Shloka 1.54.17
शबलाहरणम् — The Attempted Seizure of Sabalā (Kāmadhenu) and the Triumph of Brahmic Power
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुरभिस्साऽसृजत्तदा।।।।तस्या हुम्भारवोत्सृष्टा: पप्लवाश्शतशो नृप।नाशयन्ति बलं सर्वं विश्वामित्रस्य पश्यत:।।।।
tasya tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā surabhiḥ sā ’sṛjat tadā | tasyā humbhāravotsṛṣṭāḥ paplavāḥ śataśo nṛpa | nāśayanti balaṃ sarvaṃ viśvāmitrasya paśyataḥ ||
Hearing his command, Surabhi (Śabalā) at once brought forth an army. O king, from her “humbhā” bellow sprang Paplavas by the hundreds, and they destroyed all of Viśvāmitra’s host as he looked on.
Hearing his words Kamadhenu created an army. O Rama! her lowing brought into being Paplavas in hundreds who destroyed the entire army of Viswamitra, while he looked on helplessly.
Adharma-driven seizure meets principled resistance: dharmic power (aligned with a sage’s command) overcomes mere military might.
Śabalā obeys Vasiṣṭha and manifests Paplavas, who rout and destroy Viśvāmitra’s army before his eyes.
Obedience to righteous instruction and protective responsiveness—Śabalā acts as an instrument of dharmic order.