Valmiki Ramayana 1.53.10: Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 10
शबलाप्रार्थना-वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा
The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal
एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान्वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः ।
विश्वामित्रेण धर्मात्मा प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम् ॥१०॥
evam uktas tu bhagavān vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ |
viśvāmitreṇa dharmātmā pratyuvāca mahīpatim ||10||
विश्वामित्र ने बात खत्म की। तब वशिष्ठ, जो बड़े रिशि थे और धरम में लगे थे, उन्होंने राजा को जवाब दिया।
Addressed the by Viswamitra venerable and righteous Vasishta who was of the earth ascetic replied:
FAQs
Dharma as moral authority: Vasiṣṭha’s reply is framed as dharmic counsel, implying that power and possession must be governed by righteousness, not coercion.
After Viśvāmitra’s demand regarding Śabalā, Vasiṣṭha prepares to respond, marking the escalation of their dispute.
Vasiṣṭha’s steadiness in dharma—measured response and principled speech in the face of pressure.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.