्वं वै मे धर्मतः पिता
'I will give it to you, O auspicious one; open the door.' But she said again to the sage, 'You are my father by law.'
मा गच्छ पुत्रिकां मां च परयोषां च धार्मिक। मनसा स समालोच्य सुषिरेण पथा गृहान्
'Do not approach me, your daughter, nor another's wife, O righteous one.' Considering this in his mind, he sought to enter the house by a narrow passage.
बाहुनोद्धाट्यते नैव गंतुं चैव समुद्यतः। गच्छतश्चार्द्धमरर उत्तमांगं सुसंकटे
But even by lifting his arms, he could not open it, though he tried to go. As he went, his head became stuck in the narrow opening.
प्रविष्टं न पुनश्चैति पंचत्वमगमत्तदा। उषःकाले समायाता रक्षिणो ये च किंकराः
Having entered, he could not come out again, and then he died. At dawn, the guards and attendants arrived.
अद्भुतं तं शवं दृष्ट्वा तामुचुस्ते च विस्मिताः। कथं च निधनं त्वस्य संभूतं ब्रूहि सुंदरि
Seeing that wondrous corpse, they were astonished and said to her, 'O beautiful one, tell us how his death occurred.'
कथयित्वा तु तद्वृत्तमभीष्टं देशमागता। एवं कामस्य महिमा दुर्निवारो जनेषु च
After recounting that event, she arrived at the desired place. Such is the greatness of desire; it is difficult to restrain among people.
सर्वेषामपि जंतूनां सुरासुरनृणां भवेत्। दृष्ट्वाऽमोघां वरारोहां सर्वलोकपितामहः
It arises in all creatures, whether gods, demons, or humans. Having seen the flawless, beautiful woman, the grandfather of all worlds—
च्युतबीजोभवत्तत्र लौहित्यसंभवस्मृतः। पुनाति सकलान्लोकान्सर्वतीर्थमयो हि सः
His seed fell there, remembered as originating with redness. He purifies all worlds, for he is composed of all sacred waters.
यमाश्रित्य नरो याति ब्रह्मलोकमनामयम्। द्विज उवाच- कथं च ब्रह्मणो मोहो ह्यमोघा का वरांगना
By resorting to him, a man attains the peaceful realm of Brahma. The twice-born said: How did Brahma become deluded, and who is this flawless, excellent woman?