Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 111, Shloka 3
रावणवधः — The Slaying of Ravana
Brahmāstra Discharge
ततःसंस्मारितोरामस्तेनवाक्येनमातलेः ।जग्राह स शरंदीप्तंनिःश्वसन्तमिवोरगम् ।।।।यंतस्मैप्रथमंप्रादादगस्त्योभगवानृषिः ।ब्रह्मदत्तंमहाबाणममोघंयुधिवीर्यवान् ।।।।
tataḥ saṃsmārito rāmas tena vākyena mātaleḥ |
jagrāha sa śaraṃ dīptaṃ niḥśvasantam ivoragam ||
yaṃ tasmai prathamaṃ prādād agastyo bhagavān ṛṣiḥ |
brahmadattaṃ mahābāṇam amoghaṃ yudhi vīryavān ||
Da erinnerte sich Rāma durch Mātalis Worte und ergriff jenen flammenden Pfeil, gleich einer schwer atmenden Schlange. Es war der große, im Kampf unfehlbare Pfeil, von Brahmā verliehen, den ihm einst der ehrwürdige Rishi Agastya, mächtig an Tapferkeit, gegeben hatte.
Suggested and reminded by Matali, valiant Sri Rama seized hold of the wonderful glowing arrow, bestowed by Brahma, and given by the divine to sage Agastya first. Breathing heavily, like a serpent, Rama seized the arrow.
FAQs
Power is to be used under guidance and rightful purpose: divine weapons are legitimate only when employed for restoring dharma and protecting the innocent.
At Mātali’s prompting, Rāma takes up a blazing, unfailing divine arrow—linked by tradition to Brahmā and transmitted through Agastya.
Disciplined restraint and obedience to wise counsel—Rāma acts decisively, yet within the bounds of yuddha-dharma and satya.