Shloka 1.27.12

अस्त्रप्रदानम् — Bestowal of Divine Astras to Rama

Devanagari script

कङ्कालं मुसलं घोरं कापालमथ कङ्कणम्।धारयन्त्यसुरा यानि ददाम्येतानि सर्वशः।।।।

Transliteration

kaṅkālaṃ musalaṃ ghoraṃ kāpālam atha kaṅkaṇam |

dhārayanty asurā yāni dadāmy etāni sarvaśaḥ ||1.27.12||

Translation

I grant you in full these dreadful weapons—Kaṅkāla, Musala, Kāpāla, and Kaṅkaṇa—such as the asuras are known to wield.

Context

I shall grant all these weapons, the dreadful kankala, pestle kapala and kankana used by asuras.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Kaṅkāla (weapon)
• Musala (weapon)
• Kāpāla (weapon)
• Kaṅkaṇa (weapon)
• Asuras

FAQs

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

Dharma may require mastering even fearsome means, but only to neutralize adharma—power is learned to protect, not to imitate the asuras’ cruelty.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra lists formidable weapons associated with asuras and entrusts them to Rāma under disciplined transmission.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control: the implicit lesson is that righteous hands can hold dangerous tools without becoming unrighteous.