बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः
Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon-Lore
न देवा नर्षय: केचिन्नासुरा न च राक्षसा:।गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरास्सकिन्नरमहोरगा:।।।।
na devā na ṛṣayaḥ kecin nāsurā na ca rākṣasāḥ | gandharva-yakṣa-pravarāḥ sa-kinnara-mahāragāḥ ||
न देव, न कोई ऋषि, न असुर, न राक्षस—न गन्धर्व, न श्रेष्ठ यक्ष, न किन्नर, न महोरग—उस ज्ञान की समता कर सकते हैं।
No gods nor sages nor asuras in rakshasas nor kinnaras nor mighty serpents norgandharvas nor the best of yakshas (will be able to know);
Dharma recognizes true excellence regardless of rank: even celestial beings are not automatically superior to a sage perfected by tapas and truth.
A sweeping list of cosmic beings is invoked to stress that Viśvāmitra’s expertise is unrivaled.
Spiritual attainment—steadfast austerity and truth that elevate a human sage beyond ordinary hierarchies.