Chapter LIV: Section LVI

Thus addressed by Vasishtha, the mighty Vicwamitra, aiming a fiery weapon, said,--'Stay! Stay!' The worshipful Vasishtha also on his part, raising a Brahma staff resembling another staff of Kala, exclaimed in wrath,--'Wretch of a Kshatriya! here am I,--do thou display the might thou ait master of. To-day, O Gadhi's son, will I humble thy pride of arms. Thou disgrace of thy race, where is thy Kshatriya might, and where my high Brahma energy? Do thou behold my superhuman Brahma energy.' And even as water allayeth the fierceness of a flame, the Brahma staff quenched the energy of the powerful fiery weapon discharged by Gadhi's son. Then Gadhi's son, waxing wroth, discharged Varuna and Raudra and Aindra and Pasupata and Aishika weapons. And, Manava, and Mohana, and Gandharba, and Swapana, and Jrimbhana, and Mohana, and Santapana, and Vilapana, and Soshana, and DSruna, and Vajra hard to baffle, and Brahmapaca, and Kalapaca and Varunapaca, and Pinaka (favorite of Siva), and the two _Asanis_, wet and dry, and the Danda weapon, and Paicacha, ani the Krauncha weapon, and Dharmachakra, and Kalachakra, and Vishuchakra and Vayavya, and Mathana, and the Haraciras weapon, and the twin Saktis, hurled he, and Kankala, and Mushala, and the mighty weapon Vidyadhara, and the terrible Kala weapon, and the dreadful Trisula weapon, and Kapala, and Kankana,--all these weapons hurled he (Vicwamitra), at that best of _mantra_-reciting ones, O descendant of Raghu. And it was wonderful to behold. But Brahma's son baffled all those by means of his staff. And on those (weapons) being resisted, the son of Gadhi hurled a Brahma weapon. And on that weapon being discharged, the deities with Agni at their head, and the Devarshis, and the Gandharbas, and the mighty Serpents, became afflicted with fear. And on that Brahma weapon being discharged, all the three worlds became exceedingly alarmed. And, O Raghu's descendant, Vasishtha by virtue of his Brahma energy completely baffled that terrible Brahma weapon. And when the high-souled Vasishtha had baffled the Brahma weapon, his form became fierce and terrible, capable of striking terror into the three worlds. And from the pores of his body, resembling a smoking flame, darted out scintillations of fire. And resembling another staff of Yama, the Brahma staff raised by Vasishtha's arm flamed like unto the smokeless fire at the universal dissolution. Then the ascetics in a body fell to eulogizing that best of _mantra_-reciting ones, Vasishtha, saying,-- 'Thy might, O Brahmana, is infallible. Do thou rein in (the Brahma) energy, by thy own. O Brahmana, Vicwamitra of mighty strergth hath been subdued by thee. Infallible is thy extraordinary might. Let the creatures now be relieved from their distress.' Thus addressed, that highly energetic one of rigid austerities, became pacified. And Vicwamitra, being put down, heaving a sigh, said,--'Fie upon the Kshatriya might: the strength begot of Brahma energy, is might indeed. By one Brahma staff hath all my weapons been put to the rout. Beholding this, I with a placid mind and senses will engage in mighty austerities,--which shall earn for me Brahmanahood."