Sloka & Translation

Audio

[Vasishta destroys the weapons employed by Viswamitra with his Brahmadanda -- Viswamitra undertakes austerities to acquire brahminhood.]

ēvamuktō vasiṣṭhēna viśvāmitrō mahābala:.

āgnēyamastramutkṣipya tiṣṭha tiṣṭhēti cābravīt৷৷1.56.1৷৷


mahābala: mighty, viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, vasiṣṭhēna by Vasishta, ēvam thus, ukta: having been addressed, āgnēyam astram Agneya astra, utkṣipya after lifting, tiṣṭha tiṣṭha iti 'stay, stay' so, abravīt said.

Thus said Vasishta. Mighty Viswamitra lifted up agneya astra (shaft of fire) and discharging it said, 'stay, stay'.
brahmadaṇḍaṅ samutkṣipya kāladaṇḍamivā.param.

vasiṣṭhō bhagavān krōdhādidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷1.56.2৷৷


bhagavān revered, vasiṣṭha: Vasishta, param another, kāladaṇḍamiva looking like unto the rod of death, brahmadaṇḍam rod of Brahma, samutkṣipya having lifted, krōdhāt in anger, idam this, vacanam word, abravīt spoke.

Venerable Vasishta, in fury lifted the Brahmadanda which was like another rod of death. And spoke these words:
kṣatrabandhō sthitōsmyēṣa yadbalaṅ tadvidarśaya.

nāśayāmyadya tē darpaṅ śastrasya tava gādhija!৷৷1.56.3৷৷


kṣatrabandhō O! Wicked kshatriya, ēṣa: sthita: asmi I am standing here, yat balam which strength (you have), tat that one, vidarśaya show it, gādhija O! Son of Gadhi, adya now, tē your, darpam pride, tava your, śastrasya arms', nāśayāmi I will destroy.

"O wicked kshatriya! O son of Gadhi! here I stand. Show me your strength and the pride of your arms. I will destroy them now.
kva ca tē kṣatriyabalaṅ kva ca brahmabalaṅ mahat.

paśya brahmabalaṅ divyaṅ mama kṣatriyapāṅsana!৷৷1.56.4৷৷


kṣatriyapāṅsana! O! Meanest among kshatriyas, tē your, kṣatriyabalam energy of kshatriya, kva where, mahat great, brahmabalam energy of Brahma, kva where, mama my, divyam divine, brahmabalam energy of Brahma, paśya behold.

O mean kshatriya! where does your energy of a kshatriya stand in comparison with the great energy of Brahma? Behold my Brahmabala (Brahman's energy)".
tasyāstraṅ gādhiputrasya ghōramāgnēyamudyatam.

brahmadaṇḍēna tacchāntamagnērvēga ivāmbhasā৷৷1.56.5৷৷


tasya gādhiputrasya that Gadhi's son's, udyatam discharged, tat that, āgnēyam Agneya, astram weapon, ambhasā by water, agnē: fire's, vēga: iva like speed, brahmadaṇḍēna by the rod of Brahma, śāntam calmed.

The Brahmadanda (released by Vasishta) put down the dreadful agneya astra released by Gadhi's son just like the force of fire is extinguished by water.
vāruṇaṅ caiva raudraṅ ca aindraṅ pāśupataṅ tathā.

aiṣīkaṅ cāpi cikṣēpa kupitō gādhinandana:৷৷1.56.6৷৷


kupita: incensed, gādhinandana: son of Gadhi, vāruṇaṅ caiva Varuna weapon, raudraṅ ca Raudra, aindraṅ ca Aindra, tathā and, pāśupatam Pasupata, aiṣīkaṅ cāpi Aishika, cikṣēpa employed or discharged.

The incensed son of Gadhi employed varuna, raudra, aindra, pasupata and aishika weapons.
mānavaṅ mōhanaṅ caiva gāndharvaṅ svāpanaṅ tathā.

jṛmbhaṇaṅ mādanaṅ caiva saṅtāpanavilāpanē৷৷1.56.7৷৷

śōṣaṇaṅ dāraṇaṅ caiva vajramastraṅ sudurjayam.

brahmapāśaṅ kālapāśaṅ vāruṇaṅ pāśamēva ca৷৷1.56.8৷৷

painākāstraṅ ca dayitaṅ śuṣkārdrē aśanī ubhē.

daṇḍāstramatha paiśācaṅ krauñcamastraṅ tathaiva ca৷৷1.56.9৷৷

dharmacakraṅ kālacakraṅ viṣṇucakraṅ tathaiva ca.

vāyavyaṅ mathanaṅ caiva astraṅ hayaśirastathā৷৷1.56.10৷৷

śaktidvayaṅ ca cikṣēpa kaṅkālaṅ musalaṅ tathā. 560

vaidyādharaṅ mahāstraṅ ca kālāstramatha dāruṇam৷৷1.56.11৷৷

triśūlamastraṅ ghōraṅ ca kāpālamatha kaṅkaṇam.

ētānyastrāṇi cikṣēpa sarvāṇi raghunandana৷৷1.56.12৷৷

vasiṣṭhē japatāṅ śrēṣṭhē tadadbhutamivābhavat.


raghunandana O! Joy of Raghus, Rama, mānavam manava, mōhanaṅ caiva mohana, gāndharvam gandharva, tathā and, svāpanam swapana (inducing sleep), jṛmbhaṇam Jrimbhana (causing yawning), mādanaṅ caiva weapon causing intoxication, santāpanavilāpanē weapons causing burning and wailing, śōṣaṇam weapon causing emaciation, dāraṇaṅ caiva weapon that splits, sudurjayam difficult to defeat, vajram astraṅ ca Vajra astra, brahmapāśam Brahma astra, kālapāśam Kala pasa, vāruṇaṅ pāśamēva ca Varuna pasa, painākāstram Painaka weapon, dayitam Daita weapon, śuṣkārdrē wet and dry, ubhē two, aśanī thunder bolt, atha and, daṇḍāstram Danda weapon, paiśācam Paisacha weapon, tathaiva ca as also, krauñcamastram Krauncha weapon, dharmacakram Dharma chakra, kālacakram Kala chakra, tathaiva ca as also, viṣṇucakram Vishnu Chakra, vāyavyam pike of Vayu, mathanaṅ caiva mathana, the churning weapon, tathā and, hayaśira: astram Haya sira weapon, kaṅkālam Kankala, the skeleton weapon, tathā and, musalam musala, the pestle, śaktidvayaṅ ca two powers, cikṣēpa employed, vaidyādharam Vaidyadhram pertaining to Vidyadharas, mahāstraṅ ca mahastra, atha and, dāruṇam fearful, kālāstram Kala weapon, ghōram dreadful, triśūlam astram Trishula weapon, atha and, kāpālam Kapalaskull, kaṅkaṇam ring shaped Kankana, ētāni sarvāṇi all these, astrāṇi weapons, japatāṅ śrēṣṭhē at the best among ascetics, vasiṣṭhē on Vasistha, cikṣēpa employed, tat that, adbhutamiva abhavat became super natural (aweful).

"O Descendent of Raghu! Viswamitra employed weapons like manava, mohana, gandharva, swapana, jrimbhana, madana, santapana, vilapana, shoshana, darana, vajra weapons, Brahma, kala and varuna pasas, the favourite painaka, daita, shushka, ardra vajras, danda, paisacha, krauncha, weapons, dharmachakra, kalachakra, vishnuchakras, vayavya, mathana, hayasira weapons, kanakala, musala powers,
vaidyadhara, kalatrishula, kapala, kankana weapons discharged against Vasishta the best of ascetics. All this became aweful.
tāni sarvāṇi daṇḍēna grasatē brahmaṇassuta:৷৷1.56.13৷৷

tēṣu śāntēṣu brahmāstraṅ kṣiptavān gādhinandana:.


brahmaṇa: suta: son of Brahma, Vasishta, tāni sarvāṇi all those (weapons ), daṇḍēna with his staff, grasatē swallowed, tēṣu when those weapons, śāntēṣu were humbled, gādhinandana: son of Gadhi, brahmāstram Brahma astra, kṣiptavān employed.

Vasishta son of Brahma, swallowed all those weapons with his staff. When those weapons were humbled, son of Gadhi employed Brahmastra.
tadastramudyataṅ dṛṣṭvā dēvāssāgnipurōgamā:৷৷1.56.14৷৷

dēvarṣayaśca sambhrāntāgandharvāssamahōragā:.

trailōkyamāsītsantaptaṅ brahmāstrē samudīritē৷৷1.56.15.


udyatam employed, tat astram that Brahma astra, dṛṣṭvā having seen, sāgnipurōgamā: with Agni in the forefront, dēvā: devatas, dēvarṣaya: ca divine rishis, samahōragā: with great serpents, gandharvā: gandharvas, sambhrāntā: agitated, brahmāstrē when Brahma astra, samudīritē was discharged, trailōkyam three worlds, santaptam āsīt became distressed.

All the devatas, with Agni in the forefront, divine rishis, great uragas and gandharvas were agitated seeing the Brahmastra raised. When Brahmastra was discharged, the three worlds became distressed.
tadapyastraṅ mahāghōraṅ brahmaṅ brāhmēṇa tējasā .

vasiṣṭhō grasatē sarvaṅ brahmadaṇḍēna rāghava!৷৷1.56.16৷৷


rāghava O! Rama, vasiṣṭha: Vasishta, brahmēṇa tējasā possessing the energy of Brahma, brahmadaṇḍēna with the danda of Brahma, mahāghōram highly dreadful, tat that, brahmaṅ astramapi Brahma astra also, sarvam entirely, grasatē swallowed.

O Descendant of Raghu! Vasishta who possessed the energy of Brahma swallowed that very dreadful Brahmastra entirely with the help of Brahmadanda.
brahmāstraṅ grasamānasya vasiṣṭhasya mahātmana:.

trailōkyamōhanaṅ raudraṅ rūpamāsītsudāruṇam৷৷1.56.17৷৷


brahmāstram Brahma astra, grasamānasya while swallowing, mahātmana: of the magnanimous, vasiṣṭhasya Vasishta's, rūpam form, trailōkyamōhanam causing the three worlds to faint, raudram fierce, sudāruṇam āsīt became terrible.

While swallowing Brahmastra the great Vasishta looked fierce and terrible causing the three worlds to faint.
rōmakūpēṣu sarvēṣu vasiṣṭhasya mahātmana:.

marīcya iva niṣpēturagnērdhūmākulārciṣa:৷৷1.56.18৷৷


mahātmana: Illustrious, vasiṣṭhasya Vasishta's, sarvēṣu completely, rōmakūpēṣu in pores of his body, dhūmākulārciṣa: flames with smoke, agnē: fire's, marīcya: rays of light, niṣpēturiva looked like coming out.

From every pore of the great Vasishta's body flames resembling rays of light with smoke emerged.
prājvaladbrahmadaṇḍaśca vasiṣṭhasya karōdyata:.

vidhūma iva kālāgniryamadaṇḍa ivāpara:৷৷1.56.19৷৷


vasiṣṭhasya Vasishta's, karōdyata: lifted in his hand, brahmadaṇḍaśca staff of Brahma, vidhūma: smokeless, kālāgniriva fire at the end of dissolution of the worlds, apara: another, yamadaṇḍa: iva rod of death, prājvalat inflammed (was burning ).

The staff of Brahma in Vasishta's hand, resembling smokeless fire at the end of the dissolution of the worlds inflamed like another rod of death.
tatō.stuvan munigaṇā vasiṣṭhaṅ japatāṅ varam.

amōghaṅ tē balaṅ brahman tējō dhāraya tējasā৷৷1.56.20৷৷


tata: then, munigaṇā: hosts of sages, japatāṅ varam best among sages, vasiṣṭham Vasishta, astuvan praised, brahman O! Brahmin, tē your, balam energy, amōgham infallible, tēja: your energy, tējasā by your enegy, dhāraya hold.

Then hosts of saints praised Vasishta, the best among sages, saying "O! Brahmin, your energy is infallible, hold your energy by your enegy".
nigṛhītastvayā brahman! viśvāmitrō mahātapā:.

prasīda japatāṅ śrēṣṭha! lōkāssantu gatavyathā:৷৷1.56.21৷৷


brahman O! Brahman, tvayā by you, mahātapā: great ascetic, viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, nigṛhīta: was controlled, japatāṅ śrēṣṭha O! Best of ascetics, prasīda be pleased, lōkā: worlds, gatavyathā: santu be delivered from distress.

'O Brahman! great ascetic Viswamitra was controlled by you. O Best of ascetics! be
pleased and let the worlds be delivered from distress'.
ēvamuktō mahātējāśśamaṅ cakrē mahātapā:.

viśvāmitrō.pi nikṛtō viniśvasyēdamabravīt৷৷1.56.22৷৷


ēvam thus, ukta: spoken, mahātējā: highly splendrous, mahātapā: great ascetic, śamam tranquility, cakrē made, nikṛta: humiliated, viśvāmitra: api Visvamitra also, viniśvasya heaving a sigh, idam this word, abravīt spoke.

At this, Vasishta the most brilliant ascetic became quiet. The humiliated Viswamitra heaved a sigh and spoke these words:
dhigbalaṅ kṣatriyabalaṅ brahmatējō balaṅ balam.

ēkēna brahmadaṇḍēna sarvāstrāṇi hatāni mē৷৷1.56.23৷৷


kṣatriyabalam the energy of Kshatriya, dhik fie upon, brahmatējōbalam the strength of Brahma- energy, balam energy, ēkēna by one, brahmadaṇḍēna staff of Brahma, mē my, sarvāstrāṇi all weapons, hatāni were beaten.

Shame! Where is the might of a kshatriya? The energy of a brahmin is the real energy. The staff of Brahma has singly destroyed all my weapons".
tadētatsamavēkṣyāhaṅ prasannēndriyamānasa:.

tapō mahatsamāsthāsyē yadvai brahmatvakāraṇam৷৷1.56.24৷৷


tat for that reason, ētat this affair, samavēkṣya having seen, prasannēndriyamānasa: with pellucid mind and senses, yat which one, brahmatvakāraṇam is the reason for brahminhood, mahat great, tapa: penance, samāsthāsyē undertake.

"Now I have realised the reason. With clear mind and senses, I shall undertake intense penance which will earn me brahminhood".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ṣaṭpañcāśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fiftysixth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.