अस्त्रप्रदानम् — Bestowal of Divine Astras to Rama
बालकाण्ड
After the night’s rest, Viśvāmitra, pleased with Rāma, declares his intent to confer a complete arsenal of divya-astras out of affection and approval. The chapter is structured as a formal transmission: (1) the sage’s declaration of satisfaction and auspicious blessing; (2) a catalog-style enumeration of astras and associated implements (chakras, pāśas, gadās, thunderbolts, and named astras); (3) the ritualized delivery of anuttama mantra-collections while facing east after purification; and (4) the manifestation of the astras’ presiding powers, who present themselves as obedient attendants to Rāma. Rāma accepts them physically and then internalizes command—ordering them to remain ‘in his mind,’ signaling disciplined restraint and controlled recall rather than impulsive use. The sarga thus frames power as subordinated to dharma: weapon-knowledge is legitimate only when transmitted by ascetic authority, ritually installed through mantra, and governed by mental mastery. It closes with Rāma’s respectful salutation to Viśvāmitra and readiness to continue the journey.
Verse 1.27.1
अथ तां रजनीमुष्य विश्वामित्रो महायशाः।प्रहस्य राघवं वाक्यमुवाच मधुराक्षरम्।।।।
Then, after staying through that night, the illustrious Viśvāmitra—smiling—spoke to Rāghava in gentle, sweet words.
Verse 1.27.2
परितुष्टोऽस्मि भद्रं ते राजपुत्र महायशः।प्रीत्या परमया युक्तो ददाम्यस्त्राणि सर्वशः।।।।
Receive the gentle weapon called Śiśira; and Tvaṣṭṛ’s astra, Sudāman; and also Bhaga’s dreadful Śiteṣu (the sharp-arrowed weapon), and the Mānavāstra.
Verse 1.27.3
देवासुरगणान्वापि सगन्धर्वोरगानपि।यैरमित्रान् प्रसह्याजौ वशीकृत्य जयिष्यसि।।।।तानि दिव्यानि भद्रं ते ददाम्यस्त्राणि सर्वशः ।
“With these you will conquer even hosts of Devas and Asuras, and also Gandharvas and serpents—subduing your enemies by force in battle and bringing them under your control. Those divine weapons—may you prosper—I grant to you in full.”
Verse 1.27.4
दण्डचक्रं महद्दिव्यं तव दास्यामि राघव।।।।धर्मचक्रं ततो वीर कालचक्रं तथैव च।विष्णुचक्रं तथात्युग्रमैन्द्रमस्त्रं तथैव च।।।।वज्रमस्त्रं नरश्रेष्ठ शैवं शूलवरं तथा।अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरश्चैव ऐषीकमपि राघव।।।।ददामि ते महाबाहो ब्राह्ममस्त्रमनुत्तमम्।
Rāghava, I shall bestow upon 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 Vajra-weapon, Śiva’s supreme trident, the Brahmaśiras weapon, and the Aiṣīka weapon as well, O Rāghava. Mighty-armed one, I grant you the unsurpassed Brahmā-weapon too.
Verse 1.27.5
दण्डचक्रं महद्दिव्यं तव दास्यामि राघव।।1.27.4।।धर्मचक्रं ततो वीर कालचक्रं तथैव च।विष्णुचक्रं तथात्युग्रमैन्द्रमस्त्रं तथैव च।।1.27.5।।वज्रमस्त्रं नरश्रेष्ठ शैवं शूलवरं तथा।अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरश्चैव ऐषीकमपि राघव।।1.27.6।। ददामि ते महाबाहो ब्राह्ममस्त्रमनुत्तमम्।
Then, O hero, I grant you the Disc of Dharma and the Disc of Time; and also the exceedingly fierce Disc of Viṣṇu—together with Indra’s missile as well.
Verse 1.27.6
दण्डचक्रं महद्दिव्यं तव दास्यामि राघव।।1.27.4।।धर्मचक्रं ततो वीर कालचक्रं तथैव च।विष्णुचक्रं तथात्युग्रमैन्द्रमस्त्रं तथैव च।।1.27.5।।वज्रमस्त्रं नरश्रेष्ठ शैवं शूलवरं तथा।अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरश्चैव ऐषीकमपि राघव।।1.27.6।। ददामि ते महाबाहो ब्राह्ममस्त्रमनुत्तमम्।
O best of men, I grant you the Vajra-weapon, and also Śiva’s supreme trident; and further the Brahmaśiras weapon and the Aiṣīka weapon as well, O Rāghava.
Verse 1.27.7
गदे द्वे चैव काकुत्स्थ मोदकी शिखरी उभे।।।।प्रदीप्ते नरशार्दूल प्रयच्छामि नृपात्मज।
O Kākutstha, tiger among men, O prince—I also bestow upon you two blazing maces, named Modakī and Śikharī.
Verse 1.27.8
धर्मपाशमहं राम कालपाशं तथैव च।।।।पाशं वारुणमस्त्रं च ददाम्यहमनुत्तमम्।
Rāma, I grant you the noose of Dharma, and likewise the noose of Time; and also Varuṇa’s noose-weapon, unsurpassed in might.
Verse 1.27.9
अशनी द्वे प्रयच्छामि शुष्कार्द्रे रघुनन्दन।।।।ददामि चास्त्रं पैनाकमस्त्रं नारायणं तथा।
O delight of the Raghu line, I bestow on you two thunderbolts—Śuṣka and Ārdra, the ‘dry’ and the ‘wet’. I also grant you the Paināka weapon and the Nārāyaṇa weapon.
Verse 1.27.10
आग्नेयमस्त्रं दयितं शिखरं नाम नामतः।।।।वायव्यं प्रथनं नाम ददामि च तवानघ ।
O blameless one, I grant you the Agneya weapon, dear to me, called Śikhara by name; and also the Vāyavya weapon called Prathana.
Verse 1.27.11
अस्त्रं हयशिरो नाम क्रौञ्चमस्त्रं तथैव च।शक्तिद्वयं च काकुत्स्थ ददामि तव राघव।।।।
O Rāghava, O scion of Kakutstha, I grant you the weapon called Hayaśira, and likewise the Krauñca weapon, and also a pair of śaktis (spears of power).
Verse 1.27.12
कङ्कालं मुसलं घोरं कापालमथ कङ्कणम्।धारयन्त्यसुरा यानि ददाम्येतानि सर्वशः।।।।
I grant you in full these dreadful weapons—Kaṅkāla, Musala, Kāpāla, and Kaṅkaṇa—such as the asuras are known to wield.
Verse 1.27.13
वैद्याधरं महास्त्रं च नन्दनं नाम नामतः।असिरत्नं महाबाहो ददामि च नृपात्मज।।।।
O mighty-armed prince, I also grant you the great Vaidyādhara weapon called Nandana by name, and an excellent sword-gem—a peerless blade.
Verse 1.27.14
गान्धर्वमस्त्रं दयितं मानवं नाम नामतः।प्रस्वापनप्रशमने दद्मि सौरं च राघव।।।।
O Rāghava, I grant you the beloved Gāndharva weapon called Mānava by name—effective for inducing sleep and for dispelling it—and also the Saura weapon.
Verse 1.27.15
दर्पणं शोषणं चैव सन्तापनविलापने।मदनं चैव दुर्धर्षं कन्दर्पदयितं तथा।।।।पैशाचमस्त्रं दयितं मोहनं नाम नामतः।प्रतीच्छ नरशार्दूल राजपुत्र महायशः।।।।
Receive, O tiger among men—O illustrious prince—these: Darpaṇa and Śoṣaṇa; Santāpana and Vilāpana; and also Madana, the unassailable one dear to Kandarpa; and the beloved Paiśāca weapon called Mohana by name.
Verse 1.27.16
दर्पणं शोषणं चैव सन्तापनविलापने।मदनं चैव दुर्धर्षं कन्दर्पदयितं तथा।।1.27.15।।पैशाचमस्त्रं दयितं मोहनं नाम नामतः।प्रतीच्छ नरशार्दूल राजपुत्र महायशः।।1.27.16।।
O tiger among men, illustrious prince—receive the Paiśāca weapon, beloved and called Mohana by name, together with the astras just enumerated.
Verse 1.27.17
तामसं नरशार्दूल सौमनं च महाबल।संवर्धं चैव दुर्धर्षं मौसलं च नृपात्मज।।।।सत्यमस्त्रं महाबाहो तथा मायाधरं परम्।घोरं तेजः प्रभं नाम परतेजोऽपकर्षणम्।।।।सौम्यास्त्रं शिशिरं नाम त्वष्टुरस्त्रं सुदामनम्।दारुणं च भगस्यापि शितेषु मथ मानवम्।।।।
O tiger among men, mighty prince: receive the Tāmasa and Saumana weapons; the irresistible Saṃvardha and the Mausala. And, O mighty-armed one, receive the Satya-astra and the supreme Māyādhara; the dreadful weapon named Tejaḥprabha, which draws away an opponent’s power. Receive also the gentle weapon called Śiśira; Tvaṣṭṛ’s astra Sudāman; Bhaga’s fierce Śiteṣu; and the Mānava-astra as well.
Verse 1.27.18
तामसं नरशार्दूल सौमनं च महाबल।संवर्धं चैव दुर्धर्षं मौसलं च नृपात्मज।।1.27.17।।सत्यमस्त्रं महाबाहो तथा मायाधरं परम्।घोरं तेजः प्रभं नाम परतेजोऽपकर्षणम्।।1.27.18।।सौम्यास्त्रं शिशिरं नाम त्वष्टुरस्त्रं सुदामनम्।दारुणं च भगस्यापि शितेषु मथ मानवम्।।1.27.19।।
O prince of great renown, I am wholly satisfied with you; may auspiciousness be yours. Filled with the highest affection, I bestow upon you the complete array of divine weapons.
Verse 1.27.19
तामसं नरशार्दूल सौमनं च महाबल।संवर्धं चैव दुर्धर्षं मौसलं च नृपात्मज।।1.27.17।।सत्यमस्त्रं महाबाहो तथा मायाधरं परम्।घोरं तेजः प्रभं नाम परतेजोऽपकर्षणम्।।1.27.18।।सौम्यास्त्रं शिशिरं नाम त्वष्टुरस्त्रं सुदामनम्।दारुणं च भगस्यापि शितेषु मथ मानवम्।।1.27.19।।
And, O mighty-armed one, receive also the Satya-astra and the supreme Māyādhara-astra; and the dreadful weapon named Tejaḥprabha, which draws away the adversary’s power.
Verse 1.27.20
एतान् राम महाबाहो कामरूपान् महाबलान् ।गृहाण परमोदारान् क्षिप्रमेव नृपात्मज।।।।
O Rāma, mighty-armed prince: receive at once these most exalted and powerful astras, able to assume whatever form is willed.
Verse 1.27.21
स्थितस्तु प्राङ्मुखो भूत्वा शुचिर्मुनिवरस्तदा।ददौ रामाय सुप्रीतो मन्त्रग्राममनुत्तमम्।।।।
Then the foremost of sages, purified and facing east, well pleased, bestowed upon Rāma the unsurpassed corpus of mantras.
Verse 1.27.22
सर्वसङ्ग्रहणं येषां दैवतैरपि दुर्लभम्।तान्यस्त्राणि तदा विप्रो राघवाय न्यवेदयत्।।।।
Those weapons whose full acquisition is difficult even for the gods—those astras the sage then presented and made known to Rāghava.
Verse 1.27.23
जपतस्तु मुनेस्तस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः।उपतस्थुर्महार्हाणि सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि राघवम्।।।।
As the wise sage Viśvāmitra recited their mantras, all the venerable astras appeared and stood ready in attendance upon Rāghava.
Verse 1.27.24
ऊचुश्च मुदितास्सर्वे रामं प्राञ्जलयस्तदा।इमे स्म परमोदाराः किङ्करास्तव राघव।।।।
Then all of them, rejoicing with folded hands, spoke to Rāma: “We, the most exalted, are here as your servants, O Rāghava.”
Verse 1.27.25
प्रतिगृह्य च काकुत्स्थः समालभ्य च पाणिना।मानसा मे भविष्यध्वमिति तानभ्यचोदयत्।।।।
Having received them, the scion of Kakutstha touched them with his hand and commanded them: “Dwell in my mind”—thus did he instruct them.
Verse 1.27.26
ततः प्रीतमना रामो विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्।अभिवाद्य महातेजा गमनायोपचक्रमे।।।।
Then Rāma, his heart filled with joy, saluted the great sage Viśvāmitra; and the radiant hero made ready to depart.