Shloka 17

शबलाहरणम्

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

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुरभिस्साऽसृजत्तदा।।।।तस्या हुम्भारवोत्सृष्टा: पप्लवाश्शतशो नृप।नाशयन्ति बलं सर्वं विश्वामित्रस्य पश्यत:।।।।

Transliteration

tasya tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā surabhiḥ sā ’sṛjat tadā | tasyā humbhāravotsṛṣṭāḥ paplavāḥ śataśo nṛpa | nāśayanti balaṃ sarvaṃ viśvāmitrasya paśyataḥ ||

Translation

Услышав его повеление, Сурабхи (Шабала) тотчас породила войско. О царь, из её мычания «хумбха» сотнями возникли паплавы и, на глазах у Вишвамитры, уничтожили всё его воинство.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative)

• वचनम्: word / command
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) ‘having heard’

• सुरभिः: Surabhi (Kāmadhenu)
• सुरभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असृजत्: created / emitted
• असृजत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Context

Hearing his words Kamadhenu created an army. O Rama! her lowing brought into being Paplavas in hundreds who destroyed the entire army of Viswamitra, while he looked on helplessly.

Characters & Entities

• Surabhi (Kāmadhenu/Śabalā)
• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Adharma-driven seizure meets principled resistance: dharmic power (aligned with a sage’s command) overcomes mere military might.

What is the narrative situation?

Śabalā obeys Vasiṣṭha and manifests Paplavas, who rout and destroy Viśvāmitra’s army before his eyes.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Obedience to righteous instruction and protective responsiveness—Śabalā acts as an instrument of dharmic order.