Valmiki Ramayana 1.53.25: Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 25
शबलाप्रार्थना-वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा
The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal
अदोमूलाः क्रियास्सर्वा मम राजन्न संशयः ।
बहुना किं प्रलापेन न दास्ये कामदोहिनीम् ॥२५॥
adomūlāḥ kriyāḥ sarvā mama rājann asaṁśayaḥ |
bahunā kiṁ pralāpena na dāsye kāmadohinīm ||25||
राजा, मेरी सारी पूजा इस गाय पे टिकी है। कोई शक नहीं। ज़्यादा बात करने की ज़रूरत नहीं। मैं यह गाय नहीं दूँगा जो मन माँगी चीज़ें देती है।
O King! this (cow) is undoubtedly the source of all my actions. Why these uselesswords? I will never give this wish-fulfilling cow".ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē tripañcāśassarga:৷৷Thus ends the fiftythird sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
Integrity in dharma: when a possession is essential for one’s righteous duties and truthfully acknowledged as such, it must not be surrendered to pressure, persuasion, or wealth.
Vasiṣṭha ends the negotiation decisively, stating that Śabalā is foundational to all his sacred activities and is therefore non-transferable.
Steadfastness (dhṛti) and satya: firm refusal grounded in duty rather than fear or greed.
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