Shloka 16

शबलाहरणम्

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

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तस्तु तया राम वसिष्ठ स्सुमहायशा:।सृजस्वेति तदोवाच बलं परबलार्दनम्।।।।

Transliteration

ity uktas tu tayā rāma vasiṣṭhaḥ sumahāyaśāḥ | sṛjasva iti tadā uvāca balaṃ parabalārdanam ||

Translation

她如此禀告后，罗摩啊，盛名卓著的婆悉吒便说道：“生出一支军队吧——能摧破敌方之力的军势。”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: having been addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘said/addressed’

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—विरोध/अन्वय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• तया: by her
• तया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• राम: O Rāma
• राम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुमहायशाः: very illustrious
• सुमहायशाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-महा-यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सुमहत् यशः यस्य

• सृजस्व: create / emit
• सृजस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बलम्: army / force
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• परबलार्दनम्: destroying enemy forces
• परबलार्दनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर-बल-अर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—परस्य बलस्य अर्दनम् (destroyer of enemy forces)

Context

O Rama! to this, glorious Vasishta replied: "Create an army capable of crushing the enemy power.

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Śabalā (Kāmadhenu)
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Even force, when used, is to be sanctioned by righteous authority and aimed at restraining adharma—defense rather than domination.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha authorizes Śabalā to generate a counter-force against the aggressing king’s army.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Measured decisiveness: Vasiṣṭha acts firmly, but within a dharmic frame of command and purpose.