Sarga 28: The Weapons of Withdrawal
Samhara Astra Prapti
Rama asks Vishvamitra for the counter-weapons that recall or nullify missiles; the sage bestows these as well, and their deities too appear before Rama. Continuing on, Rama notices a lovely forest ahead and asks Vishvamitra whose hermitage it is.
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प्रतिगृह्य ततोऽस्त्राणि प्रहृष्टवदनश्शुचि:। गच्छन्नेव च काकुत्स्थो विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्।।1.28.1।।
Meaning
Having received the weapons, radiant and joyful of face, Kakutstha, even as they walked on, spoke thus to Vishvamitra.
गृहीतास्त्रोऽस्मि भगवन् दुराधर्षस्सुरैरपि। अस्त्राणां त्वहमिच्छामि संहारं मुनिपुङ्गव।।1.28.2।।
Meaning
Holy one, I have received weapons unassailable even by gods; but, best of sages, I wish also to learn how to withdraw them.
एवं ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:। संहारं व्याजहाराथ धृतिमान् सुव्रतश्शुचि:।।1.28.3।।
Meaning
As Kakutstha spoke thus, the great, steadfast, pure sage of firm vows, Vishvamitra, then proceeded to impart the withdrawal weapons.
सत्यवन्तं सत्यकीर्तिं धृष्टं रभसमेव च। प्रतिहारतरं नाम पराङ्मुखमवाङ्मुखम्।।1.28.4।। लक्षाक्षविषमौ चैव दृढनाभसुनाभकौ। दशाक्षशतवक्त्रौ च दशशीर्षशतोदरौ।।1.28.5।। पद्मनाभमहानाभौ दुन्दुनाभसुनाभकौ। ज्योतिषं कृशनं चैव नैराश्यविमलावुभौ।।1.28.6।। योगन्धरहरिद्रौ च दैत्यप्रशमनौतथा। सार्चिर्माली धृतिर्माली वृत्तिमान् रुचिरस्तथा।।1.28.7।। पितृसौमनसं चैव विधूतमकरावुभौ। करवीरकरं चैव धनधान्यौ च राघव।।1.28.8।। कामरूपं कामरुचिं मोहमावरणं तथा। जृम्भकं सर्वनाभं च सन्तानवरणौ तथा।।1.28.9।। भृशाश्वतनयान् राम भास्वरान्कामरूपिण:। प्रतीच्छ मम भद्रं ते पात्रभूतोऽसि राघव।।1.28.10।।
Meaning
Take from me, Raghava, Satyavanta, Satyakirti, Dhrishta, Rabhasa, and Pratiharatara, Paranmukha and Avanmukha; Lakshya and Alakshya, Dridhanabha and Sunabha, Dashaksha and Shatavaktra, Dashashirsha and Shatodara; Padmanabha and Mahanabha, Dundunabha and Sunabhaka, Jyotisha and Krishna, and the pair Nairashya and Vimala; Yogandhara and Haridra, and Daityapramathana; Sarchirmali and Dhritimali, Vrittiman and Suchira; Pitrisaumanasa, and the pair Vidhuta and Makara; Karaviraka, and Dhana and Dhanya, Raghava; Kamarupa and Kamaruchi, Moha and Avarana; Jrimbhaka and Sarvanabha, and the pair Santana and Varana — accept these radiant, shape-shifting sons of Krishashva, Rama; blessed be you, you are a worthy vessel, Raghava.
बाढमित्येव काकुत्स्थ: प्रहृष्टेनान्तारात्मना। दिव्यभास्वरदेहाश्च मूर्तिमन्तस्सुखप्रदा:।।1.28.11।। केचिदङ्गारसदृशा: केचिद्धूमोपमास्तथा। चन्द्रार्कसदृशा: केचित्प्रह्वाञ्जलिपुटास्तथा।।1.28.12।। रामं प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वाऽब्रुवन् मधुरभाषिण:। इमे स्म नरशार्दूल शाधि किं करवाम ते।।1.28.13।।
Meaning
'So be it,' said Kakutstha with a joyful heart. Then those weapons, with divine radiant, embodied forms, bringers of bliss — some like glowing embers, some like smoke, some resembling the moon or sun — bowed to Rama with joined palms and spoke sweetly: 'Here we are, tiger among men, command us, what shall we do for you?'
मानसा: कार्यकालेषु साहाय्यं मे करिष्यथ। गम्यतामिति तानाह यथेष्टं रघुनन्दन:।।1.28.14।।
Meaning
Delight of Raghu said to them: 'Present yourselves in my mind to assist me when the occasion demands; for now, go as you please.'
अथ ते राममामन्त्ऱ्य कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्। एवमस्त्विति काकुत्स्थमुक्त्वाजग्मुर्यथाऽगतम्।।1.28.15।।
Meaning
Then, taking leave of Rama and circumambulating him, saying 'so be it' to Kakutstha, they departed as they had come.
स च तान् राघवो ज्ञात्वा विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। गच्छन्नेवाथ मधुरं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.28.16।।
Meaning
Raghava, understanding this, then spoke sweet and gentle words to the great sage Vishvamitra even as they walked.
किन्न्वेतन्मेघसङ्काशं पर्वतस्याविदूरत:। वृक्षषण्डमितो भाति परं कौतूहलं हि मे।।1.28.17।। दर्शनीयं मृगाकीर्णं मनोरममतीव च। नानाप्रकारैश्शकुनैर्वल्गुनादैरलङ्कृतम्।।1.28.18।।
Meaning
What is this cloud-like thicket of trees shining not far from the mountain — I am greatly curious. It is lovely to behold, teeming with deer, exceedingly charming, and adorned with the sweet calls of many kinds of birds.
निस्सृता: स्म मुनिश्रेष्ठ कान्ताराद्रोमहर्षणात्। अनया त्ववगच्छामि देशस्य सुखवत्तया।।1.28.19।। सर्वं मे शंस भगवन् कस्याश्रमपदं त्विदम्।
Meaning
Best of sages, we have emerged from that hair-raising wilderness; from this place's pleasant, happy aspect I gather we have left it behind. Tell me all this, holy one — whose hermitage is this?