Sarga 56: Vashishtha's Brahma-Staff
Brahmadanda Vijaya
Vishvamitra hurls his entire divine arsenal at Vashishtha, who swallows every missile, including the Brahma-astra, with his Brahma-staff; humbled, Vishvamitra resolves to seek brahminhood through austerity.
Jump to a shloka · 18 in this sarga
ब्रह्मास्त्रं ग्रसमानस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मन:। त्रैलोक्यमोहनं रौद्रं रूपमासीत्सुदारुणम्।।1.56.17।।
Meaning
As the great-souled Vashishtha swallowed the Brahma missile, his form became terrifying, dreadful, bewildering to the three worlds.
रोमकूपेषु सर्वेषु वसिष्ठस्य महात्मन:। मरीच्य इव निष्पेतुरग्नेर्धूमाकुलार्चिष:।।1.56.18।।
Meaning
From every pore of the great-souled Vashishtha's body, rays shot out like flames of fire wreathed in smoke.
प्राज्वलद्ब्रह्मदण्डश्च वसिष्ठस्य करोद्यत:। विधूम इव कालाग्निर्यमदण्ड इवापर:।।1.56.19।।
Meaning
The Brahma-staff blazed forth, raised in Vashishtha's hand, like the smokeless fire of dissolution, like another rod of Yama.
ततोऽस्तुवन् मुनिगणा वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्। अमोघं ते बलं ब्रह्मन् तेजो धारय तेजसा।।1.56.20।।
Meaning
Then the assemblies of sages praised Vashishtha, foremost of those who murmur prayer: your power is never in vain, brahmin — now restrain your splendor with your own splendor.
निगृहीतस्त्वया ब्रह्मन् विश्वामित्रो महातपा:। प्रसीद जपतां श्रेष्ठ लोकास्सन्तु गतव्यथा:।।1.56.21।।
Meaning
The greatly ascetic Vishvamitra has been subdued by you, brahmin; be gracious, foremost of those who murmur prayer, let the worlds be free of distress.
एवमुक्तो महातेजाश्शमं चक्रे महातपा:। विश्वामित्रोऽपि निकृतो विनिश्वस्येदमब्रवीत्।।1.56.22।।
Meaning
Thus addressed, the greatly splendid, greatly ascetic one calmed himself; Vishvamitra too, defeated, sighing, spoke this.
धिग्बलं क्षत्रियबलं ब्रह्मतेजो बलं बलम्। एकेन ब्रह्मदण्डेन सर्वास्त्राणि हतानि मे।।1.56.23।।
Meaning
Shame on kshatriya strength; the strength of brahmin splendor is the true strength; with a single Brahma-staff all my missiles were destroyed.
तदेतत्समवेक्ष्याहं प्रसन्नेन्द्रियमानस:। तपो महत्समास्थास्ये यद्वै ब्रह्मत्वकारणम्।।1.56.24।।
Meaning
Having considered this, with mind and senses at peace, I shall undertake great austerity, whatever alone may be the cause of attaining brahminhood.