VALMIKI RAMAYANA

AHALYĀ

They passed through a deserted village

Where Vishvāmitra told the story

Of Sage Gautama’s wife Ahalyā:

She had been cursed to become a stone

Because she had been rendered impure

By none other than god Indra.

Then Rāma was told that the gods had

Cursed Indra to have the testicles of a ram.

As soon as Rāma set foot in that village.

Ahalyā regained her human form:

Such was Rāma’s purifying glory.

Rāma and Lakshmaṇa were received

With great respect by Ahalyā and Gautama.

MITHILĀ

Before they reached Mithilā.

They were received by an advance party,

Led by King Janakā’s priest Satānanda

Who had been expressly sent by King Janakā.

The King  had all details about Rāma

Thanks to Sage Vishvāmitra.

They exchanged stories about Ahalyā,

Satānanda in turn told Rāma

A few more things about Vishvāmitra.,

Such as the story of the magical cow.

SABALA

Vasishtha presented the magical cow Sabala

That created lots of food for Vishvāmitra

As well as for his entire group of followers.

Not quite satisfied with this generosity

Vishvāmitra wanted to have the cow.

Vasishtha declined to comply with this,

Vishvāmitra attempted to grab it by force.

The magical Sabala consulted its owner

Upon whose instruction it generated

A sizeable army that promptly dispersed

Sage Vishvāmitra and his entire retinue.

Frightened away and subdued thus,

Vishvāmitra retreated to the Himalayas

And there he initiated austerities.

This brought him missiles as boons from Shiva

Which he tried to use against Vasishtha.

But the latter famously declared

That the power of the warrior class is naught

In the face of that of Brahmins.

At this point Vishvāmitra resolved

To do all the penances it takes

To change his status as a Kshatriya

To that of a full-fledged Brahmin.