Shloka 28
The Meeting with Puṣkala’s Wife
ब्रह्मास्त्रं पाशुपत्यास्त्रं गारुडं नागसंज्ञितम् । मायूरं नाकुलं रौद्रं वैष्णवं मेघसंज्ञितम्
brahmāstraṃ pāśupatyāstraṃ gāruḍaṃ nāgasaṃjñitam | māyūraṃ nākulaṃ raudraṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ meghasaṃjñitam
Das Brahmāstra, die Pāśupata-Waffe, die Gāruḍa-Waffe, genannt „Nāga“; die Māyūra-Waffe, die Nākula-Waffe, die Raudra-Waffe und die Vaiṣṇava-Waffe, genannt „Megha“.
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses).
Concept: Power is plural and hierarchical: astras belong to deities and must be invoked with proper authority and restraint.
Application: Treat specialized knowledge as sacred trust; learn both ‘activation’ and ‘deactivation’—how to apply force proportionately and how to withdraw it.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A visionary tableau where each astra manifests as a luminous sigil hovering around the warrior: Brahmāstra as a radiant lotus-fire mandala, Pāśupata as a trident-flame vortex, Gāruḍa as a golden eagle-wheel, Nāga-slaying as a serpent-knot being severed by light. The Vaiṣṇava ‘Megha’ astra appears as a deep-blue cloud halo with a hidden discus-glint, suggesting protection that is both gentle and overwhelming.","primary_figures":["Lakṣmīnidhi (or the unnamed master of astras)","Brahmā (as source of Brahmāstra)","Śiva (as source of Pāśupata/Raudra)","Garuḍa","Viṣṇu (as source of Vaiṣṇava astra)"],"setting":"A liminal sky-space above a battlefield horizon—half courtly, half cosmic—where astras appear as mantra-forms rather than physical weapons.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["electric gold","deep indigo","ash-white","flame orange","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central warrior framed by concentric gold-leaf halos; around him eight astra-emblems in medallions—lotus-fire Brahmāstra, trident-flame Pāśupata, Garuḍa wheel, serpent-slaying Nāga emblem, peacock-feather Māyūra, mongoose Nākula, fierce Raudra flame, and Vaiṣṇava Megha cloud with subtle cakra; heavy gold embossing, jewel tones, ornate borders, deity-source figures in small side panels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a refined cosmic diagram rendered as a narrative painting—soft clouds, delicate linework; each astra shown as a symbolic vignette (peacock plume, mongoose, serpent, cloud, lotus-flame) floating around the calm-faced hero; cool blues and greens with precise ornamentation and lyrical spacing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic frontal hero with large eyes; astras as bold symbolic forms in surrounding circles; Śiva and Viṣṇu in stylized side registers; strong reds/yellows/greens with black outlines, temple-wall symmetry, rhythmic lotus and creeper motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: reimagine the astra-circle as a devotional mandala—central Viṣṇu-cakra motif within a cloud (Megha) surrounded by lotus and peacock patterns; Garuḍa and serpent motifs woven into floral borders; deep blue ground, gold detailing, intricate repetitive ornament, Nathdwara-inspired symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","wind swell","low drone (tanpura)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पदच्छेदः: ब्रह्म-अस्त्रम्, पाशुपत्य-अस्त्रम्, गारुडम्, नाग-संज्ञितम्, मायूरम्, नाकुलम्, रौद्रम्, वैष्णवम्, मेघ-संज्ञितम्। सर्वाणि नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचनानि, सूची-रूपेण (अस्त्राणि) निर्दिश्यन्ते।
FAQs
It catalogs a set of powerful divine astras (celestial weapons), associating them with major deities or symbolic forces (Brahmā, Śiva/Rudra, Garuḍa, and Viṣṇu) and with descriptive epithets such as “Nāga” and “Megha.”
Purāṇic passages often present a comprehensive, encyclopedic inventory of sacred powers, showing that different divine lineages (Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva, etc.) possess distinct yet comparable forms of cosmic authority.
Even when described as instruments of immense power, astras in Purāṇic literature typically imply responsibility and restraint: power is meaningful only when governed by dharma and right intent, not by anger or pride.