नारायणास्त्र

यन्त्रोपारोपितकोशांशः

कल्पद्रुमः

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

नारायणास्त्रम्, क्ली, (नारायणस्यास्त्रम् ।) विष्णो- रस्त्रभेदः । तत्स्वरूपं यथा, देवीपुराणे । “तदा दानवनाथेन युक्तं नारायणं शरम् । शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्तं खड्गपृष्ठव्यवस्थितम् ॥” अपि च । “ततो हरिहरं युद्धमभवद्रोमहर्षणम् । रुद्रः पाशुपतास्त्रेण विव्याध हरिमोजसा ॥ हरिर्नारायणास्त्रेण रुद्रं विव्याध कोपवान् । नारायणं पाशुपतमुभेऽस्त्रे व्योम्नि रोषिते ॥ पुयुधाते भृशं दिव्यं परस्परजिघांसया । दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रन्तु तयोर्युद्धमभूत्तदा ॥ तत्रैकं मुकुटोद्बद्धं मूर्द्धन्यजटजालकम् । एकं प्रध्मापयच्छङ्खमन्यं डमरुकं शुभम् ॥ एकं खड्गधरं तत्र तथान्यं दण्डधारिणम् । एकं कौस्तभभीमाङ्गमन्यं भूतिविभूतिकम् ॥ एकं गदां भ्रामयन्तं द्वितीयं दण्डमेव च । एकः शोभति कण्ठस्थैर्मणिभिस्त्वस्थिभिः परः । एकं पीताम्बरं तत्र द्बितीयं सर्पमेखलम् ॥ एवन्तौ स्पर्द्धिनावस्त्रौ रुद्रनारायणात्मकौ । अन्योन्यातिशयोपेतौ तदा लोकपितामहः ॥ उवाच शाम्यतामस्त्रे स्वस्वभावेन सुव्रते । एवन्ते ब्रह्मणा चोक्ते शान्तभावं प्रजग्मतुः ॥ तथा विष्णुहरौ ब्रह्मा वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह । उभौ हरिहरौ देवौ लोके ख्यातिं गमिष्यतः ॥” इति वराहपुराणम् ॥

शब्दसागरः

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

नारायणास्त्र¦ n. (-स्त्रं) A weapon of undefined form and mystical nature. E. नारायण and अस्त्र weapon.

Purana Encyclopedia

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

Nārāyaṇāstra  : nt.: Name of the missile employed unsuccessfully by Aśvatthāman, after the death of his father Droṇa, to kill the Pāṇḍavas 1. 1. 145; 1. 2. 165; 7. 166. 55; a sub-parvan related to the employment of the Nārāyaṇāstra occurs after the sub-parvan related to droṇavadha 1. 2. 58.


A. History: Droṇa received the Nārāyaṇāstra as a boon from Nārāyaṇa himself who appeared before him in the form of a Brāhmaṇa 7. 166. 43-44, 51; with its acquisition Droṇa became unrivalled in battle 7. 166. 45; given by Nārāyaṇa also to Aśvatthāman 7. 166. 50; Aśvatthāman knew how to release it (sakalyam for sakalpam ? See Cr. Notes 7, p. 1157 on 166. 42; Nī. kalyaḥ prayogaḥ on Bom. Ed. 7. 195. 30), and how to withdraw it (sanivartanam) 7. 166. 42 (but See Section


C. 3 below); Nārāyaṇāstra known only to Droṇa and Aśvatthāman; it was not known even to Arjuna and the other Pāṇḍavas, nor to Kṛṣṇa, Sātyaki, Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin 7. 166. 2. 41-42.


B. Description: heavenly (divya) 1. 1. 145; 7. 166. 60; great missile (mahāstra) 7. 166. 49; (parama) 7. 166. 44; fierce, frightful (ugra) 1. 2. 165; (ghorarūpaṁ bhayāvaham) 7. 167. 6.


C. Use:

(1) To be used with great circumspection: The missile was not to be employed in haste (na tv idaṁ sahasā brahman prayoktavyaṁ kathaṁcana); since it did not return without killing the enemy, it might kill, if used without circumspection, even one who did not deserve to be killed 7. 166. 46-47;

(2) Mode of release: To use it, Aśvatthāman touched water and produced the divine missile (tathoktvā droṇaputro 'pi tadopaspṛśya bhārata/prāduścakāra tad divyam astraṁ nārāyaṇaṁ tadā) 7. 166. 60;

(3) Restrictions: It could be used only once, and it could not be withdrawn; hence Aśvatthāman unable to employ it again when requested by Duryodhana to do so; if withdrawn the astra would kill the user 7. 171. 24, 27, 28, 30.


D. Effects: When employed, the missile released powerful arrows (? kṛśāśvatanayāḥ), as also sharp arrows which would fill the directions 7. 166. 38; it let loose many heavenly weapons (divyāni śastravarṣāṇi) and the employer (Aśvatthāman) shone with lustre 7. 166. 50; the arrows released from it would hit the enemies as desired by the employer (Aśvatthāman); it would release rocks at will and iron-tipped arrows which would put the enemy to flight 7. 166. 53-54; when Aśvatthāman produced the missile, thunderous winds carrying waterdrops blew in cloud-less sky, the earth shook, and the ocean was agitated; rivers started flowing in the opposite direction; peaks of mountains were shattered; sun became turbid (kaluṣa), and the gods, the demons, and the Gandharvas were frightened 7. 167. 1-5; arrows with shining tips appeared in thousands to cover the army of the enemy and fill the directions; (hot) iron balls (kārṣṇāyasamayā guḍāḥ) shining like celestial bodies, śataghnīs (‘hundred-killers’), fire-arms (? hutāśadāḥ), and disks with sharp ends (cakrāṇi kṣurāntāni), all these were produced by the Nārāyaṇāstra (7. 170. 16-19); as the Pāṇḍava warriors tried to resist the missile, it grew in strength 7. 170. 21; as a result, the Pāṇḍava army was burnt and destroyed 7. 170. 22-23; to combat it successfully Kṛṣṇa advised the warriors to lay down arms and get down from their chariots and mounts 7. 170. 38-42; when all followed his instruction, Bhīma wanted to resist the missile with arrows, mace, and the strength of his arms; as a consequence, the Nārāyaṇāstra grew in strength; since other warriors had laid down their arms the missile descended on Bhīma with all its strength 7. 170. 45-46, 50-51, 57-60; seeing Bhīma surrounded by the Nārāyaṇāstra, Arjuna tried to protect him from the missile by using Vāruṇāstra; since this was of no avail, Arjuna and Vāsudeva left from their chariot, ran to Bhīma, and entered through the cover of lustre produced by the astra; since they had no weapons, the astra did not affect them (and also because of the effect of the Vāruṇāstra and the prowess of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna); Bhīma was forced down by Nara (Arjuna) and Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa) from his chariot and forced to give up weapons; the Nārāyaṇāstra was then pacified; the quarters became clear and gentle winds blew; the birds and the animals felt assured 7. 171. 1, 3, 6, 10-14, 20-22; if Vāsudeva had not shown the way to combat the Nārāyaṇāstra it would have meant death for the enemy (of the Kauravas) 7. 171. 28; but the missile was rendered ineffective and the Pāṇḍavas freed from it 7. 171. 33; 8. 1. 42.


E. The means to pacify the Nārāyaṇāstra: When released, the missile must kill the enemy and only then it would subside; the other ways of pacifying it were to run away from it, to lay down the arms, to beg for life, and ask refuge (vadhaḥ saṁkhye dravaś caiva śastrāṇāṁ ca visarjanam/ prayācanaṁ ca śatrūṇāṁ gamanaṁ śaraṇasya ca//ete praśamane yogā mahāstrasya parantapa) 7. 166. 48-49.


F. Status: The Pāśupatāstra of Śiva rated superior to the Nārāyaṇāstra 13. 14. 127.


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Mahabharata Cultural Index

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

Nārāyaṇāstra  : nt.: Name of the missile employed unsuccessfully by Aśvatthāman, after the death of his father Droṇa, to kill the Pāṇḍavas 1. 1. 145; 1. 2. 165; 7. 166. 55; a sub-parvan related to the employment of the Nārāyaṇāstra occurs after the sub-parvan related to droṇavadha 1. 2. 58.


A. History: Droṇa received the Nārāyaṇāstra as a boon from Nārāyaṇa himself who appeared before him in the form of a Brāhmaṇa 7. 166. 43-44, 51; with its acquisition Droṇa became unrivalled in battle 7. 166. 45; given by Nārāyaṇa also to Aśvatthāman 7. 166. 50; Aśvatthāman knew how to release it (sakalyam for sakalpam ? See Cr. Notes 7, p. 1157 on 166. 42; Nī. kalyaḥ prayogaḥ on Bom. Ed. 7. 195. 30), and how to withdraw it (sanivartanam) 7. 166. 42 (but See Section


C. 3 below); Nārāyaṇāstra known only to Droṇa and Aśvatthāman; it was not known even to Arjuna and the other Pāṇḍavas, nor to Kṛṣṇa, Sātyaki, Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin 7. 166. 2. 41-42.


B. Description: heavenly (divya) 1. 1. 145; 7. 166. 60; great missile (mahāstra) 7. 166. 49; (parama) 7. 166. 44; fierce, frightful (ugra) 1. 2. 165; (ghorarūpaṁ bhayāvaham) 7. 167. 6.


C. Use:

(1) To be used with great circumspection: The missile was not to be employed in haste (na tv idaṁ sahasā brahman prayoktavyaṁ kathaṁcana); since it did not return without killing the enemy, it might kill, if used without circumspection, even one who did not deserve to be killed 7. 166. 46-47;

(2) Mode of release: To use it, Aśvatthāman touched water and produced the divine missile (tathoktvā droṇaputro 'pi tadopaspṛśya bhārata/prāduścakāra tad divyam astraṁ nārāyaṇaṁ tadā) 7. 166. 60;

(3) Restrictions: It could be used only once, and it could not be withdrawn; hence Aśvatthāman unable to employ it again when requested by Duryodhana to do so; if withdrawn the astra would kill the user 7. 171. 24, 27, 28, 30.


D. Effects: When employed, the missile released powerful arrows (? kṛśāśvatanayāḥ), as also sharp arrows which would fill the directions 7. 166. 38; it let loose many heavenly weapons (divyāni śastravarṣāṇi) and the employer (Aśvatthāman) shone with lustre 7. 166. 50; the arrows released from it would hit the enemies as desired by the employer (Aśvatthāman); it would release rocks at will and iron-tipped arrows which would put the enemy to flight 7. 166. 53-54; when Aśvatthāman produced the missile, thunderous winds carrying waterdrops blew in cloud-less sky, the earth shook, and the ocean was agitated; rivers started flowing in the opposite direction; peaks of mountains were shattered; sun became turbid (kaluṣa), and the gods, the demons, and the Gandharvas were frightened 7. 167. 1-5; arrows with shining tips appeared in thousands to cover the army of the enemy and fill the directions; (hot) iron balls (kārṣṇāyasamayā guḍāḥ) shining like celestial bodies, śataghnīs (‘hundred-killers’), fire-arms (? hutāśadāḥ), and disks with sharp ends (cakrāṇi kṣurāntāni), all these were produced by the Nārāyaṇāstra (7. 170. 16-19); as the Pāṇḍava warriors tried to resist the missile, it grew in strength 7. 170. 21; as a result, the Pāṇḍava army was burnt and destroyed 7. 170. 22-23; to combat it successfully Kṛṣṇa advised the warriors to lay down arms and get down from their chariots and mounts 7. 170. 38-42; when all followed his instruction, Bhīma wanted to resist the missile with arrows, mace, and the strength of his arms; as a consequence, the Nārāyaṇāstra grew in strength; since other warriors had laid down their arms the missile descended on Bhīma with all its strength 7. 170. 45-46, 50-51, 57-60; seeing Bhīma surrounded by the Nārāyaṇāstra, Arjuna tried to protect him from the missile by using Vāruṇāstra; since this was of no avail, Arjuna and Vāsudeva left from their chariot, ran to Bhīma, and entered through the cover of lustre produced by the astra; since they had no weapons, the astra did not affect them (and also because of the effect of the Vāruṇāstra and the prowess of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna); Bhīma was forced down by Nara (Arjuna) and Nārāyaṇa (Kṛṣṇa) from his chariot and forced to give up weapons; the Nārāyaṇāstra was then pacified; the quarters became clear and gentle winds blew; the birds and the animals felt assured 7. 171. 1, 3, 6, 10-14, 20-22; if Vāsudeva had not shown the way to combat the Nārāyaṇāstra it would have meant death for the enemy (of the Kauravas) 7. 171. 28; but the missile was rendered ineffective and the Pāṇḍavas freed from it 7. 171. 33; 8. 1. 42.


E. The means to pacify the Nārāyaṇāstra: When released, the missile must kill the enemy and only then it would subside; the other ways of pacifying it were to run away from it, to lay down the arms, to beg for life, and ask refuge (vadhaḥ saṁkhye dravaś caiva śastrāṇāṁ ca visarjanam/ prayācanaṁ ca śatrūṇāṁ gamanaṁ śaraṇasya ca//ete praśamane yogā mahāstrasya parantapa) 7. 166. 48-49.


F. Status: The Pāśupatāstra of Śiva rated superior to the Nārāyaṇāstra 13. 14. 127.


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