Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 51: King Viśvāmitra Arrives at Vasiṣṭha’s Āśrama
Text 1.51.5
अपि रामे महातेजा मम माता यशस्विनी।
वन्यैरुपाहरत्पूजां पूजार्हे सर्वदेहिनाम्॥
api rāme mahā-tejo mama mātā yaśasvinī
vanyair upāharat pūjāṁ pūjārhe sarva-dehinām
api = did; rāme = Rāma; mahā-tejāḥ = O sage of great prowess; mama = my; mātā = mother; yaśasvinī = famous; vanyaiḥ = with forest items; upāharat pūjām = worship; pūjā-arhe = who is fit to be worshipped; sarva-dehinām = by all embodied souls.
O sage of great prowess, did my famous mother worship Rāma, who is fit to be worshipped by all embodied souls, with forest items?
Vanyaiḥ (“forest items”) refers to forest products such as roots and fruits. It can be concluded on the basis of this verse that Ahalyā had formerly lived on such forest products. The expression “Rāma is fit to be worshipped by all embodied souls” indicates His supremacy.