Summary
Vashishta nullifies Vishvamitra's missiles just by his Brahma's baton. All missiles are defused when Vashishta consumed them. Vishvamitra launches the highest missile, namely Brahma-missile, which too is consumed by Vashishta, whereby the body of Vashishta becomes a Brahma missile and starts to emit radiation. Then, upon the prayer of Gods and saints, Vashishta withdraws the effect of that missile. Vishvamitra on seeing this concludes that mere missiles are of no use and thus he embarks on a sublime asceticism for Brahma-hood.
Chapter [Sarga] 56 – in Detail
evam ukto vasisthena vishvaamitro mahaabalah |
aagneyam ashtram utksipya tistha tistha iti ca abraviit || 1-56-1
When Vashishta spoke in this way, the great-mighty Vishvamitra brandishing Fiery-missile challenged Vashishta saying, 'withstand this, withstand this... Thus, sage Shataananda continued his narration of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-56-1]
brahmadandam samudyamya kaala dandam iva aparam |
vasistho bhagavaan krodhaat idam vacanam abraviit || 1-56-2
That reverential sage Vashishta then upraising his Brahma-baton, which is like the other baton of the Terminator, spoke this sentence furiously. [1-56-2]
kshatra bandho sthito asmi esa yad balam tad vidarshaya |
naashayaami adya te darpam shas.htrasya tava gaadhija || 1-56-3
I am staying here only, you merit-less Kshatriya, you may clearly display whatever prowess [extraordinary ability] you have, oh, Gaadhi's son Vishvamitra, I will now ruin whatever vanity [inflated pride] you or your missiles have. [1-56-3]
kva ca te ksatriya balam kva ca brahma balam mahat |
pashya brahma balam divyam mama kshatriya paa.nsana || 1-56-4
Where stands the force of belligerence [an aggressive attitude] when compared to the supreme force of sagacity [shrewdness], you abased Kshatriya, watch out for my strength of seraphic sagacity. So said Vashishta to Vishvamitra. [1-56-4]
tasya ashtram gaadhi putrasya ghoram aagneyam uttamam |
brahma dandena tat shaa.ntam agneh vega iva ambhasaa || 1-56-5
With his baton of Brahma Vashishta silenced that matchless and deadly Fiery-missile of Gaadhi's son, namely Vishvamitra, as a deluge of water silencing a rage of fire. [1-56-5]
vaarunam caiva raudram ca aindram paashupatam tathaa |
aisiikam ca api ciksepa rusito gaadhi na.ndanah || 1-56-6
Vishvamitra, the son of Gadhi then rancorously fusilladed [a number of shots fired simultaneously or in rapid succession] the missiles regulated by Gods like Varuna, Rudra, Indra, Paashupata, and even a missile which is projectile through grass blade called Ishiika. [1-56-6]
maanavam mohanam caiva gaandharvam svaapanam tathaa |
jrimbhanam madaanam caiva sa.ntaapana vilaapane || 1-56-7
Vishvamitra also launched missiles named Humane, Rager, Stupefier, Hypnotizer, Yawner, Intoxicator, also thus Humidifier, Weep-inducer. [1-56-7]
shosanam daaranam caiva vajram as.htram sudurjayam |
brahma paasham kaala paasham vaarunam paasham eva ca || 1-56-8
He also launched the missiles called Drainer and Ripper, and the highly unconquerable Thunderbolt, even the lassos [rope] of Brahma, Time and Rain-Gods. [1-56-8]
pinaakam ashtram ca dayitam shuska aarhdre ashanii tathaa |
danda as.htram atha paishaacam krauncam astram tathaiva ca || 1-56-9
Also missiles called Shiva, Monster, Punisher, Wrester and like that the Baffler, Bolter, Drier, Drencher are launched. [1-56-9]
dharma cakram kaala cakram visnu cakram tathaiva ca |
vaayavyam mathanam caiva as.htram haya shirah tathaa || 1-56-10
And he launched discs called the Discs of Virtue, Time and Vishnu and he also launched other missiles like the Blower, Stirrer and like that the missile with Horse-head. [1-56-10]
shakti dvayam ca ciksepa kankaalam musalam tathaa |
vaidyaadharam mahaaas.htram ca kaalaastram atha daarunam || 1-56-11
A pair of powers are launched, namely Power of Vishnu and the Power of Rudra, like that the Impeller, Crowbar, and a great missile called Staggerer, and then he launched the lethal missile of the Time. [1-56-11]
trishuulam ashtram ghoram ca kaapaalam atha kankanam |
etaani astraani ciksepa sarhvaani raghu na.ndana || 1-56-12
vasisthe japataam shresthe tad adbhutam iva abhavat |
Oh, Rama, the descendent of Raghu, Vishvamitra on triggering off all these missiles then he launched the deadly Trident, Skull and Torque missiles on Vashishta, and whole thing has became a spectacular display of Vishvamitra's arsenal. [1-56-12, 13a]
taani sarhvaani dandena grasate brahmanah sutah || 1-56-13
tesu shaa.ntesu brahmaashtram ksiptavaan gaadhi na.ndanah |
Brahma's son Vashishta defused all of those missiles just with his baton and when all of them are thus silenced, Gaadhi's son Vishvamitra touched off Brahma's missile. [1-56-13b, 14a]
tat ashtram udyatam dristvaa devaah sa agni purogamaah || 1-56-14
deva risayah ca sambhraantaa gandharvaah sa mahaa uragaah |
trailokyam aasiit sa.ntrastam brahmaashtre samudiirite || 1-56-15
When Vishvamitra brandished [to shake or wave (as a weapon) menacingly] and set up Brahma missile for launching, seeing it all the Gods keeping the Fire-God at their vanguard, Godly sages, reptiles along with Gandharva-s are perplexed, and the triad of worlds itself is perturbed. [1-56-14b, 15]
tat api ashtram mahaaghoram braahmam braahmena tejasaa |
vasistho grasate sarvam brahma dandena raaghava || 1-56-16
Even that deleteriously [harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way] destructive Brahma's missile is completely consumed with the seraphic [an order of angels] resplendence [brilliance] of Brahma-baton of Sage Vashishta. [1-56-16]
brahma ashtram grasamaanasya vasisthasya mahaatmanah |
trailokya mohanam raudram ruupam aasiit sudaarunam || 1-56-17
The appearance of that great-souled Vashishta became appallingly perplexing when he is finishing off that Brahma missile as if to surely petrify [to become stone] the Tri-world. [1-56-17]
roma kuupesu sarvesu vasisthasya mahaatmanah |
mariicya iva nispetuh agneh dhuuma aakula arcisah || 1-56-18
From all of the pits of hair of that great-souled Vashishta ramified [to cause to branch] are the radiation beams and those radiated shafts are rolling up with the fumes of radiation, so to speak. [1-56-18]
praajvalat brahma dandah ca vasisthasya kara udyatah |
vidhuuma iva kaala agnih yama danda iva aparah || 1-56-19
The baton [a staff borne as a symbol of office] of Brahma gripped in his hand and upraised by Vashishta is highly glowing as if it is the fumeless inferno of Time, and as if it is the earthly baton of Yama, the Terminator. [1-56-19]
tato astuvan muni ganaa vasistham japataam varam |
amogham te balam brahman tejo dhaaraya tejasaa || 1-56-20
nigrihiitah tvayaa brahman vishvaamitro mahaatapaah |
prasiida japataam shrestha lokaah santu gata vyathaah || 1-56-21
The assemblages of saints then extolled [to praise highly] the best mediator Vashishta saying, 'oh, Brahman, infallible is your prowess, but bear this combustion of missile by your own combustive power. Though Vishvamitra is a supreme ascetic he is forestalled by you and your seraphic power, but this power of yours is equally anguishing all the worlds. Hence, let the worlds survive shooing away their anguish caused by your prowess. Oh, Brahman, be gracious, for you are the best among the best mediators...' So said saints to Vashishta. [1-56-20, 21]
evam ukto mahaatejaah shamam cakre mahaatapaah |
vishvaamitro api nikrito vinihshvasya idam abraviit || 1-56-22
When that great-resplendent Vashishta is spoken thus by saints and Gods he composed himself, and then that estranged Vishvamitra spoke this to himself with heavy suspiration [a long deep breath]. [1-56-22]
dhik balam ksatriya balam brahma tejo balam balam |
ekena brahma dandena sarva as.htraani hataani me || 1-56-23
Fie [shame] upon the might of Kshatriya, mightier is the might of Brahman's resplendence [brilliance], only with one baton of Brahma all of my missiles are defused. [1-56-23]
tat etat samaveksya aham prasanna indriya maanasah |
tapo mahat samaasthaasye yat vai brahmatva kaaranam || 1-56-24
Therefore on analyzing this matter, I with my heart and senses quietened will embark on a sublime [supreme] asceticism which really will be the causative [operating as a cause or agent] factor for according Brahma-Sage-hood.' So thought Vishvamitra... Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-56-24]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande sat pa.ncaashah sargah
Thus, this is the 56th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate