Valmiki Ramayana 1.53.11: Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 11
शबलाप्रार्थना-वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा
The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal
नाहं शतसहस्रेण नापि कोटिशतैर्गवाम् ।
राजन् दास्यामि शबलां राशिभी रजतस्य च ॥११॥
nāhaṃ śatasahasreṇa nāpi koṭiśatair gavām |
rājan dāsyāmi śabalāṃ rāśibhir rajatasya ca ||11||
राजा, मैं शबला नहीं दूँगा। लाखों गाय दे दो, करोड़ गाय दे दो, चाँदी के पहाड़ दे दो, मैं फिर भी नहीं दूँगा।
"O King! I shall not exchange Sabala for a hundred thousand for even or a hundred crore cows or heaps of silver.
FAQs
Some values are not purchasable: sacred trust and dharmic responsibility cannot be exchanged for wealth, even immense wealth.
Viśvāmitra attempts to obtain Śabalā by offering vast material compensation; Vasiṣṭha rejects the offer outright.
Integrity and satya: Vasiṣṭha stands firm, refusing to reduce a sacred boon to a market transaction.
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