As evening descended, Viśvāmitra, the great sage, was filled with joy at Rāma’s triumph over Tāṭakā. Honoring the prince for his valor, Viśvāmitra lovingly embraced Rāma’s head and said, “O Rāma of auspicious form, let us remain here tonight. At dawn, we shall journey to my hermitage.” Hearing these gentle words, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, felt happiness arise within him. That night, Rāma stayed contentedly in the forest that had once been cursed by Tāṭakā’s presence. Freed from her shadow, the woods now shone with newfound beauty, radiant like the celestial grove of Caitraratha. The gods and siddhas sang Rāma’s praises for his noble deed, and, together with Viśvāmitra, he rested peacefully until daybreak. With the coming of a new day, the twenty-seventh sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa begins. Viśvāmitra, his heart full and his face bright with a smile, addressed Rāma in a voice sweet with affection. “O illustrious prince,” he said, “I am pleased with you. Out of deep love, I shall bestow upon you all the divine weapons. With these, you will be able to conquer any enemy—gods, asuras, gandharvas, serpents—none will withstand you in battle.” Viśvāmitra continued, “I grant you the great and divine Daṇḍa-cakra, the Wheel of Righteousness, the Wheel of Time, the fierce Discus of Viṣṇu, and Indra’s own discus. Accept the thunderbolt missile, Shiva’s mighty trident, the Brahmaśiras weapon, and the missile of Īśa. Receive, O Rāghava, the supreme Brahma missile, and two auspicious maces named Modakī and Śikharī.” “O prince among men, I give you the blazing noose of Dharma, the noose of Time, the Varuna noose, and the supreme Varuna missile. I grant you two thunderbolts—one dry, one wet. Accept the Pinaka missile, the Nārāyaṇa missile, and Agni’s beloved Agneya missile, called Śikhara. Take also the Vāyavya missile, the Hayashira missile, and the Krauncha missile. I bestow upon you two spears, the dreadful Kankāla, the mace, the skull, and the Kiṅkiṇī, all for the destruction of the Rākṣasas.” “The great Vidyādhara missile, the Nandana missile, the jewel among swords, the Gandharva missile called Mohana, the Prasvāpana (sleep-inducing), Praśamana (pacifying), the gentle missile, Varṣaṇa (rain-bringing), Śoṣaṇa (drying), Saṃtāpana and Vilāpana (causing heat and lamentation)—all these are yours. I give you the irresistible Mādana missile, beloved of Kandarpa, and the Gandharva missile called Mānava. Take also the Piśāca missile named Mohana, the Tāmasa missile, the mighty Saumana, the irresistible Saṃvarta, and the Mausala missile.” “O mighty-armed one, accept the Satyam missile, the supreme Māyāmaya, the Sauram called Tejaḥprabha, which draws away the power of others, the Soma missile called Śiśira (cooling), the dreadful Tvaṣṭra missile, the fierce Bhaga missile, the Śīteṣu, and the Mānava. Take these, O Rāma, which can assume any form at will, weapons of great power and excellence.” Having purified himself and facing east, Viśvāmitra joyfully imparted to Rāma the supreme collection of mantras that awaken and control these celestial weapons. The sage revealed to Rāghava those weapons whose full mastery is difficult even for the gods themselves. As Viśvāmitra recited his sacred chants, all the splendid weapons appeared before Rāma, radiant and eager. With joined palms, the weapons addressed Rāma, saying, “O Rāghava, we are your devoted servants, most noble one. Whatever you desire, may it be auspicious for you—we shall accomplish it all.” Hearing these words, Rāma’s heart became serene and tranquil. Filled with delight and radiant energy, Rāma saluted the great sage Viśvāmitra and prepared to continue their journey. With the beginning of the twenty-eighth chapter, Rāma, pure and joyful, spoke to Viśvāmitra as they walked together. “O revered one, I have received these weapons and am now unconquerable, even by the gods. Yet, O foremost of sages, I wish to learn the means by which these weapons may be withdrawn.” The great ascetic Viśvāmitra, steadfast and pure, was pleased by Rāma’s humility. He then imparted to Rāma the methods for withdrawing the weapons—teaching him Satyavanta, Satyakīrti, Dhṛṣṭa, Rabhasa, Pratihāratara, and the arts of facing and turning away. He further instructed him in Lakṣya and Alakṣya, Dṛḍhanābha and Sunābhaka, Daśākṣa and Śatavaktra, Daśaśīrṣa and Śatodara, as well as Padmanābha, Mahānābha, Dundunābha, Sunābhaka, Jyotiṣa, Śakuna, and both Nairāsya and Vimala. Thus, under Viśvāmitra’s guidance, Rāma became master not only of the divine weapons but also of their restraint, shining ever brighter as the worthy scion of the Raghu line.