|| om tat sat ||

एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महाबलः ।
आग्नेयमस्त्रमुत् क्षिप्य तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥

Thus spoken to by sage Vasishta, the powerful Viswamitra aimed the Agneya astra and said " hold on hold on".

Balakanda
Fifty sixth Sarga

Satananda continued the narration of the story of Viswamitra.

'Thus spoken to by sage Vasishta, the powerful Viswamitra aimed the Agneya astra and said " Hold on. Hold on".
Bhagavan Vasishta too raising his staff ’'Brahmadanda' which looked like the Kaladanda spoke angrily.
"Oh Wretched one ! Gadhija! I am here. Show me the strength of your weapons. Today I will crush your arrogance. Oh Evil one ! See my auspicious Brahman power. Where is your warrior strength and where is the great Brahman power !"

Viswamitra's Agneya astra was was defused by Vasishta's Brahmadanda like water nullified fire. Then angry Viswamitra deployed Vasunaastra, Raudraastra similarly Pasupatastra and Ishikaastra . He deployed Manavastra, Mohanam, similarly Gandharvam, Svapanam. Jrumbhanam, Madanam, Samtapana, Vilapanam. Soshanam, undefeatable Daranam, Vajraastra, Brhamapasam, Kalapasam, Varunapasam too were deployed. Pinakastra, Dayitamu, the two Shushkasani and Ardrasani, Dandastram, Paisacham too were deployed. Dharmachakra, Kalachakra, similarly VishnuChakra, Vayavyam, mathanam, Hayasirastram were deployed .The twin powers of Kankalam and Musalam, the great weapon called Vaidyadharam, Darunam, Kalastram were deployed. Oh Rama ! Viswamitra fired the ferocious Trisulastra, Kapalam, Kamkanam also. Thus he deployed all weapons'.

'Vasishta , that son of Brahma defused all of them using his Brahmadanda. When all of them were defused the son of Gadhi then deployed the Brahma astra itself on Vasishta, the best of those who perform Japa. As the Brahmaastra was deployed all the Devas Gandharvas and Nagas with Agni in the front were worried. All the three worlds too were stricken with fear. Oh Raghava! Even that fierce Brahmastra was defused by Brahmadanda of supremely radiant Vasishta. The form of that great Vasishta who defused the fierce Brahmaastra too was fierce to look at and it mesmerized the three worlds. From the pores of Vasishta's skin fires with smoke were emanating like the the rays of fire. The Brahmadanda in the hands of Vasishta was like a smoke less fire of time and it was like another Yamadamda'.

Then all the sages sang in praise of Vasishta " O Brahman ! Your power is amazing. With your power please defuse the power of Brahmastra. O Brahman ! You have held back Viswamitra a great ascetic. O Best of Ascetics ! Be pleased. Let the concerns of all the worlds be removed."

Having been told thus the great Acetic Vasishta became one of peaceful disposition.

The defeated Viswamitra spoke as follows. "The power of a warrior is nothing. The power of Brahman is the power. With his one staff Brahmadanda all my weapons have been defused. Hence rejecting the power of a warrior, with a peaceful disposition I will do great penance to attain that which is responsible for attaining Brahmatva !"

|| Thus the fifty sixth Sarga of Balakanda in Valmiki Ramayan comes to an end ||

|| ओम् तत् सत् ||

तदेतत् समवेक्ष्याहं प्रसन्नेंद्रियमानसः ।
तपो महत् समास्थास्ये यद्वैब्रह्मत्वकारणम्॥
Hence rejecting the power of a warrior, with a peaceful disposition I will do great penance to attain that which is responsible for attaining Brahmatva !

|| om tat sat ||