Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 13

शबलाहरणम्

The Attempted Seizure of Sabalā (Kāmadhenu) and the Triumph of Brahmic Power

Devanagari script

न बलं क्षत्रियस्याहुर्ब्राह्मणो बलवत्तर:।ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मबलं दिव्यं क्षत्रात्तु बलवत्तरम्।।।।

Transliteration

na balaṃ kṣatriyasya āhur brāhmaṇo balavattaraḥ | brahman brahmabalaṃ divyaṃ kṣatrāt tu balavattaram ||

Translation

হে ব্রাহ্মণ! ক্ষত্রিয়ের বলই শ্রেষ্ঠ—এ কথা বলা হয় না; ব্রাহ্মণই অধিক বলবান। ব্রহ্মন্, ব্রাহ্মণের ব্রহ্মবল দিব্য—তা ক্ষাত্রবল অপেক্ষাও প্রবল।

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation)

• बलम्: strength
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्षत्रियस्य: of a kṣatriya
• क्षत्रियस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह्/√ब्रू (धातु; ‘आहुः’ from √अह्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ब्राह्मणः: a brāhmaṇa
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बलवत्तरः: stronger
• बलवत्तरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat-tara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (O revered one)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (address), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मबलम्: brahminical power
• ब्रह्मबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ब्रह्मणः बलम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्मबलम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• क्षत्रात्: than kṣatra (kṣatriya power)
• क्षत्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• बलवत्तरम्: stronger
• बलवत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat-tara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative), ‘ब्रह्मबलम्’ इत्यस्य विधेयविशेषण

Context

"O Best of brahmins! it is held that the strength of a kshatriya is no greater than a brahmin's. A brahmin possesses great strength his strength is divine. It is greater than that of a kshatriya.

Characters & Entities

• Śabalā (Kāmadhenu)
• Vasiṣṭha
• Brāhmaṇa
• Kṣatriya

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma prioritizes spiritual discipline and truth-aligned authority (brahma-tejas) over coercive power; rightful power is grounded in tapas and restraint, not domination.

What is the narrative situation?

Śabalā explains to Vasiṣṭha that the spiritual power of a brahmin surpasses the military strength of a king, framing the impending defeat of Viśvāmitra’s force.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Reverence for tapas and spiritual merit—recognizing that inner mastery is superior to external force.