May 4 - Sargas 27 and 28 of Balakanda.
These two sargas detail the wide array of infallible divine weapons that sage Vishwamitra gives Sri Rama, out of great love for him and keeping in mind his worthiness, prowess as well as future mission.
***
परितुष्टोऽस्मि भद्रं ते राजपुत्र महायशः।
प्रीत्या परमया युक्तो ददाम्यस्त्राणि सर्वशः ॥
देवासुरगणान् वापि सगन्धर्वोरगानपि।
यैरमित्रान् प्रसह्याजौ वशीकृत्य जयिष्यसि ॥
Oh prince Sri Rama, owing to my immense delight and love for you, I shall now give you a whole array of divine weapons.
You shall capture, overcome and defeat enemies of every sort - gods, demons, nether-world inhabitants and celestials with them.
***
The details given are impressive enough to convince us what is special about these weapons. Just a sample:
***
ददामि ते महाबाहो ब्राह्ममस्त्रमनुत्तमम् ।
गदे द्वे चैव काकुत्स्थ मोदकी शिखरी उभे ॥
ददामि चास्त्रं पैनाकमस्त्रं नारायणं तथा ।
आग्नेयास्त्रं दयितं शिखरं नाम नामतः ॥
Oh mighty-armed Rama, I give you the Brahmastra (roughly as powerful as the biggest nuclear weapon of today). I give you two maces Nandaki and Shikhari (used by Vishnu).
I give you the Pinaka weapon (Shiva's Main weapon) and Narayana-astra (a neutron bomb type of weapon we come across in Mahabharata also) and the weapon of fire-god.
***
Remember these weapons were created as beings of unconquerable might as Brahma's grandchildren and were in the sage's possession.
We nowadays admire the stories of the Avengers and such - superheroes of invincibility. These divine weapons are in that mould. To think that sage Valmiki wrote about them 5000 years ago!
As I see it, basically weapons are at different levels. The basic level is passive weapons like swords and maces. They are wielded by strength of limbs. Then come missiles like arrows and javelins which are projectiles designed to travel predictably and hit a distant target. Then come guided missiles that find their way to a target in a curved path. Then come weapons that calculate their target, path and degree of damage that needs to be done and come back after attack. Like drones. Then there are manned weapons. Finally weapons with a superhuman capability that think, act, fight, and accomplish missions like superheroes. These weapons that sage Vishwamitra granted Sri Rama were in that category. Each with a special set of capabilities and degree of power.
Now after receiving these weapons, Sri Rama expresses his utmost gratitude. The weapon-gods come and bow down to him for further orders. He tells them politely that they shall remain in abeyance until invoked by him at any time of need. They withdraw respectfully assuring him of their readiness always.
Now comes an interesting request from Sri Rama. He says,
***
गृहीतोऽस्मि भगवन् दुराधर्षः सुरासुरैः।
अस्त्राणां त्वहमिच्छामि संहारं मुनिपुङ्गव ॥
Oh Lord (sage Vishwamitra), after receiving these divine weapons by your grace I am unconquerable by gods and demons indeed. However, oh noble sage, I would now like to receive from you the weapons to nullify these ones!
***
Vishwamitra gladly teaches him and gives him the counter-weapons.
There is a long list of them too.
Finally Sri Rama commands these counter-weapons also to remain in a suspended state until invoked by him. They dutifully withdraw.
Finally we sense that the three have reached their destination, sage Vishwamitra's hermitage where the yajna was in progress until hindrances from Mareecha and Subahu. Sri Rama notices a marked increase in the beauty and charm of the surroundings and enquires orlf the sage what is this lovely region with such resplendence of nature.
***
अनया त्ववगच्छामि देशस्य सुखवत्तया।
सर्वं मे शंस भगवन् कस्याश्रमपदं त्विदम् ॥
भगवंस्तस्य को देशः सा यत्र तव याज्ञिकी।
रक्षितव्या क्रिया ब्रह्मन् मया वध्याश्च राक्षसाः ॥
Respected sir, I realise from the happy nature of this region that we have come out of that terrible forest. Please tell me all about whose Ashrama lies here.
By the way sir, where is your Ashrama where the yajna is under way? Where I have to protect the sacred rites and destroy those demons who have caused hindrance?
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
