Shloka 1.56.9

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

painākāstraṃ ca dayitaṃ śuṣkārdrē aśanī ubhe |

daṇḍāstram atha paiśācaṃ krauñcam astram tathaiva ca || 1.56.9 ||

Translation

He then hurled the Paināka weapon and the beloved Dayita weapon; he cast forth both thunderbolts—the “dry” and the “wet”—and thereafter the Daṇḍa weapon, the Paiśāca weapon, and likewise the Krauñca weapon.

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
• Painākāstra
• Dayita-astra
• Aśanī (thunderbolt)
• Daṇḍāstra
• Paiśācāstra
• Krauñcāstra

FAQs

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

Dharma warns against escalation: multiplying means of harm does not establish righteousness. Ethical strength lies in self-governance, not in the sheer variety of coercive power.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra continues to intensify the assault by deploying a series of named astras, demonstrating mastery of weapon-mantras but also the danger of anger-driven application.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The episode implicitly elevates spiritual composure (tapas) over martial display; Vasiṣṭha’s steadiness becomes the moral counterpoint.