Shloka 19
बालकाण्ड ५६: विश्वामित्र–वसिष्ठ अस्त्रसंघर्षः
Visvamitra and Vasistha: Contest of Divine Weapons
प्राज्वलद्ब्रह्मदण्डश्च वसिष्ठस्य करोद्यत:।विधूम इव कालाग्निर्यमदण्ड इवापर:।।।।
prājvalad brahmadaṇḍaś ca vasiṣṭhasya karodyataḥ | vidhūma iva kālāgnir yamadaṇḍa ivāparaḥ || 1.56.19 ||
वसिष्ठ के उठे हुए हाथ में ब्रह्मदण्ड प्रज्वलित हो उठा—धूमरहित प्रलयाग्नि के समान, मानो यम का दूसरा दण्ड हो।
Venerable Vasishta, in fury lifted the Brahmadanda which was like another rod of death. And spoke these words:
FAQs
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.
The narration intensifies the scene by describing the Brahmadaṇḍa’s blaze as Vasiṣṭha counters the Brahmāstra.
Moral authority backed by tapas—power that is legitimized by righteousness and spiritual attainment.