Shloka 1.54.8
शबलाहरणम् — The Attempted Seizure of Sabalā (Kāmadhenu) and the Triumph of Brahmic Power
एवमुक्तस्तु ब्रह्मर्षिरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।शोकसन्तप्तहृदयां स्वसारमिव दु:खिताम्।।।।
evam uktas tu brahmarṣir idaṃ vacanam abravīt | śokasantaptahṛdayāṃ svasāram iva duḥkhitām ||
Thus addressed, the Brahmarṣi spoke these words to her, grieving for her like a sister, his heart scorched by sorrow.
Addressed thus, Bramharshi said to Sabala, like to a sister whose heart is afflicted with sorrow:
Dharma is inseparable from compassion (dayā). The righteous respond to suffering not with indifference but with kin-like care.
Vasiṣṭha is about to reply to Śabalā’s plea; the narration emphasizes his compassionate stance.
Vasiṣṭha’s empathy and protective responsibility, treating Śabalā as family.