Indra, the king of the gods, had committed a grave transgression, and in haste and fear of the sage Gautama, he tried to flee. Yet, as he attempted to escape, he saw the great Gautama entering his hermitage. This sage, whose power was so immense that even gods and demons found him difficult to approach, had just bathed in sacred waters and radiated like blazing fire. Indra, witnessing Gautama carrying sacred fuel and kuśa grass, was seized with terror; his face grew pale at the sight of the foremost sage. Gautama, seeing Indra disguised in the form of a sage, was overcome with righteous anger. Though virtuous himself, he spoke harshly to Indra, condemning his wicked act: “You have assumed my form and committed this wrongful deed, O evil-minded one. Therefore, you shall become fruitless.” No sooner had Gautama uttered this curse than Indra’s testicles fell to the ground. Gautama, his wrath unabated, then cursed his own wife Ahalyā, declaring, “For many thousands of years, you shall remain here, sustained only by air, fasting, scorched by penance, lying on ashes, unseen by all beings. You shall dwell in this hermitage, hidden from the world. But when Rāma, the son of Dasharatha, enters this dreadful forest, then you shall be purified. By welcoming him as a guest, free from greed and delusion, you shall joyfully regain your own form and come to me.” Having thus spoken to Ahalyā, Gautama, possessed of great austerity, departed from the hermitage—frequented by Siddhas and Charanas—and went to perform penance on the beautiful peak of the Himalayas. Now begins the forty-ninth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Indra, rendered fruitless by the curse, approached the gods, with Agni at their head, and the Siddhas, Gandharvas, and Charanas. With fearful eyes, he confessed, “By causing an obstacle to Gautama’s penance and provoking his anger, I have acted for the sake of the gods. Yet by his wrath, I have been made fruitless, and Ahalyā has been rejected. His curse has deprived him of his penance. Therefore, O best of gods, together with the sages and Charanas, make this act fruitful for me, who acted for your sake.” Hearing Indra’s plea, the gods, led by Agni, approached the Pitṛs, accompanied by the Maruts, and spoke: “This ram is intact, while Indra has been rendered without testicles. Take the testicles of the ram and quickly give them to Indra. The ram, made fruitless, will bring supreme satisfaction, and those who offer rams will obtain inexhaustible fruit, and you shall grant them abundant rewards.” The Pitṛs, hearing Agni’s words, took the testicles of the ram and implanted them in Indra, the thousand-eyed one. From that time onward, the Pitṛs have eaten fruitless rams, and the fruit of the offering is assigned to them. Thus, by the power of Gautama’s penance, Indra bears the testicles of a ram. Then Viśvāmitra said to Rāma, “Go to the hermitage of the virtuous Gautama and deliver Ahalyā, who is divine in form and highly fortunate.” Hearing these words, Rāma, accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa and led by Viśvāmitra, entered the hermitage. There, Rāma saw Ahalyā, whose radiance was intensified by her austerity, so brilliant that even gods and demons together could scarcely behold her. Created with effort by the Creator, seemingly divine and woven of illusion, her body was enveloped in smoke, like a blazing tongue of fire. She shone like the full moon veiled by frost and clouds, and like the radiant sun in the midst of waters, difficult to approach. By Gautama’s words, Ahalyā had become invisible to all three worlds, until Rāma’s sight brought an end to her curse, making her visible once more. The two descendants of Raghu joyfully touched her feet, and Ahalyā, remembering Gautama’s words, accepted them. With composure, she offered water for washing feet, hospitality, and gifts, which Rāma accepted according to prescribed rites. A shower of flowers rained down, accompanied by the sound of divine drums, and the Gandharvas and Apsarases celebrated. The gods praised Ahalyā, saying, “Excellent, excellent!”—her body purified by the power of austerity, obedient to Gautama’s will. Gautama, of great brilliance, together with Ahalyā, was happy. After properly honoring Rāma, the great ascetic resumed his austerities. Rāma, having received the highest honor from Gautama according to proper rites, then departed for Mithilā. Now begins the fiftieth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Proceeding northeast, Rāma, together with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), approached the sacrificial enclosure, led by Viśvāmitra. Rāma spoke to the sage, with Lakṣmaṇa by his side: “Indeed, the sacrificial prosperity of Janaka, the great-souled king, is admirable. Here are thousands of highly fortunate Brāhmaṇas from various regions, devoted to Vedic study. Hermitages of sages are seen, crowded with hundreds of carts. O Brāhmaṇa, please designate a place where we may stay.” Hearing Rāma’s words, Viśvāmitra, the great sage, arranged a dwelling for them in a secluded place with water, thus preparing them for the events to come.