Valmiki Ramayana 1.53.16: Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 16

शबलाप्रार्थना-वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Setting: वसिष्ठाश्रम

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठेनैवमुक्तस्तु विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीत्ततः ।

संरब्धतरमत्यर्थं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.53.16

Transliteration

vasiṣṭhenaivam uktas tu viśvāmitro ’bravīt tataḥ |

saṃrabdhataraṃ atyarthaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ ||16||

Translation

जब वशिष्ठ ने ऐसा कहा, तो विश्वामित्र बड़ा गुस्से में आ गया। वो भाषण में तो पक्का था, उसने गुस्से में ज़ोर से जवाब दिया।

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Word by Word

• vasiṣṭhena: by Vasiṣṭha
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karaṇa (करण/instrument; agent in passive sense of uktaḥ)

• evam: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb
• Role: Prakāra (प्रकार)

• uktaḥ: having been spoken to
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past passive participle, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tu: then/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/subject)

• abravīt: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra (imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• tataḥ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablative adverb (thereupon/then)
• Role: Kāla (काल)

• saṃrabdhataram: more agitated
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃrabdha-tara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; comparative (-tara) qualifying vākyaṃ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• atyartham: exceedingly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atyartham (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (excessively/very much)
• Role: Prakāra (प्रकार)

• vākyam: speech/words
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म/object)

• vākyaviśāradaḥ: skilled in speech
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'vākye viśāradaḥ' (skilled in speech)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/subject; epithet of Viśvāmitra)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• vasiṣṭhenaivamuktas-tu→vasiṣṭhena evam uktaḥ tu
• viśvāmitro'bravīt→viśvāmitraḥ abravīt

Context

To there words of Vasishta, Viswamitra who is skilful in conversation reacted with extreme excitement:

The teaching

Duties in tension

• क्षात्र-तेज/अभिमान (प्रतिष्ठा-रक्षा)
• संयम/धर्म-श्रवण (क्रोध-निग्रह)

Ethical theme

क्रोध-निग्रह/वाक्-संयम

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Inflamed, confrontational, volatile

Themes

• Dharma
• Anger (krodha)
• Conflict escalation
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra
• Śabalā

FAQs

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

A warning about krodha: even eloquence becomes ethically harmful when driven by anger; dharma requires restraint, especially in conflict.

What is the narrative situation?

Following Vasiṣṭha’s firm refusal, Viśvāmitra reacts angrily, signaling the impending confrontation over Śabalā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast, restraint is highlighted: the verse foregrounds Viśvāmitra’s agitation, implying the dharmic value of self-control.