Concept

Brahmastra

ब्रह्मास्त्रBrahmāstra

verses
157
books
14
chapters
95

What the texts say

The Brahmastra (Brahmāstra) is a supreme divine weapon, which the Padma Purana says the god Brahma bestowed. Padma Purana 2.110.18Mahabharata (Gita Press) 1.166.13 In the Ramayana, Hanuman recalls that Brahma's mantras empowered the Brahmastra, and remembers Brahma's boon to him. Ramayana 5.48.40 In the Mahabharata, Karna says he won it from his teacher Parashurama by posing as a Brahmin, and was cursed to forget it when needed. Mahabharata (Gita Press) 5.61.2Mahabharata 12.3.30 Later in the same epic, Ashvatthama, Drona's son, looses it to destroy the Pandavas' unborn heir. Mahabharata (Gita Press) 1.1.213Mahabharata 14.67.16 The Mahabharata then tells how Krishna withdraws it, and says the child will attain a long life. Mahabharata (Gita Press) 14.69.16Mahabharata 10.16.8

Where to read

Every verse that names Brahmastra, book by book.

  1. Mahabharata

    61 verses · 39 chapters

    All 61 verses in the Mahabharata

    Also in the Gita Press edition: 90 verses

    • 1.154.13

      With his mind greatly delighted, and having obtained from Rāma the highly esteemed Brahmāstra, he became superior among men.

    • 1.155.22

      For he is foremost among knowers of sacred knowledge, and unsurpassed in the Brahmā-weapon. Therefore Droṇa indeed defeated me in the dispute that arose between friends.

    • 1.181.20

      “By my teacher’s instruction I am fully trained in the Brahmā weapon and the Pauṛandara weapon; today I stand in this engagement to overcome you—be steady, O hero.”

  2. Ramayana

    27 verses · 12 chapters

    All 27 verses in the Ramayana
    • 5.67.12

      Taking a blade of darbha-grass from the mat, you invoked the Brahmā-weapon; blazing like the fire at the end of time, it flared forth toward the bird.

    • 1.27.4

      Rāghava, I shall bestow on you the great, celestial Disc of Punishment. Then, O hero, I grant you the Disc of Dharma, the Disc of Time, and the exceedingly fierce Disc of Viṣṇu—along with Indra’s missile. O best of men, I also give you the…

    • 1.56.13

      Brahmā’s son (Vasiṣṭha) swallowed up all those weapons with his staff. When they were stilled, the son of Gādhi (Viśvāmitra) hurled the Brahmāstra.

  3. Skanda Purana

    26 verses · 14 chapters

    All 26 verses in the Skanda Purana
    • 1.1.29.12

      Then that exceedingly mighty one, the son of Māndhātṛ—conqueror of the worlds—prepared to slay Tāraka, lord of the Dānavas; taking up his bow, he raised the Brahmā-weapon.

    • 1.2.19.4

      “Know this: ten crores of exceedingly hard-to-conquer forces have been slain by the gods. Quickly release the Brahmā-weapon that wards off all other missiles.”

    • 1.2.20.31

      He quickly employed the Brāhma-weapon, the countermeasure that restrains all missiles; by it the dreadful Raudra-weapon—terrifying to the worlds—was brought to calm.

  4. Padma Purana

    12 verses · 7 chapters

    • 2.110.18

      Brahmā bestowed the Brahmā-weapon; Varuṇa (gave) his excellent noose; and (there was) a conch, radiant like the moon’s splendor, whose sound is auspicious.

    • 5.36.31

      Then, on the thirteenth (day), the battle commenced with Akṣa and the others; and on the fourteenth, the monkey (Hanumān) was bound by the Brahmā-weapon, deployed by Śakrajit.

    • 5.45.47

      Then King Vīramaṇi, greatly enraged, took up the Brahmā-weapon—an astonishing missile that burns down enemies.

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Brahmastra matters most.

  1. Token of Recognition and the Crow-Brahmāstra Episode

    Ramayana 5.67 · 1 verse

    Dharma-bound divine missile

Also known to Wikipedia · Wikidata Q4096158