Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 9
शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा
The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal
गवां शतसहस्रेण दीयतां शबला मम।रत्नं हि भगवन्नेतद्रत्नहारी च प्रार्थिव:।।1.53.9।।तस्मान्मे शबलां देहि ममैषा धर्मतो द्विज।
gavāṃ śatasahasreṇa dīyatāṃ śabalā mama |
ratnaṃ hi bhagavann etad ratnahārī ca prārthivaḥ || 1.53.9 ||
tasmān me śabalāṃ dehi mamaiṣā dharmato dvija |
ஒரு இலட்சம் பசுக்களின் மாற்றாக என் ஷபலாவை எனக்குத் தாருங்கள். பகவனே, அவள் ஒரு ரத்தினம்; அரசன் ரத்தினங்களை நாடுபவன். ஆகவே, ஓ த்விஜரே, தர்மப்படி என் ஷபலாவை எனக்குத் தாருங்கள்।
"I shall give you a hundred thousand cows in exchange for Sabala. O! Respectable one! this cow is a gem. A king (along) has a right on jewels, O Brahmin, for that reason, Sabala rightfully belongs to me. Therefore, give this cow".
FAQs
It raises a dharma-conflict: royal power and desire versus rightful ownership and the limits of kingship over a brahmin’s sacred property.
Viśvāmitra offers an exchange and argues that Śabalā, as a ‘jewel,’ should belong to a king.
Not virtue but a tested trait: ambition and entitlement, presented under the language of dharma—showing how ‘dharma-claims’ can be misused.