Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 7

शबलाहरणम्

The Attempted Seizure of Sabalā (Kāmadhenu) and the Triumph of Brahmic Power

Devanagari script

भगवन् किं परित्यक्ता त्वयाऽहं ब्रह्मणस्सुत।यस्माद्राजभृता मां हि नयन्ते त्वत्सकाशत:।।।।

Transliteration

bhagavan kiṃ parityaktā tvayā 'haṃ brahmaṇas suta | yasmād rājabhṛtā māṃ hi nayante tvatsakāśataḥ ||

Translation

“Wahai Bhagavān, putera Brahmā—adakah tuan meninggalkan aku? Mengapa para pengikut raja membawa aku pergi dari sisi tuan sendiri?”

Word by Word

• भगवन्: O venerable one
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• किम्: why?/what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• परित्यक्ता: abandoned
• परित्यक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अहं’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (2nd person pronoun), तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• सुत: O son
• सुत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• यस्मात्: for what reason/why
• यस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (causal)

• राजभृताः: the king's servants
• राजभृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāja-bhṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: राज्ञः भृताः (king's servants); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

• नयन्ते: are taking
• नयन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• त्वत्सकाशतः: from your presence
• त्वत्सकाशतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvat-sakāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: त्वत् + सकाश; पञ्चमी (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; ‘from your presence’

Context

"O Brahma's son! O Venerable one! you have abandoned me? For what reason the servants of the king are taking me away from you"?

Characters & Entities

• Śabalā
• Vasiṣṭha
• Brahmā

FAQs

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

A protector’s Dharma is to safeguard dependents from unjust seizure. Śabalā appeals to the moral duty inherent in Vasiṣṭha’s sanctity and status.

What is the narrative situation?

Śabalā directly questions Vasiṣṭha as she is being taken away by royal attendants.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Frankness and trust: she speaks openly to her guardian, assuming the primacy of Dharma over royal force.