Shloka 1.56.8

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

Devanagari script

मानवं मोहनं चैव गान्धर्वं स्वापनं तथा।जृम्भणं मादनं चैव संतापनविलापने।।1.56.7।।शोषणं दारणं चैव वज्रमस्त्रं सुदुर्जयम्।ब्रह्मपाशं कालपाशं वारुणं पाशमेव च।।1.56.8।।पैनाकास्त्रं च दयितं शुष्कार्द्रे अशनी उभे।दण्डास्त्रमथ पैशाचं क्रौञ्चमस्त्रं तथैव च।।1.56.9।।धर्मचक्रं कालचक्रं विष्णुचक्रं तथैव च।वायव्यं मथनं चैव अस्त्रं हयशिरस्तथा।।1.56.10।।शक्तिद्वयं च चिक्षेप कङ्कालं मुसलं तथा। 560वैद्याधरं महास्त्रं च कालास्त्रमथ दारुणम्।।1.56.11।।त्रिशूलमस्त्रं घोरं च कापालमथ कङ्कणम्।एतान्यस्त्राणि चिक्षेप सर्वाणि रघुनन्दन।।1.56.12।। वसिष्ठे जपतां श्रेष्ठे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्।

Transliteration

śoṣaṇaṃ dāraṇaṃ caiva vajram astraṃ sudurjayam |

brahmapāśaṃ kālapāśaṃ vāruṇaṃ pāśam eva ca || 1.56.8 ||

Translation

Then Viśvāmitra unleashed the emaciating and the rending weapons, and the hard-to-overcome Vajra-weapon; he also hurled the Brahmā-noose, the Kāla-noose, and the Varuṇa-noose as well—against Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of those engaged in japa.

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
• Vasiṣṭha
• Vajra-astra
• Brahmapāśa
• Kālapāśa
• Vāruṇapāśa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how power (astra-vidyā) used under the impulse of rivalry can become ethically destabilizing; Dharma implies restraint and right intention, especially when confronting a spiritually superior person engaged in japa.

What is the narrative situation?

In the Viśvāmitra–Vasiṣṭha conflict episode, Viśvāmitra escalates the confrontation by releasing formidable binding and destructive weapons toward Vasiṣṭha.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

By contrast to the barrage of weapons, Vasiṣṭha’s implied virtue is tapas and inner steadiness—spiritual power grounded in discipline rather than aggression.