Valmiki Ramayana 1.27.15-16: Bala Kanda, Sarga 27, Shlokas 15-16
अस्त्रप्रदानम् · Bestowal of Divine Astras to Rama
Spoken by Viśvāmitra to RamaSetting: Viśvāmitra’s hermitage precincts (Siddhāśrama context)Places named: SiddhāśramaTraining/arming phase (reiteration/confirmation)
दर्पणं शोषणं चैव सन्तापनविलापने ।
मदनं चैव दुर्धर्षं कन्दर्पदयितं तथा ॥१५॥
पैशाचमस्त्रं दयितं मोहनं नाम नामतः ।
प्रतीच्छ नरशार्दूल राजपुत्र महायशः ॥१६॥
darpaṇaṃ śoṣaṇaṃ caiva santāpanavilāpane |
madanaṃ caiva durdharṣaṃ kandarpadayitaṃ tathā ||15||
paiśācam astraṃ dayitaṃ mohanaṃ nāma nāmataḥ |
pratīccha naraśārdūla rājaputra mahāyaśaḥ ||16||
हे शेर जैसे इंसान, बड़े नाम वाले राजकुमार, यह पिशाच अस्त्र ले लो। इसका नाम मोहन है। जो मैंने अभी बताए सब अस्त्र तुम्हे दे रहा हूँ।
Sandhi Notes
- सन्तापनविलापने = सन्तापन-विलापने (द्वन्द्व, dual)
- कन्दर्पदयितम् = कन्दर्प-दयितम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
O renowned prince, best among men, receive these astras known as darpana, soshana, santhapana, vilapana, madana astra, the unassailable one favoured by kamadeva and the paisacha astra known as mohana favoured by demons.
The teaching
Acceptance (‘pratīccha’) is acceptance of accountability; the darker the power, the greater the required restraint.
Duties in tension
- Need for effective protection using even delusive means
- Commitment to righteous, non-cruel application of force
- Ethical theme
- Accountability in power
- How it resolves
- Reaffirmed acceptance under guru’s oversight
For your practice
Use as contemplation on conquering moha; reaffirm vows of restraint when gaining influence or capability.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism), with Adbhuta (wonder)
- Mood
- Resolute, esoteric, ceremonial
Themes
- Itihasa
- Dharma
- Southern Recension variant
- Textual repetition
Repetition underscores saṃskāra: knowledge/power becomes stable through reaffirmation; delusion is to be recognized and transcended.
Īśa: ‘tena tyaktena bhuñjīthāḥ’—possess without possessiveness; accept power without egoic clinging.
- Viśvāmitra and Rama
- Guru-śiṣya; reiterative injunction to receive Paiśāca ‘Mohana’ with prior astras (firm-benevolent)
- Rama and Piśācas
- Weapon associated with/against liminal beings; mastery over dark enchantment (wary-resolute)
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.27 (variant/reiterated pāṭha in some recensions)
Initiatory repetition common in śruti-smṛti transmission (anuvāda/abhyāsa)
Recurrent epithet ‘narśārdūla’ used when urging decisive acceptance/action in later kāṇḍas
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Commanding-confirmatory
Steady, lower register emphasis on ‘mohana’ and ‘pratīccha’
FAQs
Dharma-centered instruction is reiterated: the repeated injunction to ‘receive’ stresses disciplined acceptance and responsible custody of power.
This verse repeats/renumbers the prior content in the Southern Recension stream, emphasizing the receipt of Mohana (Paiśāca) astra.
Accountability: Rāma is treated as a worthy custodian whose fame depends on ethical restraint.
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