Shloka 1.56.17
बालकाण्ड ५६: विश्वामित्र–वसिष्ठ अस्त्रसंघर्षः (Visvamitra and Vasistha: Contest of Divine Weapons)
ब्रह्मास्त्रं ग्रसमानस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मन:।त्रैलोक्यमोहनं रौद्रं रूपमासीत्सुदारुणम्।।।।
tad apy astraṃ mahāghoraṃ brahmaṃ brāhmeṇa tejasā | vasiṣṭho grasate sarvaṃ brahmadaṇḍena rāghava || 1.56.16 ||
O Rāghava, Vasiṣṭha—endowed with Brahmā’s own radiance—swallowed up entirely even that most dreadful Brahmāstra, by means of the Brahma-staff.
While swallowing Brahmastra the great Vasishta looked fierce and terrible causing the three worlds to faint.
Dharma is protective and stabilizing: higher spiritual power is shown not as aggression but as the capacity to neutralize catastrophic force and restore balance.
After Viśvāmitra releases the Brahmāstra, Vasiṣṭha counteracts it by absorbing it through the Brahmadaṇḍa.
Vasiṣṭha’s brahma-tejas and guardianship of cosmic order—strength expressed as containment rather than destruction.