# Bāla Kāṇḍa 29 — Protection of Siddhāśrama: Rāma’s three astras *Rāma casts Mārīca into the sea with the Mānava astra, kills Subāhu with the Āgneya astra and defeats the remaining rākṣasas with the Vāyavya astra, allowing the yajña to finish* Portion: Siddhāśrama · Verses: 23 · Ref format: 1.29. ## Sequence - The brothers ask when the attackers are expected so they can be ready (29.1–2) - the munis explain that Viśvāmitra will remain silent during his dīkṣā and that they must guard him for six nights (29.3–4) - Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa keep watch without sleeping for six days and nights (29.5–6) - on the sixth day Rāma tells Lakṣmaṇa to stay alert → the altar blazes as the ritual proceeds, and a terrifying noise rises overhead (29.7–9) - Mārīca, Subāhu, and their followers sweep in like a raincloud, using magic and pouring down streams of blood (29.10–11) - Rāma announces that the Mānava astra will scatter them (29.12–13) - he strikes Mārīca in the breast with it, hurling him a hundred yojanas into the surging ocean (29.14–15) - seeing Mārīca senseless and reeling under the cold arrow’s force, Rāma tells Lakṣmaṇa that the Mānava astra, described as śīteṣu (cold-arrowed), attended by dharma, has stunned and carried him away without killing him (29.16–17) - he strikes Subāhu in the breast with the Āgneya astra (fire missile) and kills the remaining attackers with the Vāyavya astra (wind missile), bringing joy to the munis (29.18–20) - the ṛṣis honor him → the yajña reaches completion → seeing every direction free of calamity, Viśvāmitra declares, “I have accomplished my purpose” → he says that Rāma has carried out his elder’s command and made Siddhāśrama true to its name (29.21–23). ## Verses **1.29.1** atha tau deśakālajñau rājaputrāv ariṃdamau deśe kāle ca vākyajñāv abrūtāṃ kauśikaṃ vacaḥ Then the two princes, tamers of foes, knowing place and time and skilled in speech fitting to place and occasion, spoke these words to Kauśika: **1.29.2** bhagavañ śrotum icchāvo yasmin kāle niśācarau saṃrakṣaṇīyau tau brahman nātivarteta tatkṣaṇam “Venerable one, we wish to hear at what time the two night-rangers (will come), those two who are to be guarded against, O brahmin — let that moment not slip by us.” **1.29.3** evaṃ bruvāṇau kākutsthau tvaramāṇau yuyutsayā sarve te munayaḥ prītāḥ praśaśaṃsur nṛpātmajau As the two Kākutsthas spoke thus, hastening in their eagerness for battle, all those sages, well pleased, praised the two princes: **1.29.4** adya prabhṛti ṣaḍrātraṃ rakṣataṃ rāghavau yuvām dīkṣāṃ gato hy eṣa munir maunitvaṃ ca gamiṣyati “From this day, for six nights, do you two Rāghavas keep guard; for this sage has entered upon consecration and will observe silence.” **1.29.5** tau tu tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rājaputrau yaśasvinau anidrau ṣaḍahorātraṃ tapovanam arakṣatām The two illustrious princes, hearing those words, sleepless, for six days and nights guarded the penance-grove. **1.29.6** upāsāṃ cakratur vīrau yattau paramadhanvinau rarakṣatur munivaraṃ viśvāmitram ariṃdamau The two heroes, alert, the foremost of bowmen, waited upon him; and the two tamers of foes guarded the excellent sage Viśvāmitra. **1.29.7** atha kāle gate tasmin ṣaṣṭhe 'hani samāgate saumitram abravīd rāmo yatto bhava samāhitaḥ Then, when that time had passed and the sixth day had come, Rāma said to Saumitri: “Be alert and attentive.” **1.29.8** rāmasyaivaṃ bruvāṇasya tvaritasya yuyutsayā prajajvāla tato vediḥ sopādhyāyapurohitā As Rāma spoke thus, hastening in his eagerness for battle, thereupon the altar blazed up, together with its teachers and priest. **1.29.9** mantravac ca yathānyāyaṃ yajño 'sau saṃpravartate ākāśe ca mahāñ śabdaḥ prādur āsīd bhayānakaḥ And that sacrifice proceeded with proper mantras, according to rule; and in the sky arose a great and terrifying noise. **1.29.10** āvārya gaganaṃ megho yathā prāvṛṣi nirgataḥ tathā māyāṃ vikurvāṇau rākṣasāv abhyadhāvatām As a cloud, veiling the sky, comes forth in the rainy season, so the two rākṣasas, conjuring up their magic, rushed on. **1.29.11** mārīcaś ca subāhuś ca tayor anucarās tathā āgamya bhīmasaṃkāśā rudhiraughān avāsṛjan Mārīca and Subāhu, and likewise their followers, coming on, dreadful to behold, poured down streams of blood. **1.29.12** tāv āpatantau sahasā dṛṣṭvā rājīvalocanaḥ lakṣmaṇaṃ tv abhisaṃprekṣya rāmo vacanam abravīt Seeing those two rushing suddenly upon them, the lotus-eyed Rāma, glancing at Lakṣmaṇa, spoke these words: **1.29.13** paśya lakṣmaṇa durvṛttān rākṣasān piśitāśanān mānavāstrasamādhūtān anilena yathāghanān “Behold, Lakṣmaṇa, these wicked, flesh-eating rākṣasas, about to be scattered by the Mānava weapon, like clouds by the wind.” **1.29.14** mānavaṃ paramodāram astraṃ paramabhāsvaram cikṣepa paramakruddho mārīcor asi rāghavaḥ Rāghava, exceedingly enraged, hurled the most excellent, exceedingly radiant Mānava weapon at Mārīca's breast. **1.29.15** sa tena paramāstreṇa mānavena samāhitaḥ saṃpūrṇaṃ yojanaśataṃ kṣiptaḥ sāgarasaṃplave Struck by that supreme Mānava weapon, he was flung a full hundred yojanas, into the surging flood of the ocean. **1.29.16** vicetanaṃ vighūrṇantaṃ śīteṣubalapīḍitam nirastaṃ dṛśya mārīcaṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇam abravīt Seeing Mārīca senseless, reeling, oppressed by the force of the cold arrow, and cast away, Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa: **1.29.17** paśya lakṣmaṇa śīteṣuṃ mānavaṃ dharmasaṃhitam mohayitvā nayaty enaṃ na ca prāṇair viyujyate “Behold, Lakṣmaṇa, the cold-arrowed Mānava (weapon), attended by dharma: having stupefied him, it carries him off, yet he is not deprived of life. **1.29.18** imān api vadhiṣyāmi nirghṛṇān duṣṭacāriṇaḥ rākṣasān pāpakarmasthān yajñaghnān rudhirāśanān These too I shall slay — the pitiless evildoers, the rākṣasas set on wicked deeds, wreckers of sacrifice, drinkers of blood.” **1.29.19** vigṛhya sumahac cāstram āgneyaṃ raghunandanaḥ subāhur asi cikṣepa sa viddhaḥ prāpatad bhuvi Seizing the very great Āgneya (fire) weapon, the delight of the Raghus hurled it at Subāhu's breast; struck, he fell to the ground. **1.29.20** śeṣān vāyavyam ādāya nijaghāna mahāyaśāḥ rāghavaḥ paramodāro munīnāṃ mudam āvahan Taking up the Vāyavya (wind) weapon, the greatly illustrious, most noble Rāghava slew the rest, bringing joy to the sages. **1.29.21** sa hatvā rākṣasān sarvān yajñaghnān raghunandanaḥ ṛṣibhiḥ pūjitas tatra yathendro vijaye purā Having slain all those sacrifice-wrecking rākṣasas, the delight of the Raghus was honoured there by the seers, as Indra was of old upon a victory. **1.29.22** atha yajñe samāpte tu viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ nirītikā diśo dṛṣṭvā kākutstham idam abravīt Then, when the sacrifice was completed, the great sage Viśvāmitra, seeing the quarters free of all calamity, spoke thus to Kākutstha: **1.29.23** kṛtārtho 'smi mahābāho kṛtaṃ guruvacas tvayā siddhāśramam idaṃ satyaṃ kṛtaṃ rāma mahāyaśaḥ “I have accomplished my purpose, O mighty-armed one; my elder's command has been carried out by you. You have made this Siddhāśrama true to its name, O illustrious Rāma.”