Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 1

शबलाहरणम्

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

Devanagari script

कामधेनुं वसिष्ठोऽपि यदा न त्यज्यते मुनि:।तदास्य शबलां राम विश्वामित्रोऽन्वकर्षत।।।।

Transliteration

kāmadhenuṃ vasiṣṭho 'pi yadā na tyajyate muniḥ |

tadā asya śabalāṃ rāma viśvāmitro 'nvakarṣata || 1.54.1 ||

Translation

Ô Rāma, lorsque le sage Vasiṣṭha refusa d’abandonner la vache d’abondance qui exauce les vœux, alors Viśvāmitra traîna Śabalā de force.

Word by Word

• कामधेनुम्: Kāmadhenū (wish-cow)
• कामधेनुम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कामान् धेनुः = giver of desires); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षा-अव्ययम् (particle: 'also/even')

• यदा: when
• यदा: काल (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal conjunction: 'when')

• न: not
• न: निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्

• त्यज्यते: is abandoned
• त्यज्यते: क्रिया (Passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: कर्ता (Appositional subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; here apposition to वसिष्ठः

• तदा: then
• तदा: काल (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (then)

• अस्य: from him / his
• अस्य: अपादान/सम्बन्ध (from him; genitive of reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (Genitive)

• शबलाम्: Śabalā
• शबलाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शबला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अन्वकर्षत: dragged/pulled away
• अन्वकर्षत: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अनु-

Context

"O Rama! when sage Vasishta did not consent to part with the wish-fulfilling cow, Viswamitra dragged Sabala by force.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha
• Śabalā

FAQs

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

It condemns coercion: taking by force what is not rightfully given violates dharma, even if done by a king.

What is the narrative situation?

After refusal, Viśvāmitra escalates from request to force, initiating open conflict.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vasiṣṭha’s steadfastness in protecting rightful possession; Viśvāmitra’s lack of restraint is exposed.