Shloka 17
अस्त्रप्रदानम्
Bestowal of Divine Astras to Rama
तामसं नरशार्दूल सौमनं च महाबल।संवर्धं चैव दुर्धर्षं मौसलं च नृपात्मज।।।।सत्यमस्त्रं महाबाहो तथा मायाधरं परम्।घोरं तेजः प्रभं नाम परतेजोऽपकर्षणम्।।।।सौम्यास्त्रं शिशिरं नाम त्वष्टुरस्त्रं सुदामनम्।दारुणं च भगस्यापि शितेषु मथ मानवम्।।।।
tāmasaṃ naraśārdūla saumanaṃ ca mahābala |
saṃvardhaṃ caiva durdharṣaṃ mausalaṃ ca nṛpātmaja ||
satyam astraṃ mahābāho tathā māyādharaṃ param |
ghoraṃ tejaḥprabhaṃ nāma paratejo’pakarṣaṇam ||
saumyāstraṃ śiśiraṃ nāma tvaṣṭur astraṃ sudāmanam |
dāruṇaṃ ca bhagasyāpi śiteṣu matha mānavam ||1.27.17||
噢，人中雄狮、伟力王子：请受持“昏暗之器”塔摩萨（Tāmasa）与“吉祥之器”苏摩那（Saumana）；并受那不可抗拒的萨姆瓦尔达（Saṃvardha）与摩乌萨拉（Mausala）。又，强臂者，请受“真实之器”萨提亚（Satya-astra）与至上的“幻持之器”摩耶陀罗（Māyādhara）；以及名为“光威”提迦赫普拉婆（Tejaḥprabha）的可怖神兵，能夺去敌手之力。亦请受温和之器“清凉”尸施罗（Śiśira）；工巧神特瓦什特利（Tvaṣṭṛ）之神兵苏达曼（Sudāman）；福神婆伽（Bhaga）之凶烈“利箭”尸提舒（Śiteṣu）；并受“人界之器”摩那瓦（Mānava）。
O tiger among men! mighty prince!, accept tamasa and saumanaastras, the unassailable, samavardha weapon, mausala, satyaastra, the supreme mayadhara astra, the terrible tejaprabhaastra capable of removing the energy of the opponent, a soft weapon called sisira, supremely formidable twashtus astra, Bhaga's terrible shiteshuastra (sharp arrowed one) and manava astra.
FAQs
Dharma is explicitly tied to Satya: the ‘Satya-astra’ symbolizes that ultimate strength is grounded in truth and rightful intent, not deception or ego.
Viśvāmitra completes a longer enumeration of astras, including those linked to deities and special effects (like draining an enemy’s energy), formally equipping Rāma for protecting yajñas and sages.
Truth-aligned power: Rāma’s capacity to bear both māyā-related and satya-related weapons highlights discernment—he can confront illusion without departing from truth.