Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 56, Shloka 19

बालकाण्ड ५६: विश्वामित्र–वसिष्ठ अस्त्रसंघर्षः

Visvamitra and Vasistha: Contest of Divine Weapons

Devanagari script

प्राज्वलद्ब्रह्मदण्डश्च वसिष्ठस्य करोद्यत:।विधूम इव कालाग्निर्यमदण्ड इवापर:।।।।

Transliteration

prājvalad brahmadaṇḍaś ca vasiṣṭhasya karodyataḥ | vidhūma iva kālāgnir yamadaṇḍa ivāparaḥ || 1.56.19 ||

Translation

Et le Brahma-daṇḍa, levé dans la main de Vasiṣṭha, s’embrasa : tel le feu sans fumée de la fin des âges, tel un autre bâton de Yama.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: None (काल/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): 'then/thereupon'

• अस्तुवन्: praised
• अस्तुवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनिगणाः: hosts of sages
• मुनिगणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + गण (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष ('group of sages')

• वसिष्ठम्: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जपताम्: of the chanters/ascetics
• जपताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'of those who recite/perform japa'

• वरम्: the best
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'श्रेष्ठम्' अर्थे

• अमोघम्: infallible
• अमोघम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + मोघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (बलम्)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• बलम्: power
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तेजः: energy/splendour
• तेजः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धारय: restrain/hold
• धारय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तेजसा: by (your) energy
• तेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Context

Venerable Vasishta, in fury lifted the Brahmadanda which was like another rod of death. And spoke these words:

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Brahmadaṇḍa
• Kālāgni (fire of dissolution)
• Yama

FAQs

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

Dharma includes just restraint and moral ‘judgment’: the staff is likened to forces of cosmic judgment (Kālāgni/Yama), signifying that spiritual authority can decisively end adharma.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration intensifies the scene by describing the Brahmadaṇḍa’s blaze as Vasiṣṭha counters the Brahmāstra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral authority backed by tapas—power that is legitimized by righteousness and spiritual attainment.