Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 53, Shloka 22

शबलाप्रार्थना–वसिष्ठप्रतिज्ञा

The Request for Śabalā and Vasiṣṭha’s Refusal

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान् विश्वामित्रेण धीमता। न दास्यामीति शबलां प्राह राजन् कथञ्चन।।1.53.22।।

Transliteration

evam uktas tu bhagavān viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā | na dāsyāmīti śabalāṁ prāha rājan kathañcana || 1.53.22 ||

Translation

被睿智的毗湿瓦密多罗（Viśvāmitra）如此请求后，那位可敬者答道：“大王，我绝不会把舍婆罗（Śabalā）交出——无论如何。”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb: 'thus')

• उक्तः: addressed / spoken to
• उक्तः: कर्मणि-भाव (state: 'having been spoken to')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्/√वद् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) भगवान्

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्ययम् (particle: 'but/indeed')

• भगवान्: the venerable one (Vasiṣṭha)
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विश्वामित्रेण: by Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रेण: करण (Karana/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• धीमता: by the wise
• धीमता: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) विश्वामित्रेण

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम् (negation)

• दास्यामि: I will give
• दास्यामि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• शबलाम्: Śabalā
• शबलाम्: कर्म (Karma/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शबला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्र-आह्/√अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect; narrative past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथञ्चन: by any means
• कथञ्चन: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb: 'in any way/at all')

Context

To these words of sagacious Viswamitra the adorable Vasishta replied: "O King! I shall not give Sabala."

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra
• Śabalā

FAQs

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

Satya and dharma as firmness: when something is integral to one’s rightful duty, one must refuse even powerful pressure or lavish offers.

What is the narrative situation?

After hearing escalating offers, Vasiṣṭha clearly rejects the transfer of Śabalā to Viśvāmitra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vasiṣṭha’s unwavering truthfulness and principled resolve.