Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 6
कामधेनुसैन्यप्रादुर्भावः
Kamadhenu’s Forces, Visvamitra’s Austerities, and Vasishta’s Wrath
दृष्ट्वा निषूदितं सैन्यं वसिष्ठेन महात्मना।विश्वामित्रसुतानां च शतं नानाविधायुधम्।।1.55.5।।अभ्यधावत्सुसङ्कृद्धं वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्।हुङ्कारेणैव तान् सर्वान् ददाह भगवान् ऋषि:।।1.55.6।।
dṛṣṭvā niṣūditaṃ sainyaṃ vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā |
viśvāmitrasutānāṃ ca śataṃ nānāvudhāyudham || 1.55.5 ||
abhyadhāvat susaṅkruddhaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ japatāṃ varam |
huṅkāreṇaiva tān sarvān dadāha bhagavān ṛṣiḥ || 1.55.6 ||
Voyant l’armée anéantie par le magnanime Vasiṣṭha, cent fils de Viśvāmitra, munis d’armes de toutes sortes, se ruèrent avec fureur sur Vasiṣṭha, le plus éminent des pratiquants du japa. Mais le ṛṣi bienheureux les réduisit tous en cendres par la seule profération de « huṃ ».
Having seen the army destroyed by the powerful Vasishta, one hundred sons of Viswamitra became extremely furious and armed with various kinds of weapons rushed towards Vasishta, the best among ascetics. Adorable sage Vasishta, reduced them to ashes with just a 'humkara' (the loud 'hum' sound produced with the mouth)
FAQs
The verse underscores that aggression against a righteous ascetic order rebounds severely. It also frames japa and spiritual discipline as a form of protective Dharma—an inner power that can neutralize violence without conventional warfare.
After the army’s destruction, Viśvāmitra’s sons attempt revenge by direct assault, but Vasiṣṭha annihilates them instantly through spiritual potency symbolized by the huṃ-utterance.
Vasiṣṭha’s mastery of self-cultivated spiritual force (mantra/japa-tejas) is emphasized, presenting the ideal of inner power surpassing external arms.