Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 23

बालकाण्ड ५६: विश्वामित्र–वसिष्ठ अस्त्रसंघर्षः

Visvamitra and Vasistha: Contest of Divine Weapons

Devanagari script

धिग्बलं क्षत्रियबलं ब्रह्मतेजो बलं बलम्।एकेन ब्रह्मदण्डेन सर्वास्त्राणि हतानि मे।।।।

Transliteration

dhig balaṃ kṣatriyabalaṃ brahmatejo balaṃ balam |

ekena brahmadaṇḍena sarvāstrāṇi hatāni me ||

Translation

¡Maldita sea la fuerza llamada poder de kṣatriya! Sólo el esplendor brahmánico es fuerza verdadera. Con un solo bastón de Brahmā han sido destruidas todas mis armas.

Word by Word

• dhik: fie upon
• dhik: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhik (अव्यय)
• Form: निन्दार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable interjection of censure)

• balam: strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg)

• kṣatriya-balam: kshatriya-strength
• kṣatriya-balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg)

• brahma-tejaḥ: brahmanic splendor
• brahma-tejaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Neuter, Nom sg)

• balam: (is) strength
• balam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg)

• balam: strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc sg)

• ekena: by one
• ekena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental sg)

• brahma-daṇḍena: by Brahma's staff
• brahma-daṇḍena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental sg)

• sarva-astrāṇi: all weapons
• sarva-astrāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc pl)

• hatāni: were destroyed
• hatāni: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु) → hata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate in passive)

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive sg)

Context

The incensed son of Gadhi employed varuna, raudra, aindra, pasupata and aishika weapons.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Brahmadaṇḍa

FAQs

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

True strength is moral-spiritual discipline, not domination; Dharma redefines power as inner mastery rather than external weaponry.

What is the narrative situation?

After his astras fail, Viśvāmitra acknowledges the supremacy of Vasiṣṭha’s brahma-tejas.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Humility born of insight—Viśvāmitra recognizes a higher standard of power and begins a transformative resolve.