After imparting profound wisdom to Rāma, the sage Viśvāmitra revealed to him those mighty weapons whose full mastery is rare, even among the gods. As Viśvāmitra recited sacred chants, the splendid celestial weapons themselves approached Rāghava, drawn by the sage’s power and Rāma’s worthiness. With joyful hearts, these weapons, radiant and formidable, addressed Rāma with joined hands: “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 their reverent words, Rāma felt a deep serenity within. With his spirit uplifted and his energy shining bright, Rāma saluted the great sage Viśvāmitra and, filled with delight, prepared to depart. Thus begins the twenty-eighth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa. Having received the weapons, Rāma, pure and joyful, walked alongside Viśvāmitra and spoke: “O revered one, I have obtained these weapons and am now unconquerable, even by the gods. But, O foremost of sages, I wish to learn the means to withdraw them.” Viśvāmitra, steadfast and pure, replied to Kakutstha’s request by imparting the knowledge of withdrawal—teaching him Satyavanta, Satyakīrti, Dhṛṣṭa, Rabhasa, Pratihāratara, and the methods for facing and turning away the weapons. He continued, teaching Lakṣya and Alakṣya, Dṛḍhanābha and Sunābhaka, Daśākṣa and Śatavaktra, Daśaśīrṣa and Śatodara; Padmanābha, Mahānābha, Dundunābha, Sunābhaka, Jyotiṣa, Śakuna, Nairāsya and Vimala; Yaugandhara and Vinidra, destroyers of demons, Śucibāhu, Mahābāhu, Niṣkali, Viruca, Sārcirmālī, Dhṛtimālī, Vṛttimān, and Rucira; Pitrya and Saumanasa, both Vidhūtamakaras, Paravīra, Rati, and Dhanadhānya; Kāmarūpa, Kāmaruci, Mohamāvaraṇa, Jṛmbhaka, Sarvanābha, and Panthanavaruṇa. “O Rāma,” Viśvāmitra said, “accept the radiant, shape-shifting sons of Kṛśāśva from me; you are worthy, may it be auspicious for you.” With a joyful heart, Rāma replied, “Certainly.” Then, the divine, radiant, embodied weapons appeared before him, bringing delight. Some glowed like embers, some like smoke, some shone like the moon and sun, and some stood with hands joined in reverence. These sweet-spoken beings addressed Rāma: “Here we are, O tiger among men; command us, what shall we do for you?” Rāma replied, “Go as you wish; in times of need, you will assist me with your minds.” Having taken leave of Rāma and circumambulated him, they said, “So be it,” and departed as they had come. Recognizing their devotion, Rāma spoke gently to Viśvāmitra as they continued their journey: “What is that cluster of trees, dark as clouds, shining near the mountain? My curiosity about it is truly great. It is beautiful to behold, teeming with deer and exceedingly charming, adorned by birds of many kinds with delightful calls. We have emerged, O foremost of sages, from the dense forest that thrilled us; by this, I understand the pleasantness of this region. Tell me everything, O revered one: whose hermitage is this, where those wicked, sinful slayers of Brahmins came upon you? To obstruct your sacrifice, O great sage, those evil-minded ones came; what is that place where your sacrificial rites are performed?” Now begins the twenty-ninth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. As Rāma asked about the immeasurable one, the radiant Viśvāmitra began to explain: “Here, O Rāma of mighty arms, Viṣṇu, revered by the gods, spent many years and hundreds of ages. Meanwhile, O Rāma, Kashyapa, radiant as fire, together with Aditi, shone with energy. The blessed one, accompanied by the goddess, completed a divine vow for a thousand years, and praised Madhusudana, the bestower of boons. ‘I see you, the supreme person, composed of austerity, the heap of austerity, the embodiment of austerity, whose essence is austerity, by my well-performed austerity. In your body, O Lord, I see this entire world; you are without beginning and beyond description; I have taken refuge in you.’ Hari, pleased, addressed Kashyapa, freed from sin: ‘Choose a boon, may good come to you; you are worthy of a boon and dear to me.’ Hearing those words, Maricha Kashyapa spoke: ‘Aditi, the gods, and I have requested this together. O bestower of boons, supremely pleased, you are worthy to grant a boon; O steadfast one, let this sage, sinless one, become my son, and also the son of Aditi. Become the younger brother of Indra, O slayer of asuras; you ought to assist the gods who are afflicted by sorrow.’” Now begins the thirtieth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Then those two princes, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, foremost among men, who knew the proper place and time and were skilled in speech, spoke these words to Kauśika, the great sage.