Having stayed overnight at Viśālā as an honoured guest of Sumati,Śrī Rāma, accompanied by Viśwāmitra and the other sages, heads towards Mithilā (the capital of King Janaka) and, on reaching on the way a deserted hermitage and, inquiring about it, is told by Viśwāmitra how Ahalyā, wife of Sage Gautama, whose hermitage it was, was subjected to a curse by her husband.