Valmiki Ramayana 1.53.7: Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 7

शबलाप्रार्थना-वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Addressed to RamaSetting: Vasiṣṭha’s āśramaPlaces named: Vasiṣṭha-āśramaPause before departure; diplomatic conversation begins

Devanagari script

सामात्यो मन्त्रिसहितस्सभृत्यः पूजितस्तदा ।

युक्तः परमहर्षेण वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत् ॥७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 1.53.7

Transliteration

sāmātyo mantrisahitaḥ sabhṛtyaḥ pūjitas tadā |

yuktaḥ paramaharṣeṇa vasiṣṭham idam abravīt ||7||

Translation

राजा के मंत्री और नौकर भी साथ थे। वसिष्ठ ने सबकी बहुत पूजा की। राजा बहुत खुश हुआ और वसिष्ठ से बोला।

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Word by Word

• pūjitaḥ: honoured
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √pūj (पूज् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (of aham)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• tvayā: by you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
• Role: Karta (कर्ता) / Agent of passive

• brahman: O Brahman
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (addressing a Brahman)
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)

• pūjā-arheṇa: by (one) worthy of worship
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक) + arha (√arh, अर्ह्; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘by one worthy of worship’
• Role: Karaṇa (करण)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• su-satkṛtaḥ: well received/respected
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + sat-kṛta (sat + √kṛ, कृ; क्त)
• Form: कर्मधारय; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (of aham)
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

• śrūyatām: let it be heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person, passive/impersonal usage), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः: ‘let it be heard’
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• abhidhāsyāmi: I shall state
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• vākyam: a statement
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• vākya-viśārada: O one skilled in speech
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘skilled in speech’
• Role: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• pūjito'haṃ = pūjitaḥ aham
• pūjārheṇa = pūjā-arheṇa
• śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi = śrūyatām abhidhāsyāmi

Context

Having received the hospitality along with his counsellors, ministers and attendants, Viswamitra, filled with great delight, said to Vasishta":

The teaching

Even when honored, one must guard intention; speech can pivot from gratitude to grasping, birthing conflict.

Duties in tension

• Gratitude and restraint after receiving hospitality vs desire/claim over another’s sacred property (imminent)
• Kṣatriya acquisitiveness/power vs brāhmaṇa’s right to protect āśrama resources

Ethical theme

Dharma-saṅkaṭa (incipient) / rāja-dharma vs brāhmaṇa-dharma

How it resolves

Pending (sets up confrontation)

For your practice

Practice mindful speech (vāk-saṃyama) especially after receiving kindness; cultivate gratitude without entitlement.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Adbhuta (wonder)

Mood

Formal, anticipatory, respectful

Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa
• Ethics
• Kingship

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha

FAQs

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

Dharma includes courteous speech after receiving honor—responding with appropriate words and intentions.

What is the narrative situation?

After the feast and honors, Viśvāmitra begins speaking to Vasiṣṭha—leading into his request for Śabalā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protocol and diplomacy in interpersonal dealings—though it soon becomes tested by desire.