Ahalya’s Deliverance

Vishwamitra led the princes to Mithila. During their journey, they had to pass through a breathtakingly beautiful but uninhabited ashram.  Rama asked Vishwamitra about this ashram's history. 

"A long time ago, Sage Gautama resided in this ashram along with his wife, Ahalya," replied Vishwamitra. "Indra, the king of the gods, was smitten with Ahalya's beauty. One day, at midnight, Sage Gautama wrongly thought that Brahmamuhurta had begun and went to bathe in the Ganga."

Vishwamitra's voice quivered as he reached the next part of his story.

"It was midnight," Vishwamitra said softly. "The hour when men keep secrets and gods dare transgress. Indra assumed the sage's form and went to the ashram. He lied to Ahalya about why he had returned so soon, and made love to her, unaware she was being deceived. He then stealthily exited the cottage only to run into Gautama returning after his bath. The sage immediately divined the evil that had occurred and cursed Indra to become a eunuch. Believing his wife was a willing participant in the treacherous deed, he cursed her as well. 

"'You will become a stone statue, and no one will pay any attention to you.'"

Rama’s brows furrowed, but Vishwamitra continued, "When Ahalya begged her husband for forgiveness, he softened." 

He quoted Gautama as saying, "When Emperor Dasharatha's son, Lord Rama, comes to this place in the Treta era, by the touch of his feet, you will return to your original form." 

After hearing this tragic story, Rama touched the statue with his feet and freed Ahalya from the curse. She returned to her original beautiful form, and Sage Gautama reaccepted her as his lawful wife. Word of Rama's compassion and divine power spread far and wide after this incident.