Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 18

शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Devanagari script

हैरण्यानां रथानां च श्वेताश्वानां चतुर्युजाम्।ददामि ते शतान्यष्टौ किङ्किणीकविभूषितान्।।1.53.18।।

Transliteration

hairaṇyānāṁ rathānāṁ ca śvetāśvānāṁ caturyujām | dadāmi te śatāny aṣṭau kiṅkiṇīkavibhūṣitān || 1.53.18 ||

Translation

并且我将赐你八百乘金车，缀以叮当铃饰，每乘皆以四匹白马驾挽。

Word by Word

• hairaṇyānām: golden
• hairaṇyānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hairaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; qualifies rathānām

• rathānām: of chariots
• rathānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana

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

• śvetāśvānām: of white horses
• śvetāśvānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śveta + aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya: 'śvetāḥ aśvāḥ' (white horses)

• caturyujām: four-yoked
• caturyujām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + yuj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'caturbhiḥ yujyante' (yoked with four)

• dadāmi: I give / I offer
• dadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (present), Uttama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Caturthī vibhakti (4th/dative), Ekavacana; enclitic form

• śatāni: hundreds
• śatāni: Karma (कर्म/object; count of rathān)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; numeral used as count

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aṣṭan (अष्टन् संख्या)
• Form: Numeral (saṃkhyā), used indeclinably with śatāni

• kiṅkiṇīka-vibhūṣitān: adorned with tinkling bells
• kiṅkiṇīka-vibhūṣitān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kiṅkiṇīka + vibhūṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa; vibhūṣita = kta (क्त) from √bhūṣ with vi-

Context

I shall give you eight hundred chariots made of gold and decorated with small tinkling bells, each chariot yoked with four white horses.

Characters & Entities

• Chariots (ratha)

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates the limits of wealth as a moral instrument: lavish gifts can be offered, but dharma requires that what is not rightfully obtainable should not be sought through inducement.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra escalates his offer—now chariots and horses—to secure Śabalā from Vasiṣṭha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Royal generosity and capability are foregrounded, setting up the later lesson that spiritual treasures are not commensurable with worldly riches.