Shloka 1.53.21
शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा (The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal)
यावदिच्छसि रत्नं वा हिरण्यं वा द्विजोत्तम।तावद्ददामि तत्सर्वं शबला दीयतां मम।।1.53.21।।
yāvad icchasi ratnaṁ vā hiraṇyaṁ vā dvijottama | tāvad dadāmi tat sarvaṁ śabalā dīyatāṁ mama || 1.53.21 ||
O best of Brahmins, whatever jewels or gold you desire—so much of it, all of it, I will give. Let Śabalā be given to me.
O Best of brahmins! I shall offer you jewels or gold as much as you desire. I shall give you everything. Give this Sabala to me".
The episode probes whether everything is purchasable; dharma upholds that some things—especially sacred supports of duty—are not to be alienated for wealth.
Viśvāmitra makes an open-ended offer of jewels and gold, attempting to remove any economic limit to the exchange for Śabalā.
Vasiṣṭha’s forthcoming virtue of satya and steadfastness is implicitly prepared by the magnitude of the temptation presented here.