Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 19

शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Devanagari script

हयानां देशजातानां कुलजानां महौजसाम्।सहस्रमेकं दश च ददामि तव सुव्रत।।1.53.19।।

Transliteration

hayānāṁ deśajātānāṁ kulajānāṁ mahaujasām | sahasram ekaṁ daśa ca dadāmi tava suvrata || 1.53.19 ||

Translation

Wahai resi yang berikrar mulia, aku akan menganugerahkan kepadamu sebelas ribu ekor kuda perkasa, daripada baka unggul dan lahir di negeri-negeri yang terbaik.

Word by Word

• हयानाम्: of horses
• हयानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• देशजातानाम्: born in (good) regions
• देशजातानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देश + जात (प्रातिपदिक; जात = √जन् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (देशे जात = born in a country); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (adjective) हयानाम्

• कुलजानाम्: of noble breed
• कुलजानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल + जात (प्रातिपदिक; जात = √जन् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कुले जात = born in a noble lineage/breed); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (adjective) हयानाम्

• महौजसाम्: of great vigor
• महौजसाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महौजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषणम् (adjective) हयानाम्

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); संख्यावाचक-शब्दः (numeral)

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); संख्यावाचक-विशेषणम् (numeral adjective) सहस्रम्

• दश: ten
• दश: विशेषण (Qualifier of number)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन्/दश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः (indeclinable-like numeral); here used with एकम्: 'ten (more)'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• तव: to you / your
• तव: सम्प्रदान-सम्बन्ध (Recipient relation; genitive for 'to you')
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• सुव्रत: O man of noble vows
• सुव्रत: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु-व्रत = of good vows); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Context

O Maharshi of auspicious vows! I shall give you eleven thousand mighty horses of good breed born in good countries.

Characters & Entities

• Horses (haya)

FAQs

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

Dharma is tested when desire seeks to convert the priceless into a price; the narrative invites reflection on whether certain sacred or essential goods can be ethically exchanged.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing his persuasion, Viśvāmitra offers an immense number of superior horses to Vasiṣṭha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Viśvāmitra’s determination and worldly resourcefulness are emphasized, soon to be checked by Vasiṣṭha’s steadfastness in truth and rightful possession.