Shloka 1.27.17
अस्त्रप्रदानम् — Bestowal of Divine Astras to Rama
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।।।।
tāmasaṃ naraśārdūla saumanaṃ ca mahābala |
saṃvardhaṃ caiva durdharṣaṃ mausalaṃ ca nṛpātmaja ||
satyam astraṃ mahābāho tathā māyādharaṃ param |
ghoraṃ tejaḥprabhaṃ nāma paratejo’pakarṣaṇam ||
saumyāstraṃ śiśiraṃ nāma tvaṣṭur astraṃ sudāmanam |
dāruṇaṃ ca bhagasyāpi śiteṣu matha mānavam ||1.27.17||
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.
O tiger among men! mighty prince!, accept tamasa and saumanaastras, the unassailable, samavardha weapon, mausala, satyaastra, the supreme mayadhara astra, the terrible tejaprabhaastra capable of removing the energy of the opponent, a soft weapon called sisira, supremely formidable twashtus astra, Bhaga's terrible shiteshuastra (sharp arrowed one) and manava astra.
Dharma is explicitly tied to Satya: the ‘Satya-astra’ symbolizes that ultimate strength is grounded in truth and rightful intent, not deception or ego.
Viśvāmitra completes a longer enumeration of astras, including those linked to deities and special effects (like draining an enemy’s energy), formally equipping Rāma for protecting yajñas and sages.
Truth-aligned power: Rāma’s capacity to bear both māyā-related and satya-related weapons highlights discernment—he can confront illusion without departing from truth.