Astras and Weapons
An astra is a divine weapon, called forth with a mantra (a sacred sound formula) and usually received as a gift from a deva or a ṛshi. The Rāmāyaṇa, the Mahābhārata and the Purāṇas describe many astras, each with its own power, its own deva and its own rules for use. This section also covers famous weapons such as swords, spears and bows. Each one is described below.
The Āṅgirasa Dhanus was Droṇācārya's own divine bow, named after his family line, which he used in his final assault on the fifteenth day of the war.
Āñjalika AstraThe Āñjalika was the divine arrow with which Arjuna killed Karṇa on the seventeenth day of the Kurukshetra war.
Antardhāna and Prasvāpana AstrasThe Antardhāna astra hides and the Prasvāpana astra puts whole armies to sleep. Kubera gave both to Arjuna, and the Vasus gave the Prasvāpana to Bhīshma.
Bhārgava AstraThe Bhārgava Astra was the supreme weapon Paraśurāma gave Karṇa. Because of his guru's curse, it failed Karṇa at the moment he needed it most.
BrahmāstraThe Brahmāstra is one of the most destructive divine weapons of the Mahābhārata, linked with Brahmā. Bhīshma and Paraśurāma both used it against each other.
CandrahāsaCandrahāsa was the divine sword that Śiva gave to Rāvaṇa after Rāvaṇa, pinned under Kailāsa, sang the Śiva-Tāṇḍava Stotra.
DaṇḍāstraThe Daṇḍāstra is the divine weapon of Yama, the deva of death and dharma. Yama gave it to Arjuna on a Himālayan peak after Arjuna received the Pāśupatāstra.
Madhu-ŚūlaThe Madhu-śūla was the divine spear Śiva gave the rākshasa Madhu. Whoever carried it into battle could not be defeated, and it later passed to his son Lavaṇāsura.
NāgāstraThe nāgāstra is a divine weapon whose arrows become serpents. Indrajit used it to bind Śrī Rāma, Lakshmaṇa and the vānara army, and Garuḍa set them free.
Nāgāstra in the Karṇa ParvaThe nāga Aśvasena entered Karṇa's arrow to kill Arjuna. Kṛshṇa pressed the chariot into the earth, and the arrow struck only Arjuna's crown.
NārāyaṇāstraThe Nārāyaṇāstra is the divine weapon of Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa. Nothing can resist it, and only those who lay down their arms and bow are spared.
PāśupatāstraThe Pāśupatāstra is the supreme divine weapon of Bhagavān Śiva as Paśupati. Śiva gave it to Arjuna, who was told never to use it against ordinary human foes.
RudrāstraThe Rudrāstra is a divine weapon carrying the power of Rudra. In the Sauptika Parva, Aśvatthāmā used it to destroy the warriors who surrounded him at night.
SarvaghātinīThe Sarvaghātinī, "the all-destroying", was the great gadā (mace) of Jarāsandha, king of Magadha. He lost it when Balarāma killed the rākshasī Jarā.
Śakti-AstraThe śakti-astra was a divine lance that Brahmā gave to Rāvaṇa. Rāvaṇa struck Lakshmaṇa with it, and Hanumān brought the healing herb that saved him.
StūṇakarṇāstraThe Stūṇakarṇāstra was a divine weapon of Balarāma. He used it to kill the rākshasī Jarā, which also cost Jarāsandha his great mace, the Sarvaghātinī.
TvāshṭrāstraThe Tvāshṭrāstra is a divine weapon carrying the power of Tvashṭṛ, the divine craftsman. It appears in the Droṇa Parva in the battles of Arjuna, Droṇa and Bhīmasena.
Vaijayantī ŚaktiThe Vaijayantī Śakti was the divine spear Indra gave Karṇa for his armour and earrings. Karṇa saved it for Arjuna but had to use it to kill Ghaṭotkaca.
Vaitaṃhika ArrowsVaitaṃhika arrows were rare close-range arrows used in the Kurukshetra War. The Droṇa Parva names only seven warriors who had mastered them.
VāruṇapāśasThe Vāruṇapāśas are the divine binding nooses of Varuṇa, deva of the waters. Varuṇa gave them to Arjuna on the Himālaya after his tapas.