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

ਵਸਿਸ਼ਠ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਇਉਂ ਆਖਿਆ ਤਾਂ, ਹੇ ਸ਼ਤ੍ਰੁਸੂਦਨ, ਕਾਮਧੇਨੂ ਸ਼ਬਲਾ ਨੇ ਹਰ ਇਕ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਹੋ ਜਿਹਾ ਜੋ ਕੁਝ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਸੀ, ਉਸ ਦੀ ਇੱਛਾ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਓਹੀ ਪ੍ਰਦਾਨ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

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.