Brahma Purana — Chapter 87
BrP 87.1
अहल्यासंगमं चेह तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यपावनम् शृणु सम्यङ् मुनिश्रेष्ठ तत्र वृत्तम् इदं यथा ॥
ahalyāsaṃgamaṃ ceha tīrthaṃ trailokyapāvanam śṛṇu samyaṅ muniśreṣṭha tatra vṛttam idaṃ yathā //
And here (is) the sacred ford Ahalyāsaṃgama, purifier of the three worlds; hear rightly, best of sages, how this event (took place) there.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.2
कौतुकेनातिमहता मया पूर्वं मुनीश्वर सृष्टा कन्या बहुविधा रूपवत्यो गुणान्विताः ॥
kautukenātimahatā mayā pūrvaṃ munīśvara sṛṣṭā kanyā bahuvidhā rūpavatyo guṇānvitāḥ //
Out of very great curiosity, O lord of sages, I formerly created maidens of many kinds, beautiful and endowed with good qualities.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.3
तासाम् एकां श्रेष्ठतमां निर्ममे शुभलक्षणाम् तां बालां चारुसर्वाङ्गीं दृष्ट्वा रूपगुणान्विताम् ॥
tāsām ekāṃ śreṣṭhatamāṃ nirmame śubhalakṣaṇām tāṃ bālāṃ cārusarvāṅgīṃ dṛṣṭvā rūpaguṇānvitām //
Among them I fashioned one who was the very best, of auspicious marks; and seeing that girl, lovely in every limb, endowed with beauty and virtues—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.4
को वास्याः पोषणे शक्त इति मे बुद्धिर् आविशत् न दैत्यानां सुराणां च न मुनीनां तथैव च ॥
ko vāsyāḥ poṣaṇe śakta iti me buddhir āviśat na daityānāṃ surāṇāṃ ca na munīnāṃ tathaiva ca //
—the thought entered me: "Who is capable of rearing her?" Not among the Daityas, nor among the gods, nor likewise among the sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.5
नास्त्य् अस्याः पोषणे शक्तिर् इति मे बुद्धिर् अन्वभूत् गुणज्येष्ठाय विप्राय तपोयुक्ताय धीमते ॥
nāsty asyāḥ poṣaṇe śaktir iti me buddhir anvabhūt guṇajyeṣṭhāya viprāya tapoyuktāya dhīmate //
"There is no capacity in them to rear her"—so my thought concluded; (I resolved to give her) to a brahmin foremost in virtues, given to austerity, wise,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.6
सर्वलक्षणयुक्ताय वेदवेदाङ्गवेदिने गौतमाय महाप्राज्ञाम् अददां पोषणाय ताम् ॥
sarvalakṣaṇayuktāya vedavedāṅgavedine gautamāya mahāprājñām adadāṃ poṣaṇāya tām //
endowed with all (auspicious) marks, knower of the Vedas and the ancillary Vedic sciences: to Gautama I gave her, the greatly wise girl, for her rearing.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.7
पालयस्व मुनिश्रेष्ठ यावद् आप्स्यति यौवनम् यौवनस्थां पुनः साध्वीम् आनयेथा ममान्तिकम् ॥
pālayasva muniśreṣṭha yāvad āpsyati yauvanam yauvanasthāṃ punaḥ sādhvīm ānayethā mamāntikam //
"Guard her, best of sages, until she attains youth; when she has come to youth, bring the virtuous girl again into my presence."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.8
एवम् उक्त्वा गौतमाय प्रादां कन्यां सुमध्यमाम् ताम् आदाय मुनिश्रेष्ठ तपसा हतकल्मषः ॥
evam uktvā gautamāya prādāṃ kanyāṃ sumadhyamām tām ādāya muniśreṣṭha tapasā hatakalmaṣaḥ //
Having spoken thus, I gave the slender-waisted maiden to Gautama; and taking her, that best of sages, whose impurities were destroyed by austerity—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.9
तां पोषयित्वा विधिवद् अलंकृत्य ममान्तिकम् निर्विकारो मुनिश्रेष्ठो ह्य् अहल्याम् आनयत् तदा ॥
tāṃ poṣayitvā vidhivad alaṃkṛtya mamāntikam nirvikāro muniśreṣṭho hy ahalyām ānayat tadā //
having reared her according to rule and adorned her, that best of sages, unchanged (in mind), then brought Ahalyā into my presence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.10
तां दृष्ट्वा विबुधाः सर्वे शक्राग्निवरुणादयः मम देया सुरेशान इत्य् ऊचुस् ते पृथक् पृथक् ॥
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā vibudhāḥ sarve śakrāgnivaruṇādayaḥ mama deyā sureśāna ity ūcus te pṛthak pṛthak //
Seeing her, all the gods, Śakra, Agni, Varuṇa and the rest, said each separately, "She is to be given to me, O lord of the gods!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.11
तथैव मुनयः साध्या दानवा यक्षराक्षसाः तान् सर्वान् आगतान् दृष्ट्वा कन्यार्थम् अथ संगतान् ॥
tathaiva munayaḥ sādhyā dānavā yakṣarākṣasāḥ tān sarvān āgatān dṛṣṭvā kanyārtham atha saṃgatān //
And likewise the sages, the Sādhyas, the Dānavas, the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas; and seeing all of them come and assembled there for the maiden's sake—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.12
इन्द्रस्य तु विशेषेण महांश् चाभूत् तदा ग्रहः गौतमस्य तु माहात्म्यं गाम्भीर्यं धैर्यम् एव च ॥
indrasya tu viśeṣeṇa mahāṃś cābhūt tadā grahaḥ gautamasya tu māhātmyaṃ gāmbhīryaṃ dhairyam eva ca //
but Indra in particular had then a great seizure (of desire for her); yet, (recalling) Gautama's greatness of soul, his depth and his steadfastness—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 87.13
स्मृत्वा सुविस्मितो भूत्वा ममैवम् अभवत् सुधीः देयेयं गौतमायैव नान्ययोग्या शुभानना ॥
smṛtvā suvismito bhūtvā mamaivam abhavat sudhīḥ deyeyaṃ gautamāyaiva nānyayogyā śubhānanā //
remembering (these), and becoming much amazed, my good judgment ran thus: "She, the fair-faced one, must be given to Gautama alone; she is not fit for another."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.14
तस्माऐ एव तु तां दास्ये तथाप्य् एवम् अचिन्तयम् सर्वेषां च मतिर् धैर्यं मथितं बालयानया ॥
tasmāai eva tu tāṃ dāsye tathāpy evam acintayam sarveṣāṃ ca matir dhairyaṃ mathitaṃ bālayānayā //
"To him alone will I give her"—yet even so I thought this: "By this girl the minds and the steadfastness of all have been churned up."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.15
अहल्येति सुरैः प्रोक्तं मया च ऋषिभिस् तदा देवान् ऋषींस् तदा वीक्ष्य मया तत्रोक्तम् उच्चकैः ॥
ahalyeti suraiḥ proktaṃ mayā ca ṛṣibhis tadā devān ṛṣīṃs tadā vīkṣya mayā tatroktam uccakaiḥ //
Then "Ahalyā" she was called by the gods, and by me, and by the sages; and then, looking upon the gods and the sages, I said aloud there:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.16
तस्मै सा दीयते सुभ्रूर् यः पृथिव्याः प्रदक्षिणाम् कृत्वोपतिष्ठते पूर्वं न चान्यस्मै पुनः पुनः ॥
tasmai sā dīyate subhrūr yaḥ pṛthivyāḥ pradakṣiṇām kṛtvopatiṣṭhate pūrvaṃ na cānyasmai punaḥ punaḥ //
"She of the fair brows is to be given to him who, having made a circumambulation of the earth, presents himself first, and to no other"—(so I said) again and again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.17
ततः सर्वे सुरगणाः श्रुत्वा वाक्यं मयेरितम् अहल्यार्थं सुरा जग्मुः पृथिव्याश् च प्रदक्षिणे ॥
tataḥ sarve suragaṇāḥ śrutvā vākyaṃ mayeritam ahalyārthaṃ surā jagmuḥ pṛthivyāś ca pradakṣiṇe //
Then all the hosts of gods, hearing the words uttered by me, went for Ahalyā's sake to circumambulate the earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.18
गतेषु सुरसंघेषु गौतमो ऽपि मुनीश्वर प्रयत्नम् अकरोत् किंचिद् अहल्यार्थम् इमं तथा ॥
gateṣu surasaṃgheṣu gautamo 'pi munīśvara prayatnam akarot kiṃcid ahalyārtham imaṃ tathā //
When the throngs of gods had gone, Gautama too, O lord of sages, made a certain effort of this sort for Ahalyā's sake.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.19
एतस्मिन्न् अन्तरे ब्रह्मन् सुरभिः सर्वकामधुक् अर्धप्रसूता ह्य् अभवत् तां ददर्श स गौतमः ॥
etasminn antare brahman surabhiḥ sarvakāmadhuk ardhaprasūtā hy abhavat tāṃ dadarśa sa gautamaḥ //
In this interval, O brahmin, the cow Surabhi, who yields all desires, was in the midst of calving; Gautama saw her.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.20
तस्याः प्रदक्षिणं चक्रे इयम् उर्वीति संस्मरन् लिङ्गस्य च सुरेशस्य प्रदक्षिणम् अथाकरोत् ॥
tasyāḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ cakre iyam urvīti saṃsmaran liṅgasya ca sureśasya pradakṣiṇam athākarot //
He made a circumambulation of her, recalling "this is the earth"; and then he made a circumambulation of the liṅga of the lord of the gods.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.21
तयोः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा गौतमो मुनिसत्तमः सर्वेषां चैव देवानाम् एकं चापि प्रदक्षिणम् ॥
tayoḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā gautamo munisattamaḥ sarveṣāṃ caiva devānām ekaṃ cāpi pradakṣiṇam //
Having made the circumambulation of those two, Gautama, the best of sages, (thereby made) a single circumambulation of all the gods as well.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.22
नैवाभवद् भुवो गन्तुः संजातं द्वितयं मम एवं निश्चित्य स मुनिर् ममान्तिकम् अथाभ्यगात् ॥
naivābhavad bhuvo gantuḥ saṃjātaṃ dvitayaṃ mama evaṃ niścitya sa munir mamāntikam athābhyagāt //
"There was nothing left (undone) for me who have traversed the earth; a twofold (circumambulation) has been accomplished by me" — so deciding, that sage then came into my presence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
BrP 87.23
नमस्कृत्वाब्रवीद् वाक्यं गौतमो मां महामतिः कमलासन विश्वात्मन् नमस् ते ऽस्तु पुनः पुनः ॥
namaskṛtvābravīd vākyaṃ gautamo māṃ mahāmatiḥ kamalāsana viśvātman namas te 'stu punaḥ punaḥ //
Having bowed, the greatly wise Gautama spoke these words to me: "O you seated on the lotus, O Self of all, homage to you again and again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.24
प्रदक्षिणीकृता ब्रह्मन् मयेयं वसुधाखिला यद् अत्र युक्तं देवेश जानीते तद् भवान् स्वयम् ॥
pradakṣiṇīkṛtā brahman mayeyaṃ vasudhākhilā yad atra yuktaṃ deveśa jānīte tad bhavān svayam //
"O Brahmā, this whole earth has been circumambulated by me; what is proper here, O lord of gods, you yourself know."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.25
मया तु ध्यानयोगेन ज्ञात्वा गौतमम् अब्रवम् तवैव दीयते सुभ्रूः प्रदक्षिणम् इदं कृतम् ॥
mayā tu dhyānayogena jñātvā gautamam abravam tavaiva dīyate subhrūḥ pradakṣiṇam idaṃ kṛtam //
But I, having understood by the exercise of meditation, said to Gautama: "The fair-browed one is given to you alone; this circumambulation has been accomplished.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.26
धर्मं जानीहि विप्रर्षे दुर्ज्ञेयं निगमैर् अपि अर्धप्रसूता सुरभिः सप्तद्वीपवती मही ॥
dharmaṃ jānīhi viprarṣe durjñeyaṃ nigamair api ardhaprasūtā surabhiḥ saptadvīpavatī mahī //
"Know the law, O seer among brahmins, which is hard to know even by the scriptures: the cow that had half brought forth (her calf) is the earth with its seven continents.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.27
कृता प्रदक्षिणा तस्याः पृथिव्याः सा कृता भवेत् लिङ्गं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य तद् एव फलम् आप्नुयात् ॥
kṛtā pradakṣiṇā tasyāḥ pṛthivyāḥ sā kṛtā bhavet liṅgaṃ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya tad eva phalam āpnuyāt //
"A circumambulation made of her counts as made of the earth; by circumambulating the liṅga one would obtain that very same fruit.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.28
तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन मुने गौतम सुव्रत तुष्टो ऽहं तव धैर्येण ज्ञानेन तपसा तथा ॥
tasmāt sarvaprayatnena mune gautama suvrata tuṣṭo 'haṃ tava dhairyeṇa jñānena tapasā tathā //
"Therefore, by every effort, O sage Gautama of good vows — I am pleased with your steadfastness, your knowledge and likewise your austerity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.29
दत्तेयम् ऋषिशार्दूल कन्या लोकवरा मया इत्य् उक्त्वाहं गौतमाय अहल्याम् अददां मुने ॥
datteyam ṛṣiśārdūla kanyā lokavarā mayā ity uktvāhaṃ gautamāya ahalyām adadāṃ mune //
"O tiger among seers, this girl, the best in the world, is given by me" — having said this, O sage, I gave Ahalyā to Gautama.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.30
जाते विवाहे ते देवाः कृत्वेलायाः प्रदक्षिणम् शनैः शनैर् अथागत्य ददृशुः सर्व एव ते ॥
jāte vivāhe te devāḥ kṛtvelāyāḥ pradakṣiṇam śanaiḥ śanair athāgatya dadṛśuḥ sarva eva te //
When the marriage had taken place, those gods, having made their circuit of the earth, then came very slowly, and all of them saw (it).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.31
तं गौतमम् अहल्यां च दांपत्यं प्रीतिवर्धनम् ते चागत्याथ पश्यन्तो विस्मिताश् चाभवन् सुराः ॥
taṃ gautamam ahalyāṃ ca dāṃpatyaṃ prītivardhanam te cāgatyātha paśyanto vismitāś cābhavan surāḥ //
And the gods, having come and seeing that Gautama and Ahalyā, a married pair whose mutual affection was growing, became astonished.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.32
अतिक्रान्ते विवाहे तु सुराः सर्वे दिवं ययुः समत्सरः शचीभर्ता ताम् ईक्ष्य च दिवं ययौ ॥
atikrānte vivāhe tu surāḥ sarve divaṃ yayuḥ samatsaraḥ śacībhartā tām īkṣya ca divaṃ yayau //
When the marriage was over, all the gods went to heaven; and Śacī's husband, filled with envy, went to heaven after gazing at her.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.33
ततः प्रीतमनास् तस्मै गौतमाय महात्मने प्रादां ब्रह्मगिरिं पुण्यं सर्वकामप्रदं शुभम् ॥
tataḥ prītamanās tasmai gautamāya mahātmane prādāṃ brahmagiriṃ puṇyaṃ sarvakāmapradaṃ śubham //
Then, glad at heart, I gave to that great-souled Gautama the holy, auspicious Brahmagiri, which grants all desires.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.34
अहल्यायां मुनिश्रेष्ठो रेमे तत्र स गौतमः गौतमस्य कथां पुण्यां श्रुत्वा शक्रस् त्रिविष्टपे ॥
ahalyāyāṃ muniśreṣṭho reme tatra sa gautamaḥ gautamasya kathāṃ puṇyāṃ śrutvā śakras triviṣṭape //
There that best of sages, Gautama, took his delight in Ahalyā; and Śakra in heaven heard the holy account of Gautama.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.35
तम् आश्रमं तं च मुनिं तस्य भार्याम् अनिन्दिताम् भूत्वा ब्राह्मणवेषेण द्रष्टुम् आगाच् छतक्रतुः ॥
tam āśramaṃ taṃ ca muniṃ tasya bhāryām aninditām bhūtvā brāhmaṇaveṣeṇa draṣṭum āgāc chatakratuḥ //
Taking on the guise of a brahmin, the performer of a hundred sacrifices came to see that hermitage, that sage, and his blameless wife.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.36
स दृष्ट्वा भवनं तस्य भार्यां च विभवं तथा पापीयसीं मतिं कृत्वा अहल्यां समुदैक्षत ॥
sa dṛṣṭvā bhavanaṃ tasya bhāryāṃ ca vibhavaṃ tathā pāpīyasīṃ matiṃ kṛtvā ahalyāṃ samudaikṣata //
Seeing his dwelling, his wife, and likewise his prosperity, he formed a very wicked intention and gazed upon Ahalyā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.37
नात्मानं न परं देशं कालं शापाद् ऋषेर् भयम् न बुबोध तदा वत्स कामाकृष्टः शतक्रतुः ॥
nātmānaṃ na paraṃ deśaṃ kālaṃ śāpād ṛṣer bhayam na bubodha tadā vatsa kāmākṛṣṭaḥ śatakratuḥ //
Then, my child, drawn on by desire, the performer of a hundred sacrifices was aware neither of himself nor of another, nor of place nor of time, nor of the danger of a curse from the seer.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.38
तद्ध्यानपरमो नित्यं सुरराज्येन गर्वितः संतप्ताङ्गः कथं कुर्यां प्रवेशो मे कथं भवेत् ॥
taddhyānaparamo nityaṃ surarājyena garvitaḥ saṃtaptāṅgaḥ kathaṃ kuryāṃ praveśo me kathaṃ bhavet //
Constantly absorbed in meditation on her, made proud by his kingship over the gods, his body burning: "How shall I manage it? How may I gain entry?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.39
एवं वसन् विप्ररूपो नान्तरं त्व् अध्यगच्छत स कदाचिन् महाप्राज्ञः कृत्वा पौर्वाह्णिकीं क्रियाम् ॥
evaṃ vasan viprarūpo nāntaraṃ tv adhyagacchata sa kadācin mahāprājñaḥ kṛtvā paurvāhṇikīṃ kriyām //
Dwelling thus in the form of a brahmin, he found no opening. Then one day the greatly wise Gautama, having performed the forenoon rites,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.40
सहितो गौतमः शिष्यैर् निर्गतश् चाश्रमाद् बहिः आश्रमं गौतमीं विप्रान् धान्यानि विविधानि च ॥
sahito gautamaḥ śiṣyair nirgataś cāśramād bahiḥ āśramaṃ gautamīṃ viprān dhānyāni vividhāni ca //
went out of the hermitage, accompanied by his pupils, (to see) the hermitage, the Gautamī (river), the brahmins, and the various kinds of grain;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.41
द्रष्टुं गतो मुनिवर इन्द्रस् तं समुदैक्षत इदम् अन्तरम् इत्य् उक्त्वा चक्रे कार्यं मनःप्रियम् ॥
draṣṭuṃ gato munivara indras taṃ samudaikṣata idam antaram ity uktvā cakre kāryaṃ manaḥpriyam //
the best of sages had gone to see (them), and Indra observed him. Saying "This is the opening," he did the deed dear to his mind.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.42
रूपं कृत्वा गौतमस्य प्रियेप्सुः स शतक्रतुः तां दृष्ट्वा चारुसर्वाङ्गीम् अहल्यां वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् ॥
rūpaṃ kṛtvā gautamasya priyepsuḥ sa śatakratuḥ tāṃ dṛṣṭvā cārusarvāṅgīm ahalyāṃ vākyam abravīt //
Having taken on Gautama's form, that Śatakratu, seeking his pleasure, saw her, Ahalyā, lovely in every limb, and spoke to her.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.43
आकृष्टो ऽहं तव गुणै रूपं स्मृत्वा स्खलत्पदः इति ब्रुवन् हसन् हस्तम् आदायान्तः समाविशत् ॥
ākṛṣṭo 'haṃ tava guṇai rūpaṃ smṛtvā skhalatpadaḥ iti bruvan hasan hastam ādāyāntaḥ samāviśat //
"I am drawn by your virtues; remembering your beauty, my steps falter." Saying this, laughing, he took her hand and went inside (with her).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.44
न बुबोध त्व् अहल्या तं जारं मेने तु गौतमम् रममाणा यथासौख्यं प्रागाच् छिष्यैः स गौतमः ॥
na bubodha tv ahalyā taṃ jāraṃ mene tu gautamam ramamāṇā yathāsaukhyaṃ prāgāc chiṣyaiḥ sa gautamaḥ //
But Ahalyā did not recognize him; she took the paramour to be Gautama. While she was making love at her ease, that Gautama arrived with his pupils.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.45
आगच्छन्तं नित्यम् एव अहल्या प्रियवादिनी प्रतियाति प्रियं वक्ति तोषयन्ती च तं गुणैः ॥
āgacchantaṃ nityam eva ahalyā priyavādinī pratiyāti priyaṃ vakti toṣayantī ca taṃ guṇaiḥ //
Whenever he came, Ahalyā, sweet of speech, would go out to meet him, speak lovingly, and please him with her good qualities.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.46
ताम् अदृष्ट्वा महाप्राज्ञो मेने तन् महद् अद्भुतम् द्वारस्थितं मुनिश्रेष्ठं सर्वे पश्यन्ति नारद ॥
tām adṛṣṭvā mahāprājño mene tan mahad adbhutam dvārasthitaṃ muniśreṣṭhaṃ sarve paśyanti nārada //
Not seeing her, the greatly wise one thought this a great marvel; and all saw the best of sages standing at the door, O Nārada.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.47
अग्निहोत्रस्य शालाया रक्षिणो गृहकर्मिणः ऊचुर् मुनिवरं भीता गौतमं विस्मयान्विताः ॥
agnihotrasya śālāyā rakṣiṇo gṛhakarmiṇaḥ ūcur munivaraṃ bhītā gautamaṃ vismayānvitāḥ //
The guards of the agnihotra hall and the household servants, frightened and filled with astonishment, spoke to Gautama, the best of sages.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.48
भगवन् किम् इदं चित्रं बहिर् अन्तश् च दृश्यसे प्रिययान्तः प्रविष्टो ऽसि तथैव च बहिर् भवान् अहो तपःप्रभावो ऽयं नानारूपधरो भवान् ॥
bhagavan kim idaṃ citraṃ bahir antaś ca dṛśyase priyayāntaḥ praviṣṭo 'si tathaiva ca bahir bhavān aho tapaḥprabhāvo 'yaṃ nānārūpadharo bhavān //
"Lord, what wonder is this? You are seen both outside and inside; you have gone within with your beloved, and just so you are here outside. Ah, this is the power of austerity—you take on many forms!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.50
तच् छ्रुत्वा विस्मितस् त्व् अन्तः प्रविष्टः को नु तिष्ठति प्रिये अहल्ये भवति किं मां न प्रतिभाषसे इत्य् ऋषेर् वचनं श्रुत्वा अहल्या जारम् अब्रवीत् ॥
tac chrutvā vismitas tv antaḥ praviṣṭaḥ ko nu tiṣṭhati priye ahalye bhavati kiṃ māṃ na pratibhāṣase ity ṛṣer vacanaṃ śrutvā ahalyā jāram abravīt //
Hearing that, astonished, (he said:) "Who is it that has gone inside and stands there? Dear lady Ahalyā, why do you not answer me?" Hearing the sage's words, Ahalyā spoke to the paramour.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.51
को भवान् मुनिरूपेण पापं त्वं कृतवान् असि इति ब्रुवती शयनाद् उत्थिता सत्वरं भयात् ॥
ko bhavān munirūpeṇa pāpaṃ tvaṃ kṛtavān asi iti bruvatī śayanād utthitā satvaraṃ bhayāt //
"Who are you? In the sage's form you have committed a sin"—saying this she rose quickly from the bed out of fear.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.52
स चापि पापकृच् छक्रो बिडालो ऽभून् मुनेर् भयात् त्रस्तां च विकृतां दृष्ट्वा स्वप्रियां दूषितां तदा ॥
sa cāpi pāpakṛc chakro biḍālo 'bhūn muner bhayāt trastāṃ ca vikṛtāṃ dṛṣṭvā svapriyāṃ dūṣitāṃ tadā //
And that sinner Śakra became a cat, out of fear of the sage; and (the sage), seeing his own beloved then terrified, disfigured, and defiled—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.53
उवाच स मुनिः कोपात् किम् इदं साहसं कृतम् इति ब्रुवन्तं भर्तारं सापि नोवाच लज्जिता ॥
uvāca sa muniḥ kopāt kim idaṃ sāhasaṃ kṛtam iti bruvantaṃ bhartāraṃ sāpi novāca lajjitā //
—the sage said in anger, "What is this reckless deed that has been done?" And to her husband speaking thus she too said nothing, being ashamed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.54
अन्वेषयंस् तु तं जारं बिडालं ददृशे मुनिः को भवान् इति तं प्राह भस्मीकुर्यां मृषावदन् ॥
anveṣayaṃs tu taṃ jāraṃ biḍālaṃ dadṛśe muniḥ ko bhavān iti taṃ prāha bhasmīkuryāṃ mṛṣāvadan //
But the sage, searching for that paramour, saw the cat, and said to him, "Who are you? If you speak falsely I will reduce you to ashes."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.55
कृताञ्जलिपुटो भूत्वा चैवम् आह शचीपतिः शचीभर्ता पुरां भेत्ता तपोधन पुरुष्टुतः ॥
kṛtāñjalipuṭo bhūtvā caivam āha śacīpatiḥ śacībhartā purāṃ bhettā tapodhana puruṣṭutaḥ //
Cupping his hands in salutation, the lord of Śacī spoke thus: "(I am) the husband of Śacī, the breaker of citadels, O you rich in austerity, the much-praised one."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.56
ममेदं पापम् आपन्नं सत्यम् उक्तं मयानघ महद्विगर्हितं कर्म कृतवान् अस्म्य् अहं मुने ॥
mamedaṃ pāpam āpannaṃ satyam uktaṃ mayānagha mahadvigarhitaṃ karma kṛtavān asmy ahaṃ mune //
"This sin has fallen to me; I have told the truth, O faultless one. I have done a greatly reprehensible deed, O sage."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.57
स्मरसायकनिर्भिन्नहृदयाः किं न कुर्वते ब्रह्मन् मयि महापापे क्षमस्व करुणानिधे ॥
smarasāyakanirbhinnahṛdayāḥ kiṃ na kurvate brahman mayi mahāpāpe kṣamasva karuṇānidhe //
"What do men whose hearts are pierced by love's arrow not do? O brahman, forgive me, a great sinner, O treasury of compassion."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.58
सन्तः कृतापराधे ऽपि न रौक्ष्यं जातु कुर्वते निशम्य तद् वचो विप्रो हरिम् आह रुषान्वितः ॥
santaḥ kṛtāparādhe 'pi na raukṣyaṃ jātu kurvate niśamya tad vaco vipro harim āha ruṣānvitaḥ //
"The good never act harshly, even toward one who has committed an offense." Hearing that speech, the brahman, filled with rage, said to Hari (Indra):
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.59
भगभक्त्या कृतं पापं सहस्रभगवान् भव ताम् अप्य् आह मुनिः कोपात् त्वं च शुष्कनदी भव ॥
bhagabhaktyā kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ sahasrabhagavān bhava tām apy āha muniḥ kopāt tvaṃ ca śuṣkanadī bhava //
"Since the sin was done out of devotion to the vulva, become possessed of a thousand vulvas." And to her too the sage said in anger, "And you, become a dried-up river."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.60
ततः प्रसादयाम् आस कथयन्ती तदाकृतिम् ॥
tataḥ prasādayām āsa kathayantī tadākṛtim //
Then she conciliated (him), recounting how it had happened.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.61
मनसाप्य् अन्यपुरुषं पापिष्ठाः कामयन्ति याः अक्षयान् यान्ति नरकांस् तासां सर्वे ऽपि पूर्वजाः ॥
manasāpy anyapuruṣaṃ pāpiṣṭhāḥ kāmayanti yāḥ akṣayān yānti narakāṃs tāsāṃ sarve 'pi pūrvajāḥ //
"Those most sinful women who desire another man even in thought—all their forebears go to imperishable hells."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.62
भूत्वा प्रसन्नो भगवन्न् अवधारय मद्वचः तव रूपेण चागत्य माम् अगात् साक्षिणस् त्व् इमे ॥
bhūtvā prasanno bhagavann avadhāraya madvacaḥ tava rūpeṇa cāgatya mām agāt sākṣiṇas tv ime //
"Be gracious, lord, and heed my words: he came in your form and had me; these here are witnesses."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.63
तथेति रक्षिणः प्रोचुर् अहल्या सत्यवादिनी ध्यानेनापि मुनिर् ज्ञात्वा शान्तः प्राह पतिव्रताम् ॥
tatheti rakṣiṇaḥ procur ahalyā satyavādinī dhyānenāpi munir jñātvā śāntaḥ prāha pativratām //
"So be it," said the guardians, "Ahalyā speaks the truth." And the sage, having come to know it by meditation as well, grew calm and said to the faithful wife:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.64
यदा तु संगता भद्रे गौतम्या सरिदीशया नदी भूत्वा पुना रूपं प्राप्स्यसे प्रियकृन् मम ॥
yadā tu saṃgatā bhadre gautamyā saridīśayā nadī bhūtvā punā rūpaṃ prāpsyase priyakṛn mama //
"But when, good lady, having become a river, you are joined with the Gautamī, the lady of rivers, you will regain your form again, doing what pleases me."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.65
इत्य् ऋषेर् वचनं श्रुत्वा तथा चक्रे पतिव्रता तया तु संगता देव्या अहल्या गौतमप्रिया ॥
ity ṛṣer vacanaṃ śrutvā tathā cakre pativratā tayā tu saṃgatā devyā ahalyā gautamapriyā //
Having heard the sage's words, the faithful wife did so; and Ahalyā, Gautama's beloved, was joined with that goddess.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.66
पुनस् तद् रूपम् अभवद् यन् मया निर्मितं पुरा ततः कृताञ्जलिपुटः सुरराट् प्राह गौतमम् ॥
punas tad rūpam abhavad yan mayā nirmitaṃ purā tataḥ kṛtāñjalipuṭaḥ surarāṭ prāha gautamam //
Again that form came to be, the one which was fashioned by me long ago. Then the king of the gods, with his palms joined, said to Gautama:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.67
मां पाहि मुनिशार्दूल पापिष्ठं गृहम् आगतम् पादयोः पतितं दृष्ट्वा कृपया प्राह गौतमः ॥
māṃ pāhi muniśārdūla pāpiṣṭhaṃ gṛham āgatam pādayoḥ patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛpayā prāha gautamaḥ //
"Protect me, tiger among sages — a most wicked man who has come to your house." Seeing him fallen at his feet, Gautama spoke out of compassion:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.68
गौतमीं गच्छ भद्रं ते स्नानं कुरु पुरंदर क्षणान् निर्धूतपापस् त्वं सहस्राक्षो भविष्यसि ॥
gautamīṃ gaccha bhadraṃ te snānaṃ kuru puraṃdara kṣaṇān nirdhūtapāpas tvaṃ sahasrākṣo bhaviṣyasi //
"Go to the Gautamī — blessings on you — and bathe there, Puraṃdara; in an instant, your sin shaken off, you will become the thousand-eyed one."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.69
उभयं विस्मयकरं दृष्टवान् अस्मि नारद अहल्यायाः पुनर्भावं शचीभर्ता सहस्रदृक् ॥
ubhayaṃ vismayakaraṃ dṛṣṭavān asmi nārada ahalyāyāḥ punarbhāvaṃ śacībhartā sahasradṛk //
Both marvels I have seen, Nārada: Ahalyā's coming to be again, and Śacī's husband becoming thousand-eyed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
BrP 87.70
ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थम् अहल्यासंगमं शुभम् इन्द्रतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम् ॥
tataḥ prabhṛti tat tīrtham ahalyāsaṃgamaṃ śubham indratīrtham iti khyātaṃ sarvakāmapradaṃ nṛṇām //
From then on that auspicious sacred site, the confluence of Ahalyā, has been known as Indratīrtha, granting men all their desires.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition