RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN --CHAPTER 56

                                              RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN—CHAPTER 56

                                                          BRAHMANA VERSUS KSHATRIYA

It only required a small spark to kindle the fire. And Visvamitra madly rushed toward Vasishtha. “Stay, stay, you braggart!” Visvamitra cried. “Do you hope to beard the lion in his den? Do you hope to flee from here unscathed?” And Visvamitra hurled at him the flaming weapon. It was a weapon of the God of fire.

But Vasishtha raised his staff. “You vile wretch of a Kshatriya! I won’t flee. And I would give you a chance to parade your strength. You parade your brand of new weapons. Mark my words, your spirit will be destroyed. Your conceit in the magical weapons will also be destroyed. Pah! Your warrior energy! It is like the morning mist before the burning rays. Shame on you! You are a standing disgrace to your noble ancestors! You want to show off your child’s toys before me? Well, you will have a taste of my Brahmana might. It is divine in nature, mind you”.

The rushing of Weapons of the Fire God was quenched out of existence. It was like streaming cold water putting out a blazing fire.

Vesvamitra was speechless with rage and grief. He sped against Vasishtha. He sent forth a stream of magic weapons. They are: the darts of Varuna, Rudra, Indra and Pasupati; and Aishika, the Manava, the Mohana, the Gandharva, the Svapana, the Jrimbhana, the Madana, the Santapana, the Vilpana, the Soshana, Darana; the Vajra; the noose of Brahma, of Yama and of Varuna; the Pinakastra, dear to Siva; two bolts, the wet and dry; the Dandastra, the Paisachastra, and the Kraunchastra; the Dharmachakra, Kalachakra, Vishnuchakara; Vayavyastra, Mathanastra, Hayasiras; two Saktis; Kankala, Musala, Vidyadharastra, Kalastra, Trisula, Kapala, and Kankana. All these and many more Visvamitra sent against a serene Vasishtha. And indeed it was wonderful to behold or watch. The saintly son of Brahma was swallowing one after another with his Rod.

Thereafter Visvamitra held aloft the Brahmastra. And he hurled it at his enemy. The three worlds trembled in fear. The Brahmastra was speeding towards Vasishtha. The sage of stern wows did not stir. He did not even lift a finger to ward of the Brahmastra. His mighty Brahmana staff was charged with immeasurable energy. Vasishtha got the staff after ages of meditation on the Supreme. It absorbed the Brahmastra and nothing was left of it. The supernatural form of Vasishtha was fearful to think. And his staff was enveloped in sheets of flame. It was like the smokeless Fire of Destruction. It was also like the Rod of Time.

Then the sages prayed humbly, “O, Master of Enchantments! Your might is inconceivable. Your might is invincible. Visvamitra of mighty Tapas has been humbled by you. O, Master of Magic Potent, be gracious. And give peace and rest to the trembling worlds.”

But Visvamitra sighed in impotent rage. He felt his heart would break. “Shame upon the puny or little warrior might!” he said. “The Brahmana energy, now that is something to pray for. All my arms were baffled by that single staff in the hand of a Brahmana! I shall calm myself and become serene. I will set myself on the path that leads to the coveted eminence of a Brahmana.”