पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणिधनुर्धरौ। अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ
With eyes wide as lotus petals, bearing swords, quivers, and bows, they stand in the fullness of youth, like the Aśvins in beauty.
यदृच्छयैव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ। कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने
Arrived here by chance, like immortals from the world of the gods, how have they come here on foot, for what purpose, and whose are they, O sage?
भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्। परस्परेण सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितैः
Adorning this land like the moon and sun adorn the sky, they are alike in stature, bearing, and movement.
किमर्थं च नरश्रेष्ठौ सम्प्राप्तौ दुर्गमे पथि। वरायुधधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
For what reason have these best of men come upon this difficult path, bearing excellent weapons? I wish to hear the truth.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा यथावृत्तं न्यवेदयत्। सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च राक्षसानां वधं यथा। विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा राजा परमविस्मितः
Hearing these words, he related all that had occurred: their stay at Siddhāśrama, and the slaying of the Rākṣasas, as Viśvāmitra spoke; and the king was greatly astonished on hearing Viśvāmitra's words.
अतिथी परमं प्राप्तौ पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ। पूजयामास विधिवत् सत्कारार्हौ महाबलौ
He received as honored guests those two sons of Daśaratha, worthy of respect and mighty, and honored them according to custom.
ततः परमसत्कारं सुमतेः प्राप्य राघवौ। उष्य तत्र निशामेकां जग्मतुर्मिथिलां ततः
Then, having received the highest hospitality from the noble-minded one, the two Raghavas, after spending one night there, proceeded towards Mithilā.
तां दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे जनकस्य पुरीं शुभाम्। साधु साध्विति शंसन्तो मिथिलां समपूजयन्
Seeing that auspicious city of Janaka, all the sages praised Mithilā, saying 'Excellent, excellent!' and honored her greatly.
मिथिलोपवने तत्र आश्रमं दृश्य राघवः। पुराणं निर्जनं रम्यं पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्
There, in the grove near Mithilā, Rāghava saw an ancient, deserted, and charming hermitage, and questioned the foremost of sages.
इदमाश्रमसंकाशं किं न्विदं मुनिवर्जितम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि भगवन् कस्यायं पूर्व आश्रमः
O venerable one, this place resembles a hermitage, yet why is it devoid of ascetics? I wish to hear, whose former hermitage is this?
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवेणोक्तं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
Hearing these words spoken by Rāghava, the great sage Viśvāmitra, skilled in speech, replied.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव। यस्यैतदाश्रमपदं शप्तं कोपान्महात्मनः
Indeed, I will tell you, Rāghava; listen truly, whose hermitage this is, which was cursed in anger by a great soul.
गौतमस्य नरश्रेष्ठ पूर्वमासीन्महात्मनः। आश्रमो दिव्यसंकाशः सुरैरपि सुपूजितः
This was once the hermitage of the illustrious Gautama, O best of men, resplendent as the divine, and highly revered even by the gods.
स चात्र तप आतिष्ठदहल्यासहितः पुरा। वर्षपूगान्यनेकानि राजपुत्र महायशः
Here, long ago, together with Ahalyā, he practiced austerities for many thousands of years, O renowned prince.
तस्यान्तरं विदित्वा च सहस्राक्षः शचीपतिः। मुनिवेषधरो भूत्वा अहल्यामिदमब्रवीत्
Knowing the absence of Gautama, Indra, lord of Śacī, took on the guise of a sage and spoke these words to Ahalyā.
ऋतुकालं प्रतीक्षन्ते नार्थिनः सुसमाहिते। संगमं त्वहमिच्छामि त्वया सह सुमध्यमे
Those who desire union, O slender-waisted one, wait for the proper season with full composure; but I desire union with you now.
मुनिवेषं सहस्राक्षं विज्ञाय रघुनन्दन। मतिं चकार दुर्मेधा देवराजकुतूहलात्
Recognizing Indra in the guise of a sage, O delight of the Raghus, she, lacking good judgment, consented out of curiosity for the king of the gods.
अथाब्रवीत् सुरश्रेष्ठं कृतार्थेनान्तरात्मना। कृतार्थास्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रमितः प्रभो
Then, with her purpose accomplished, she said to the best of gods, 'I am satisfied, O lord of gods; go quickly from here, O master.'
आत्मानं मां च देवेश सर्वथा रक्ष गौतमात्। इन्द्रस्तु प्रहसन् वाक्यमहल्यामिदमब्रवीत्
'O lord of gods, by all means protect both yourself and me from Gautama.' Indra, laughing, spoke these words to Ahalyā.
सुश्रोणि परितुष्टोऽस्मि गमिष्यामि यथागतम्। एवं संगम्य तु तदा निश्चक्रामोटजात् ततः
'O beautiful-hipped one, I am satisfied and will depart as I came.' Thus, after their union, he left the hut at once.
स सम्भ्रमात् त्वरन् राम शङ्कितो गौतमं प्रति। गौतमं स ददर्शाथ प्रविशन्तं महामुनिम्
Then, in haste and fear of Gautama, Indra hurried away, but saw the great sage Gautama entering.
देवदानवदुर्धर्षं तपोबलसमन्वितम्। तीर्थोदकपरिक्लिन्नं दीप्यमानमिवानलम्
He, difficult to approach for gods and demons, endowed with the power of austerity, bathed with sacred waters, shone like blazing fire.
गृहीतसमिधं तत्र सकुशं मुनिपुंगवम्। दृष्ट्वा सुरपतिस्त्रस्तो विषण्णवदनोऽभवत्
There, seeing the foremost sage carrying sacred fuel and kuśa grass, the lord of gods became fearful and his face grew pale.
अथ दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षं मुनिवेषधरं मुनिः। दुर्वृत्तं वृत्तसम्पन्नो रोषाद् वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, seeing Indra in the guise of a sage, the virtuous sage, though himself righteous, spoke these words in anger to the wicked one.
मम रूपं समास्थाय कृतवानसि दुर्मते। अकर्तव्यमिदं यस्माद् विफलस्त्वं भविष्यसि
Assuming my form, you have committed this wrongful act, O wicked-minded one; therefore, you shall become fruitless.
गौतमेनैवमुक्तस्य सुरोषेण महात्मना। पेततुर्वृषणौ भूमौ सहस्राक्षस्य तत्क्षणात्
As Gautama, filled with great wrath, spoke thus, the testicles of the thousand-eyed one immediately fell to the ground.
तथा शप्त्वा च वै शक्रं भार्यामपि च शप्तवान्। इह वर्षसहस्राणि बहूनि निवसिष्यसि
Having thus cursed Indra, he also cursed his wife, saying: 'For many thousands of years you shall dwell here.'
वातभक्षा निराहारा तप्यन्ती भस्मशायिनी। अदृश्या सर्वभूतानामाश्रमेऽस्मिन् वसिष्यसि
Sustained by air, fasting, scorched by penance, lying on ashes, unseen by all beings, you shall remain in this hermitage.
यदा त्वेतद् वनं घोरं रामो दशरथात्मजः। आगमिष्यति दुर्धर्षस्तदा पूता भविष्यसि
When Rama, the son of Dasharatha, comes to this dreadful forest, then you shall be purified.
तस्यातिथ्येन दुर्वृत्ते लोभमोहविवर्जिता। मत्सकाशं मुदा युक्ता स्वं वपुर्धारयिष्यसि
By receiving him as a guest, O wicked one, free from greed and delusion, you shall, with joy, regain your own form and come to me.