Valmiki Ramayana 1.53.21: Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 21
शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा
The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal
यावदिच्छसि रत्नं वा हिरण्यं वा द्विजोत्तम।तावद्ददामि तत्सर्वं शबला दीयतां मम।।1.53.21।।
yāvad icchasi ratnaṁ vā hiraṇyaṁ vā dvijottama | tāvad dadāmi tat sarvaṁ śabalā dīyatāṁ mama || 1.53.21 ||
राजा ने कहा, आप ब्राह्मणों में बड़े हैं। जो भी रत्न या सोना आप माँगो, मैं इतना दे दूँगा। सब कुछ दे दूँगा। बस मुझे शबला दे दीजिए।
O Best of brahmins! I shall offer you jewels or gold as much as you desire. I shall give you everything. Give this Sabala to me".
FAQs
The episode probes whether everything is purchasable; dharma upholds that some things—especially sacred supports of duty—are not to be alienated for wealth.
Viśvāmitra makes an open-ended offer of jewels and gold, attempting to remove any economic limit to the exchange for Śabalā.
Vasiṣṭha’s forthcoming virtue of satya and steadfastness is implicitly prepared by the magnitude of the temptation presented here.
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