Valmiki Ramayana 1.21.18: Bala Kanda, Sarga 21, Shloka 18
बालकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः · Daśaratha’s Promise, Vasiṣṭha’s Counsel, and Viśvāmitra’s Weapon
Lore
Spoken by Vasistha to King DaśarathaSetting: Ayodhyā (royal court)Pre-departure justification for forest-journey with the sage
तानि चास्त्राणि वेत्त्येष यथावत्कुशिकात्मजः ।
अपूर्वाणां च जनने शक्तो भूयस्स धर्मवित् ॥१८॥
tāni cāstrāṇi vetty eṣa yathāvat kuśikātmajaḥ |
apūrvāṇāṃ ca janane śakto bhūyaḥ sa dharmavit ||18||
यह कुशिक का बेटा सब अस्त्र अच्छे से जानता है। वो डिटेल में समझता है। धरम भी जानता है, इसलिए नए अस्त्र भी बना सकता है।
Sandhi Notes
- चास्त्राणि = च + अस्त्राणि (अ + अ → आ)
- वेत्त्येष = वेत्ति + एष (इ + ए → ये)
- यथावत्कुशिकात्मजः = यथावत् + कुशिकात्मजः (त् + क्)
Viswamitra is well conversant with these weapons. Being virtuous, he is capable of creating new weapons also.
The teaching
Power is safe when held by a dharma-vit; capability must be paired with ethical discernment.
Duties in tension
- Fear of empowering violence vs necessity of righteous force for protection
- Royal caution vs trust in dharma-guided sage
- Ethical theme
- Daṇḍa-nīti (righteous force) and adhikāra (fitness to wield power)
- How it resolves
- Competence-and-dharma validation (authority testimony by Vasiṣṭha)
For your practice
Discernment about power: seek guidance from dharma-grounded teachers before adopting potent practices.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Marveling, assuring, potent
Themes
- Dharma
- Tapas
- Rishi-tejas
- Protection
- Ethics
- Itihasa
Power (śakti) is not ultimate; its rightful use depends on dharma-guided buddhi—knowledge must govern capability.
Atharva/Upaniṣadic mantra-vidyā tradition: knowledge as ‘weapon’—vidyā confers mastery when ethically grounded.
- Vashishtha and Vishwamitra
- Acknowledgment of another sage’s mastery; legitimizing his request (respectful)
- Vishwamitra and Divine weapons
- Knower/controller of mantra-empowered weapons (mastery)
- Dasharatha and Vishwamitra
- King reassured about sage’s competence and dharmic intent (reassuring)
- Vishwamitra and Rama
- Future transmitter of astras; empowerment of prince (anticipatory)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.26–1.27 (Viśvāmitra bestows astras to Rāma)
Mahābhārata: astravidyā transmission (Droṇa–Arjuna); Purāṇas: mantra-astra lore and tapas-born weapons
Bālakāṇḍa: Viśvāmitra’s tapas history and status; later efficacy of astras in protecting yajña
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Narrative
Bright, confident cadence emphasizing ‘अपूर्वाणां’
FAQs
Power is validated by dharma. Viśvāmitra’s mastery over weapons is framed as grounded in righteousness and disciplined wisdom, not mere force.
Vasiṣṭha reassures Daśaratha about Viśvāmitra’s competence, emphasizing his complete command of astras and even the ability to generate new ones.
Viśvāmitra’s dharma-jñāna and tapas-born capability—knowledge used for protection and rightful purpose.
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