Shloka 1.56.7

बालकाण्ड ५६: विश्वामित्र–वसिष्ठ अस्त्रसंघर्षः (Visvamitra and Vasistha: Contest of Divine Weapons)

Devanagari script

मानवं मोहनं चैव गान्धर्वं स्वापनं तथा।जृम्भणं मादनं चैव संतापनविलापने।।।।शोषणं दारणं चैव वज्रमस्त्रं सुदुर्जयम्।ब्रह्मपाशं कालपाशं वारुणं पाशमेव च।।।।पैनाकास्त्रं च दयितं शुष्कार्द्रे अशनी उभे।दण्डास्त्रमथ पैशाचं क्रौञ्चमस्त्रं तथैव च।।।।धर्मचक्रं कालचक्रं विष्णुचक्रं तथैव च।वायव्यं मथनं चैव अस्त्रं हयशिरस्तथा।।।।शक्तिद्वयं च चिक्षेप कङ्कालं मुसलं तथा। 560वैद्याधरं महास्त्रं च कालास्त्रमथ दारुणम्।।।।त्रिशूलमस्त्रं घोरं च कापालमथ कङ्कणम्।एतान्यस्त्राणि चिक्षेप सर्वाणि रघुनन्दन।।।।वसिष्ठे जपतां श्रेष्ठे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्।

Transliteration

tad etat samavekṣyāhaṃ prasannendriyamānasaḥ |

tapo mahat samāsthāsye yad vai brahmatvakāraṇam ||

Translation

Seeing this clearly, with mind and senses made serene, I shall undertake great austerity—indeed that which is the cause of attaining brahminhood.

Context

"O Descendent of Raghu! Viswamitra employed weapons like manava, mohana, gandharva, swapana, jrimbhana, madana, santapana, vilapana, shoshana, darana, vajra weapons, Brahma, kala and varuna pasas, the favourite painaka, daita, shushka, ardra vajras, danda, paisacha, krauncha, weapons, dharmachakra, kalachakra, vishnuchakras, vayavya, mathana, hayasira weapons, kanakala, musala powers,vaidyadhara, kalatrishula, kapala, kankana weapons discharged against Vasishta the best of ascetics. All this became aweful.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Tapas
• Brahmatva (brahminhood)

FAQs

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

Dharma allows moral ascent through disciplined effort; transformation comes from tapas guided by truthfully acknowledging one’s limitations.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra, after defeat, resolves to pursue great austerities to attain the status and qualities of brahminhood.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve (saṅkalpa) and self-discipline—turning humiliation into a sincere commitment to inner growth.