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Indra and Ahalya
93
because of his foolish fondness for Ahalya who, she knew, was as pure as fire. He had often found himself in intractable situations for having defied her.
Gautama and Ahalya had been a devoted couple. She had been much misunderstood by the goddesses and the nymphs because of her matchless beauty, of which, however, she had no consciousness at all. Being the worthy wife of a great sage, she had greater interest in the affairs of the ashram than in anything else. Naturally, she all the time found herself preoccupied with this thing or that! For instance, she had to keep everything ready for his elaborate rituals. Then there was the constant stream of guests on whom she had to attend while Gautama was absorbed in meditation. The feeding time for the birds and the beasts around the ashram also claimed her affectionate services. Watering the plants was another exacting job. But everything she would set about doing most cheerfully and unselfconsciously.
But the gods went on wooing her surreptitiously, as it were. The Sun's rays would leave a scar on her lips. The Spring would fill the forest with colour and fragrance of all sorts and thus try to rouse 'erotic desires in her. The Moon would caress her cheeks softly and make her long for some tender, tangible touch. The Wind would constantly whisper something in her ear. But she would try to ignore them all by burying herself in work
"Ahalya," said Gautama one bright morning, "you must be feeling miserable here. You should have been a goddess, my precious Ahalya."
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