Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 61, Shloka 15
शुनःशेफविक्रयः
The Sale of Śunaḥśepa for the Sacrifice
एवमुक्तो महातेजा ऋचीकस्त्वब्रवीद्वच:।।।।नाहं ज्येष्ठं नरश्रेष्ठ विक्रीणीयां कथञ्चन।
evam ukto mahātejā ṛcīkas tv abravīd vacaḥ | nāhaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ naraśreṣṭha vikrīṇīyāṃ kathañcana ||
ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ മഹാതേജസ്സനായ ഋചീകൻ മറുപടി പറഞ്ഞു: “ഹേ നരശ്രേഷ്ഠാ, എന്റെ ജ്യേഷ്ഠപുത്രനെ ഞാൻ ഒരിക്കലും—എന്തു സാഹചര്യത്തിലുമെങ്കിലും—വിൽക്കുകയില്ല.”
Thus addressed the exceedingly brilliant Richika said, "O Best among men! in no way shall I sell my first born".
FAQs
Dharma as moral boundary: a father’s duty to protect his child cannot be reduced to a commercial exchange, even for a king’s ritual need.
Ṛcīka responds to the king’s offer by refusing to sell his firstborn.
Firmness in principle and truthfulness—Ṛcīka states an unambiguous refusal grounded in duty.