Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 11

शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Devanagari script

नाहं शतसहस्रेण नापि कोटिशतैर्गवाम्।राजन् दास्यामि शबलां राशिभी रजतस्य च ।।1.53.11।।

Transliteration

nāhaṃ śatasahasreṇa nāpi koṭiśatair gavām | rājan dāsyāmi śabalāṃ rāśibhir rajatasya ca ||

Translation

ഹേ രാജാവേ, ഞാൻ ശബലയെ വിട്ടുകൊടുക്കുകയില്ല—ലക്ഷക്കണക്കിന് പശുക്കൾക്കായാലും, നൂറുകോടി പശുക്കൾക്കായാലും, വെള്ളിയുടെ കൂമ്പാരങ്ങൾക്കായാലും പോലും അല്ല.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Niṣedha (निषेध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta (negation particle)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Prathamā, Ekavacana; sarvanāma

• śatasahasreṇa: for a hundred-thousand (cows)
• śatasahasreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/instrument/price)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; dvigu-samāsa

• na: nor
• na: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (also/even)

• koṭiśataiḥ: with hundreds of crores
• koṭiśataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument/price)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭi + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; dvigu-samāsa (hundreds of crores)

• gavām: of cows
• gavām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• dāsyāmi: I will give
• dāsyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Luṭ lakāra (periphrastic future), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• śabalām: Śabalā
• śabalām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabalā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• rāśibhiḥ: with heaps
• rāśibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument/price)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• rajatasya: of silver
• rajatasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rajata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction)

Context

"O King! I shall not exchange Sabala for a hundred thousand for even or a hundred crore cows or heaps of silver.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra
• Śabalā

FAQs

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

Some values are not purchasable: sacred trust and dharmic responsibility cannot be exchanged for wealth, even immense wealth.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra attempts to obtain Śabalā by offering vast material compensation; Vasiṣṭha rejects the offer outright.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Integrity and satya: Vasiṣṭha stands firm, refusing to reduce a sacred boon to a market transaction.