Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 54, Shloka 9
शबलाहरणम्
The Attempted Seizure of Sabalā (Kāmadhenu) and the Triumph of Brahmic Power
न त्वां त्यजामि शबले नापि मेऽपकृतं त्वया।एष त्वां नयते राजा बलोन्मत्तो महाबल:।।।।
na tvāṃ tyajāmi śabale nāpi me 'pakṛtaṃ tvayā | eṣa tvāṃ nayate rājā balonmatto mahābalaḥ ||
“اے شَبَلا! میں تجھے نہیں چھوڑتا، نہ تو نے میرا کوئی اپکار بگاڑا ہے۔ یہ تو وہی نہایت زورآور راجا ہے—جو طاقت کے نشے میں چور ہے—جو تجھے زبردستی لے جا رہا ہے۔”
"O Sabala! I am not forsaking you. You have done me no harm. This highly powerful king is forcibly carrying you away from me.
FAQs
Truthful clarification and faithful protection are duties of the righteous. Vasiṣṭha affirms he will not forsake the innocent and identifies coercion as a lapse from Dharma.
Vasiṣṭha reassures Śabalā and explains that the king is forcibly taking her, driven by power-pride.
Satya (truthfulness) and steadfast guardianship—Vasiṣṭha refuses to shift blame onto the innocent and names the ethical fault: power without restraint.