Valmiki Ramayana 1.53.20: Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 20

शबलाप्रार्थना-वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Devanagari script

नानावर्णविभक्तानां वयस्स्थानां तथैव च ।

ददाम्येकां गवां कोटिं शबला दीयतां मम ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.53.20

Transliteration

nānāvarṇavibhaktānāṁ vayassthānāṁ tathaiva ca |

dadāmy ekāṁ gavāṁ koṭiṁ śabalā dīyatāṁ mama ||20||

Translation

मैं एक करोड़ गाय दूँगा। सब अलग-अलग रंग की, और जवान है सब। और सबला गाय मुझे दे दो।

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Word by Word

• नानावर्णविभक्तानाम्: of variously colored (distinct) kinds
• नानावर्णविभक्तानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + वर्ण + विभक्त (प्रातिपदिक; विभक्त = √भज् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नानावर्णैः विभक्त = separated by various colors); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) (गवाम् implied), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (adjective) गवाम्

• वयस्स्थानाम्: of different ages/stages
• वयस्स्थानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वयस् + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वयसि स्थान = in the stage of age; i.e., of various ages); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine) (गवाम् implied), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (adjective) गवाम्

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्ययम् (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• एकाम्: one
• एकाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (numeral adjective) कोटिम्

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive; of cows)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कोटिम्: a crore
• कोटिम्: कर्म (Karma/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); संख्यापरिमाणवाचकः (a crore)

• शबला: Śabalā (the cow)
• शबला: कर्म (Karma; object to be given)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शबला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दीयताम्: let (her) be given
• दीयताम्: क्रिया (Passive injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• मम: to me / my
• मम: सम्प्रदान (Recipient; to me)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

Context

I shall give one crore young cows of various colours. Give me Sabala.

Characters & Entities

• Śabalā
• Cows (go/gavām)

FAQs

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

Dharma cautions against coveting what belongs to another, even when one can offer enormous compensation; rightful possession and moral limits matter more than price.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra proposes an extreme exchange—one crore cows—in order to obtain Śabalā from Vasiṣṭha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds intensity of desire and royal confidence, serving as a foil for Vasiṣṭha’s unwavering truthfulness and non-attachment to bargains.