Shloka 11
शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा
The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal
नाहं शतसहस्रेण नापि कोटिशतैर्गवाम्।राजन् दास्यामि शबलां राशिभी रजतस्य च ।।1.53.11।।
nāhaṃ śatasahasreṇa nāpi koṭiśatair gavām | rājan dāsyāmi śabalāṃ rāśibhir rajatasya ca ||
হে রাজন, লক্ষ লক্ষ গাভী দিয়েও নয়, শত কোটি গাভী দিয়েও নয়, আর রৌপ্যের স্তূপ দিয়েও নয়—আমি শবলাকে দেব না।
"O King! I shall not exchange Sabala for a hundred thousand for even or a hundred crore cows or heaps of silver.
FAQs
Some values are not purchasable: sacred trust and dharmic responsibility cannot be exchanged for wealth, even immense wealth.
Viśvāmitra attempts to obtain Śabalā by offering vast material compensation; Vasiṣṭha rejects the offer outright.
Integrity and satya: Vasiṣṭha stands firm, refusing to reduce a sacred boon to a market transaction.