Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 12
बालकाण्ड ५६: विश्वामित्र–वसिष्ठ अस्त्रसंघर्षः
Visvamitra and Vasistha: Contest of Divine Weapons
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।
triśūlam astraṃ ghoraṃ ca kāpālam atha kaṅkaṇam | etāny astrāṇi cikṣepa sarvāṇi raghunandana || 1.56.12 || vasiṣṭhe japatāṃ śreṣṭhe tad adbhutam ivābhavat |
Il déchaîna l’arme redoutable Triśūla, puis le Kāpāla et aussi le Kaṅkaṇa. Toutes ces armes, ô joie de la lignée de Raghu, il les lança contre Vasiṣṭha—le plus éminent des dévots voués à la récitation sacrée ; et cela parut un prodige.
Vasishta son of Brahma, swallowed all those weapons with his staff. When those weapons were humbled, son of Gadhi employed Brahmastra.
FAQs
The verse contrasts external might (weaponry) with inner discipline (japa). It implies that dharma is strengthened by spiritual practice and integrity, not merely by destructive capability.
Viśvāmitra continues to unleash named astras; the narration pauses to underline Vasiṣṭha’s stature as a supreme practitioner of japa, heightening the dramatic contrast.
Vasiṣṭha’s tapas and steadiness in sacred recitation are emphasized—spiritual composure amid aggression.