Sriramayana on telebridge#22

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Sriramayana#22

Om asmath Gurubhyo Namaha

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

 

The next day morning Sage Visvamithra, being satisfied with the behavior of Rama

in fulfilling the orders of elders and performing the act that is assigned to

him, gives many weapons, especially so many divine asthras to Rama. The weaponry

is categorized mainly into two types. One is sasthra - a handheld weapon like

bow and arrow, sword, and lance or mace. The other is asthra - a projectile

missile invoked by reciting particular manthras. While killing Thataka

Viswamithra came to know the efficiency of Rama in using sasthras. Now he wants

to do upadesa of all divine asthras to Rama, which will be useful to protect his

yajna as well as in future, while facing all the demons in Dandakaranaya.

 

This 27th sarga lists out those missiles (like skuds) that are given to Rama and

in next chapter(28 th) an account of some counter-attack missiles (like

patriots), called upasamhaara asthra-s that can be used to nullify the enemy's

missiles. Viswamithra spoke to Rama with utmost love, "I am highly pleased with

you Rama! Now I will give you all the divine asthras. "I am going to pass on all

these divine missiles by which scores of devathas, demons, gandharvas, uragaas,

and earthlings are dominated, humbled and conquered in war. I am going to give

You the highly divine discs, 1) Danda Chakra [Punisher disc] 2) Dharma Chakra

[Virtue-disc], 3) kaala Chakra [Time-disc] 4) Vishnu Chakra.

 

Then divine asthras like 5) Indra asthra (Thunderbolt missile) 6) the best

trident pertaining to Siva; 7) Brahma-sira [brahma-crest] 8) Aishiikaasthra

[Grass-Blade missile] and Oh, Rama, I am going to give You the unexcelled and

highly formidable asthras called 9)Brahmasthram(which was used to kill Ravana).

Then two devine maces that are brilliant by their radiance called, 10)Modaki

[the Beater], and 11)Shikhari [the Tower of Protection ], were given.

 

Along with these, sage Viswamithra gave, three nooses called 12)Dharma paasa and

13)kaala-paasa and 14)Varuna paasa, [Virtue noose and Time noose, Rain god's

noose] as well as an unequalled missile called 15)Varuna asthra(Rain-god's

missile) to Rama. Then two projectile bolts, one called 16)sushka, [The Drier]

and the other 17)aardra [The Drencher], 18)the Pinaakaasthra(which belongs to

siva), 19)Narayanaasthra(belongs to Narayana) 20)Aagneyasthra(wich belongs to

Firegod, and used to kill Subahu), 21)Vayavya asthra(a missile of Air-god),

22)the well-known missile sikhari [The Tower], 23)prathana [The Blower], two

missiles named 24)Haya-sira [The Horse-head] and 25)Krouncha [The Wrester].

 

Again two Impellers, 26)one presided over by Vishnu, and 27)the other by Rudra.

Then the weapons that are wielded by demons, namely 28)the deadly Pounder named

Kankaalam,29)musalam,30) Kapaalam and 40)Kankanam which are used for the

elimination of those demons to protect sages, Viswamithra gave to Rama. Then he

is saying again, Oh! mighty armed son of the Great king, I am willing to give

You a great missile named 41)Vaidyadhara, 42)sword named Nandana.

 

Here after we can observe the names of some chemical weapons in those days

also. 43)Gandharva asthra [The Stupefier], 44)Manavasthra(which is used to throw

away Maricha upto 800miles), 43)Prasvapanaasthra [The Inducer of Sleep, probably

something madeup of chloroform], 44)the Prashamanaasthra [The Pacifier of

enemy's anger, something like laughing gas], 45)Souraasthra, 46)Darpanaasthra,

47)soshanaasthra [the Drier], 48)santaapanaasthra [probably which will make to

feel depression], 48)vilaapanaasthra [tear-inducer, tear gas], 49)an

unassailable intoxicator and a dear missile of Manmadha, named Mohana [The

Intoxicator,] 50)maanava [The Humane missile]

 

Then a missile dear one to pishaaca-s, (monsters),51)namely paisachaasthra [The

Monster missile],52)Thamasa asthra, 53)saumanaasthra, 54) Mausalasthra,

55)Satyasthra, 56)Mayadharasthra, 57)Tejahprabha asthra( which will squeeze the

energy of the enemies), 58)the sisiraasthra (The Cooler, probably belongs to

moon and makes enemies frozen), and a very deadly asthras of thvashta called

sudaamanaasthra, and a dangerous missile *s*itaashu, these and the maanava

missile of Manu all these were given by Sage Viswamithra to Rama in the form of

Manthras. And Viswsamithra said to Rama, "Oh! Rama! these missiles are, most

powerful, be cautious while using them". Then Vishvamitra transferred the powers

of all those weapons to Rama by chanting the appropriate manthras (facing east),

at which time the owner of each weapon came in front of Rama in their original

form.

 

All of those highly obliging missiles in astral bodies were glad to come under

the protection of Rama, spoke to him with folded palms, "we are here to obey

You". Rama received them with due respect and replied please be within my heart.

Then Rama was curious to know some more asthras which are called as upasamhara

asthras. What are they?...............

 

Contd.

Jaisrimannarayana!

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