पृष्ट्वा तु कुशलं तत्र परस्पर समागमे ।
कथांते सुमतिर्वाक्यं व्याजहार महामुनिम् ॥
There after greeting each other and enquiring about welfare etc in the end the King Sumati addressed the venerable sage as follows.

Balakanda
Sarga Forty eight

There after greeting each other and enquiring about welfare etc in the end the King Sumati addressed the venerable sage Viswamitra as follows. "Oh Venerable sage ! May you be blessed. These two princes look like equals of Devas in prowess. They seem to equal a tiger and bull in their posture, in their gait they resemble a lion and an elephant. Their eyes are as big as the lotus leaf. Wearing bow and arrows they look equals of Aswini in form and they seem to be of age appropriate to the youth. They look like those free from death from the Devaloka and came here because of our good fortune. They seem to have come by foot. Who are they ? why did they come here ? Like the Sun and Moon gracing the skies , these two seem like jewels to this land. They are alike in looks and actions. Carrying best of arms why are they coming through these dense forests?. I am interested in knowing fully about them".

Hearing the words of the king , the sage told him about Siddhasrama as well as the killing of Rakshasas as it happened.

The king too having heard those words of Viswamitra, was delighted to have the sons of Dasaratha as honored Guests . Indeed he honored the two as they are fit to be honored and are known for their prowess. Then Rama and Lakshmana having thus been honored spent one night in that place and proceeded to Mithila.

Seeing Janaka's city, the auspicious Mithila, the sages exclaimed "good" "good" and proceeded to pay their respects. .
Near Mithila coming across an ancient hermitage which is devoid of people Rama asked the venerable sage as follows.
" Oh Bhagavan , why is this place which is looking like an hermitage in all respects, devoid of sages ? Whose is this hermitage in ancient times? I would like to know this."

Hearing those words of Rama, the venerable sage Viswamitra who is an expert in forming sentences spoke as follows. "O Raghava ! I will answer your question. This hermitage was cursed because of the anger of a great soul. Oh Best of men! In ancient days this was sage Gautama's hermitage. A hermitage that is honoured by Devas and shone with celestial brilliance. Oh Prince ! In the old times that great soul performed penance here along with his wife Ahalya for several years. Once when the sage was not in the hermitage , Indra came in the garb of that sage and spoke to Ahalya as follows." Oh Beautiful one ! those who have desire do not wait for the season or time. I want to make love now". Oh Raghunandana! Realizing that the one in the garb of the Gautama is none other than Indra the one with thousand eyes, the lady was bedevilled with curiosity. After having her desire fulfilled , she then spoke to Indra."O King! My desire is fulfilled. Please go away immediately. O Indra ! Please protect your honor and mine too". Indra also spoke with a smile." O Lady ! I am happy I will go the way I have come."

Oh Rama ! Having thus got together, being afraid that the sage Gautama may come anytime , Indra came out of the hermitage in a hurry. Then he saw venerable sage Gautama who cannot be defeated by Devas and Danavas and who has immense power of penance entering the hermitage. Seeing that sage who has taken bath in auspicious waters who is shining brilliantly like fire and is carrying Kusa grass and implements for puja , Indra who is killer of Trastra became one whose face is drained of color.

Then the sage spoke to Indra who is wearing the garb of sage and who is an embodiment of evil actions."Oh Evil minded one ! Wearing my form you have done a thing that is not to be done. Hence you will haunted by failure ". As soon as was cursed thus in anger by the sage Gautama ,Indra's testicles fell off on the ground.

The sage having cursed Indra thus then cursed Ahalya also saying," You will live for thousands of years in this hermitage without eating any food but living only on air. You will be doing penance unseen by any creatures. When Rama the unconquerable son of Dasaratha comes to this dangerous forest then you will attain your normal form. Oh Lady of evil actions ! With his arrival as a guest, you will be rid of desires and join me happily attaining your normal form".

The highly celebrated Gautama having told that lady of evil actions left the hermitage and moved on to Himalayas which is the abode of Siddhas and Charanas in order to perform penance.

||Thus ends the Sarga forty eight in Balakanda of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana ||

|| om tat sat||

एवमुक्त्वा महतेजा गौत मो दुष्ठचारिणीम्।
इममाश्रममुत्सृज्य सिद्धचारणसेविते ।
हिमवच्छिखरे पुण्ये तपस्तेपे महातपाः||

The highly celebrated Gautama having told that lady of evil actions left the hermitage and moved on to Himalayas which is the abode of Siddhas ad Charanas in order to perform penance.

|| Om tat sat ||