Shloka 11

शबलाहरणम्

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

Devanagari script

इयमक्षौहिणी पूर्णा सवाजिरथसङ्कुला।हस्तिध्वजसमाकीर्णा तेनासौ बलवत्तर:।।।।

Transliteration

iyam akṣauhiṇī pūrṇā savājirathasaṅkulā |

hastidhvajasamākīrṇā tenāsau balavattaraḥ || 1.54.11 ||

Translation

Narito ang isang ganap na akṣauhiṇī, siksik sa mga kabayo at mga karwahe, punô ng mga elepante at mga watawat; kaya siya ang higit na malakas.

Word by Word

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अक्षौहिणी: akṣauhiṇī (army unit)
• अक्षौहिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣauhiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूर्णा: full/complete
• पूर्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √पॄ क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘अक्षौहिणी’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सवाजिरथसङ्कुला: crowded with horses and chariots
• सवाजिरथसङ्कुला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-vāji-ratha-saṅkula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (with सह/स-): वाजिभिः रथैः च सङ्कुला; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हस्तिध्वजसमाकीर्णा: filled with elephants and banners
• हस्तिध्वजसमाकीर्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hasti-dhvaja-samākīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √कॄ/√कीर् क्त)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास: हस्ति + ध्वज; ततः समाकीर्ण (kta) विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (therefore)

• असौ: that one (king)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बलवत्तरः: stronger
• बलवत्तरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balavat-tara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative)

Context

He has an entire akshauhini composed of horses, chariots, elephants and banners. Hence he is stonger".

Characters & Entities

• Śabalā
• Viśvāmitra
• Akṣauhiṇī
• Elephants
• Chariots
• Banners

FAQs

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

It distinguishes force from righteousness: military might can dominate physically, yet dharma ultimately depends on right conduct and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Śabalā recognizes the scale of Viśvāmitra’s army and concludes he is stronger in sheer worldly terms.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Clear-sighted discernment—acknowledging material reality while the story moves toward the triumph of spiritual power aligned with dharma.