The Cessation of the Divine Weapons Between Vasishtha and Vishvamitra

Verse 1 (skanda.6.171.1)

सूत उवाच । एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः । तां शक्तिं व्यर्थतां प्राप्तां ज्ञात्वा कोपसमन्वितः

sūta uvāca etasminneva kāle tu viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ tāṁ śaktiṁ vyarthatāṁ prāptāṁ jñātvā kopasamanvitaḥ

Suta said: At that very time, the great sage Vishvamitra, learning that his weapon had proved futile, was overcome with rage.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.171.2)

मुमोच तद्वधार्थाय ब्रह्मास्त्रं सोऽभिमंत्रितम् । तस्य संहितमात्रस्य प्रस्वनः समजायत

mumoca tadvadhārthāya brahmāstraṁ so'bhimaṁtritam tasya saṁhitamātrasya prasvanaḥ samajāyata

He fitted the mantra-consecrated Brahmastra to slay Vasishtha. The moment it was set upon the bow, a tremendous roar arose.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.171.3)

ततश्चोल्काः प्रभूताश्च प्रयांति च नभस्तलात् । ततः कुन्ताः शक्तयश्च तोमराः परिघास्तथा

tataścolkāḥ prabhūtāśca prayāṁti ca nabhastalāt tataḥ kuntāḥ śaktayaśca tomarāḥ parighāstathā

Then countless meteors began falling from the sky; and spears, javelins, iron clubs, and maces appeared as well.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.171.4)

भिंडिपाला गदाश्चैव खड्गाश्चैव परश्वधाः । बाणाः प्रासाः शतघ्न्यश्च शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः

bhiṁḍipālā gadāścaiva khaḍgāścaiva paraśvadhāḥ bāṇāḥ prāsāḥ śataghnyaśca śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

Throwing-clubs, maces, swords and axes, arrows, javelins, and shataghnis appeared by the hundreds and thousands.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.171.5)

वसिष्ठोऽपि परिज्ञाय प्रेषितं गाधिसूनुना । ब्रह्मास्त्रं मृत्यवे तेन शुचिर्भूत्वा ततः परम्

vasiṣṭho'pi parijñāya preṣitaṁ gādhisūnunā brahmāstraṁ mṛtyave tena śucirbhūtvā tataḥ param

Vasishtha too came to know that the son of Gadhi had loosed the Brahmastra to kill him; then, having made himself pure,

Verse 6 (skanda.6.171.6)

इषीकां च समादाय ब्रह्मास्त्रं तत्र योजयन् । अब्रवीद्गाधिपुत्राय स्वस्त्यस्तु तव पार्श्वतः

iṣīkāṁ ca samādāya brahmāstraṁ tatra yojayan abravīdgādhiputrāya svastyastu tava pārśvataḥ

he took up a reed, fitted the Brahmastra upon it, and said to the son of Gadhi: 'May well-being attend you.'

Verse 7 (skanda.6.171.7)

हन्यतामस्त्रमेतद्धिमम वाक्यादसंशयम् । ततस्तेन हतं तच्च ब्रह्मास्त्रं तत्समुद्भवम्

hanyatāmastrametaddhimama vākyādasaṁśayam tatastena hataṁ tacca brahmāstraṁ tatsamudbhavam

'By this word of mine let this weapon be destroyed without fail.' Thereupon that Brahmastra born of Vishvamitra was destroyed by him.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.171.8)

वज्रास्त्रं च ततो मुक्तं वज्रास्त्रेण विनाशितम् । यद्यदस्त्रं क्षिपत्येष विश्वामित्रः प्रकोपितः

vajrāstraṁ ca tato muktaṁ vajrāstreṇa vināśitam yadyadastraṁ kṣipatyeṣa viśvāmitraḥ prakopitaḥ

Then the Vajra weapon was released, and it was destroyed by a Vajra weapon in turn. Whatever weapon the enraged Vishvamitra hurled,

Verse 9 (skanda.6.171.9)

तत्तद्धंति वसिष्ठस्तु मंत्रस्य च प्रभावतः । एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु क्षुभितो मकरालयः

tattaddhaṁti vasiṣṭhastu maṁtrasya ca prabhāvataḥ etasminneva kāle tu kṣubhito makarālayaḥ

Vasishtha would destroy it by the power of his mantra. At this very time the ocean grew turbulent,

Verse 10 (skanda.6.171.10)

शीर्यंते गिरिशृंगाणि रक्तवृष्टिः परा स्थिता । प्रलयस्येव चिह्नानि संजातानि धरातले । किमकाले महानेष प्रलयः संभविष्यति

śīryaṁte giriśṛṁgāṇi raktavṛṣṭiḥ parā sthitā pralayasyeva cihnāni saṁjātāni dharātale kimakāle mahāneṣa pralayaḥ saṁbhaviṣyati

mountain peaks began to crumble, a terrible rain of blood fell, and signs like those of the final dissolution appeared upon the earth: 'Is this great dissolution about to occur out of season?'

Verse 11 (skanda.6.171.11)

ततः पितामहं जग्मुः सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः । प्रोचुः प्रलयचिह्नानि यानि संति धरातले

tataḥ pitāmahaṁ jagmuḥ sarve devāḥ savāsavāḥ procuḥ pralayacihnāni yāni saṁti dharātale

Then all the gods, together with Indra, went to the Grandsire Brahma and told him of the signs of dissolution that had appeared upon the earth.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.171.12)

ततो ब्रह्मा चिरं ध्यात्वा तानुवाच दिवौकसः । विश्वामित्र वसिष्ठाभ्यां युद्धमेतद्व्यवस्थितम्

tato brahmā ciraṁ dhyātvā tānuvāca divaukasaḥ viśvāmitra vasiṣṭhābhyāṁ yuddhametadvyavasthitam

Then Brahma, having pondered for a long while, said to those celestials: 'This battle is being waged between Vishvamitra and Vasishtha.'

Verse 13 (skanda.6.171.13)

दिव्यास्त्रसंभवं देवास्तेनैतद्व्याकुलं जगत्

divyāstrasaṁbhavaṁ devāstenaitadvyākulaṁ jagat

'O gods, it has arisen from divine weapons, and by that this whole world has been thrown into turmoil.'

Verse 14 (skanda.6.171.14)

तस्माद्गच्छामहे तत्र यावन्नो जायते क्षयः । सर्वेषामेव भूतानां दिव्यास्त्राणां प्रभावतः

tasmādgacchāmahe tatra yāvanno jāyate kṣayaḥ sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṁ divyāstrāṇāṁ prabhāvataḥ

'Therefore let us go there, before the power of these divine weapons brings destruction upon all beings.'

Verse 15 (skanda.6.171.15)

ततोऽभिगम्य ते देशं यत्र तौ मुनिसत्तमौ । विचामित्रवसिष्ठौ तौ युध्यमानौ परस्परम्

tato'bhigamya te deśaṁ yatra tau munisattamau vicāmitravasiṣṭhau tau yudhyamānau parasparam

Then they arrived at the place where those two foremost sages, Vishvamitra and Vasishtha, were fighting each other.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.171.16)

ततः प्रोवाच तौ ब्रह्मा साम्ना परमवल्गुना । निवर्त्यतामिदं युद्धमेतद्दिव्यास्त्रसंभवम् । यावन्न प्रलयो भावि समस्ते धरणीतले

tataḥ provāca tau brahmā sāmnā paramavalgunā nivartyatāmidaṁ yuddhametaddivyāstrasaṁbhavam yāvanna pralayo bhāvi samaste dharaṇītale

Then Brahma addressed the two of them in the most gentle, conciliatory words: 'Let this battle born of divine weapons be halted, before dissolution comes upon the entire earth.'

Verse 17 (skanda.6.171.17)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । नाहमस्त्रं प्रयुंजामि विश्वामित्रवधेच्छया । आत्मरक्षाकृते देव अस्त्रमस्त्रेण शामयन्

vasiṣṭha uvāca nāhamastraṁ prayuṁjāmi viśvāmitravadhecchayā ātmarakṣākṛte deva astramastreṇa śāmayan

Vasishtha said: 'O god, I am not using weapons with any wish to kill Vishvamitra; I am merely pacifying weapon with weapon for my own protection.'

Verse 18 (skanda.6.171.18)

अयं मम विनाशाय केवलं चास्त्रमोक्षणम् । कुरुते निर्दयो ब्रह्मंस्तं निवारय सांप्रतम्

ayaṁ mama vināśāya kevalaṁ cāstramokṣaṇam kurute nirdayo brahmaṁstaṁ nivāraya sāṁpratam

'O Brahma, this merciless one is releasing weapons only for my destruction; restrain him now.'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.171.19)

ब्रह्मोवाच । विश्वामित्र मुनिश्रेष्ठ वसिष्ठं ब्राह्मणोत्तमम् । त्वं रक्ष मम वाक्येन तथा सर्वमिदं जगत्

brahmovāca viśvāmitra muniśreṣṭha vasiṣṭhaṁ brāhmaṇottamam tvaṁ rakṣa mama vākyena tathā sarvamidaṁ jagat

Brahma said: 'O Vishvamitra, best of sages, at my word protect Vasishtha, foremost of brahmins, and likewise this entire world.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.171.20)

अस्त्रमोक्षविरामं त्वं ब्रह्मर्षे कुरु सत्वरम्

astramokṣavirāmaṁ tvaṁ brahmarṣe kuru satvaram

'O Brahmarshi, cease at once the release of weapons.'

Verse 21 (skanda.6.171.21)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । न मामेष द्विजं ब्रूते कथंचित्प्रपितामह । तस्मादेष प्रकोपो मे संजातोऽस्य वधोपरि

viśvāmitra uvāca na māmeṣa dvijaṁ brūte kathaṁcitprapitāmaha tasmādeṣa prakopo me saṁjāto'sya vadhopari

Vishvamitra said: 'O great-grandsire, he refuses in every way to call me a twice-born; that is why this anger to kill him has arisen in me.'

Verse 22 (skanda.6.171.22)

तस्माद्वदतु देवेश मामेष ब्राह्मणं द्रुतम् । निवारयामि येनास्त्रं यदस्योपरि संधितम्

tasmādvadatu deveśa māmeṣa brāhmaṇaṁ drutam nivārayāmi yenāstraṁ yadasyopari saṁdhitam

'Therefore, O lord of the gods, let him quickly call me a brahmin, so that I may withdraw the weapon aimed at him.'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.171.23)

ब्रह्मोवाच । त्वं वसिष्ठाधुना ब्रूहि विश्वामित्रं ममाज्ञया । ब्राह्मणो जायते तेन तव जीवस्य रक्षणम्

brahmovāca tvaṁ vasiṣṭhādhunā brūhi viśvāmitraṁ mamājñayā brāhmaṇo jāyate tena tava jīvasya rakṣaṇam

Brahma said: 'O Vasishtha, now by my command call Vishvamitra a brahmin; by this your life will be protected.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.171.24)

वसिष्ठ उवाच । नाहं क्षत्रियसंजातं ब्राह्मणं वच्मि पद्मज । न वधे मम शक्तोऽयं कथंचित्क्षत्रियोद्भवः

vasiṣṭha uvāca nāhaṁ kṣatriyasaṁjātaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ vacmi padmaja na vadhe mama śakto'yaṁ kathaṁcitkṣatriyodbhavaḥ

Vasishtha said: 'O lotus-born one, I will not call one born of a Kshatriya line a brahmin. This man, born a Kshatriya, is in no way capable of slaying me.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.171.25)

ब्राह्म्यं तेजो न क्षा त्त्रेण तेजसा संप्रणश्यति । एवं ज्ञात्वा चतुर्वक्त्र यद्युक्तं तत्समाचर

brāhmyaṁ tejo na kṣā ttreṇa tejasā saṁpraṇaśyati evaṁ jñātvā caturvaktra yadyuktaṁ tatsamācara

'Brahmanical radiance is never destroyed by Kshatriya radiance. Knowing this, O four-faced one, do whatever is fitting.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.171.26)

ब्रह्मोवाच । विश्वामित्र द्विजश्रेष्ठ त्यक्त्वा दिव्यास्त्रसंभवम् । कुरु युद्धं वसिष्ठेन नो चेच्छप्स्यामहं च ते

brahmovāca viśvāmitra dvijaśreṣṭha tyaktvā divyāstrasaṁbhavam kuru yuddhaṁ vasiṣṭhena no cecchapsyāmahaṁ ca te

Brahma said: 'O Vishvamitra, best of the twice-born, give up the divine weapons and fight Vasishtha by ordinary means; otherwise I shall curse you.'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.171.27)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । दिव्यास्त्राणि च संत्यज्य मया वध्यः सुदुर्मतिः । किंचिच्छिद्रं समासाद्य त्वं गच्छ निजसंश्रयम्

viśvāmitra uvāca divyāstrāṇi ca saṁtyajya mayā vadhyaḥ sudurmatiḥ kiṁcicchidraṁ samāsādya tvaṁ gaccha nijasaṁśrayam

Vishvamitra said: 'Even if I give up the divine weapons, this evil-minded one is still to be slain by me, once I find some opening. Go you now to your own abode.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.171.28)

सूत उवाच । बाढमित्येवमुक्ता च ब्रह्मलोकं गतो विधिः । विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठौ च सरस्वत्यास्तटे स्थितौ

sūta uvāca bāḍhamityevamuktā ca brahmalokaṁ gato vidhiḥ viśvāmitravasiṣṭhau ca sarasvatyāstaṭe sthitau

Suta said: Having been told 'so be it,' the Creator departed for Brahmaloka, while Vishvamitra and Vasishtha remained there on the bank of the Sarasvati.