Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 1

शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता वसिष्ठेन शबला शत्रुसूदन।विदधे कामधुक्कामान्यस्य यस्य यथेप्सितम्।।1.53.1।।

Transliteration

evam uktā vasiṣṭhena śabalā śatrusūdana | vidadhe kāmadhuk kāmān yasya yasya yathepsitam ||

Translation

Demikianlah ketika Vasiṣṭha bersabda, Śabalā—kāmadhenu, sapi pengabul keinginan—menyediakan bagi tiap orang apa pun yang diinginkannya, tepat sebagaimana hasrat masing-masing.

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• uktā: having been addressed
• uktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाच्ये विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘śabalā’)

• vasiṣṭhena: by Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhena: Karta (कर्ता) / Agent (कर्तृ) of passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• śabalā: Śabalā (the cow)
• śabalā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• śatru-sūdana: O destroyer of foes
• śatru-sūdana: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक) + sūdana (√sūd, सूद्; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/उपपद); सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• vidadhe: provided/arranged
• vidadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘arranged/produced’

• kāmadhuk: the wish-fulfilling cow
• kāmadhuk: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmadhenu/kāmadhuk (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; कर्ता of vidadhe

• kāmān: desired objects
• kāmān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• yasya: of whomsoever
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; distributive with repetition

• yasya: of each one
• yasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; repetition

• yathā-ipsitam: as wished
• yathā-ipsitam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + īpsita (√āp, आप्/ईप्स्; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; ‘as desired’

Context

"O Destroyer of foes (Rama)"! addressed thus by Vasishta the wish-fulfilling Sabala satisfied each one's desires.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Śabalā (Kāmadhenu)

FAQs

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

Dharma upheld through sacred stewardship: divine resources (like Śabalā) serve righteous purposes when guided by a dharmic guardian (Vasiṣṭha).

What is the narrative situation?

Śabalā manifests provisions and fulfillments at Vasiṣṭha’s command, demonstrating her extraordinary, ritual-linked power.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vasiṣṭha’s spiritual authority and disciplined use of power—commanding abundance without greed or misuse.