Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 14

शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Devanagari script

स्वाहाकारवषट्कारौ विद्याश्च विविधा स्तथा।आयत्तमत्र राजर्षे सर्वमेतन्न संशय:।।1.53.14।।

Transliteration

svāhākāravaṣaṭkārau vidyāś ca vividhās tathā | āyattam atra rājarṣe sarvam etan na saṃśayaḥ ||

Translation

Hỡi bậc vương-ẩn sĩ, các lời xướng ‘svāhā’ và ‘vaṣaṭ’, cùng muôn ngành minh triết khác nữa—quả thật tất cả đều nương nơi nàng; điều ấy không nghi ngờ.

Word by Word

• svāhākāra-vaṣaṭkārau: the Svāhā and Vaṣaṭ utterances
• svāhākāra-vaṣaṭkārau: Karta (कर्ता/subject; items dependent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāhākāra + vaṣaṭkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana (dual); itaretara-dvandva (copulative): 'svāhākāraś ca vaṣaṭkāraś ca'

• vidyāḥ: knowledges/branches of learning
• vidyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; items dependent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta

• vividhāḥ: various
• vividhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agrees with vidyāḥ

• tathā: also
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (also)

• āyattam: dependent
• āyattam: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधानविशेषण/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyata (आयत प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kta (क्त) from ā-√yam; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; predicate adjective with sarvam etat

• atra: here / in this (cow)
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (locative adverb: here/in this)

• rājarṣe: O royal sage
• rājarṣe: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājarṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; in apposition to sarvam

• na: no
• na: Niṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta

• saṃśayaḥ: doubt
• saṃśayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; in 'na saṃśayaḥ' = 'no doubt')
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Context

O Royal saint! swaha and vashat and various branches of learning are all dependent on this cow. No doubt about it.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra
• Śabalā

FAQs

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

Reverence for sacred foundations: mantric speech and learning are treated as dharmic supports, not instruments to be seized by force.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha reinforces the indispensability of Śabalā by linking her to ritual formulae and the functioning of sacred knowledge.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Clarity and authority in teaching: Vasiṣṭha argues from principle and tradition, not from fear or bargaining.