In Valmiki Ramayan, sage Vishwamitra transfers various lethal Astras to Lord Ram after killing demons like Tadaka and Subahu. All those astras were invoked through mantras. While talking about astras, we need to understand the difference between Astra (अस्त्र) and Shastra (शस्त्र). Astras are weapons invoked by mantras. Thus, even a blade of grass can become an Astra. Shastras, on the other hand, are conventional weapons like swords, maces, spears, etc.
Rishi Vishwamitra takes Ram and Laxman to the jungle to kill the demons creating havoc there. On the way, the sage first imparts two special Mantras to the brothers that are called Balaa and Atibalaa. The power of these Mantras is such that the receiver becomes immune to fatigue, disease, and old age. No enemy can attack a person in sleep and an inattentive state. The powers of these Mantras are such that the person acquiring them cannot be defeated in any debate and will be knowledgable, witty, and fully fortunate.
After the killing of demoness Tadka, Rishi Vishwamitra gives various Astras and Shastras to Ram. Here is the list of 100 Astras given by Vishwamitra to Lord Ram:
तानि दिव्यानि भद्रं ते ददाम्यस्त्राणि सर्वशः ॥
दण्डचक्र महद दिव्यं तव दास्यामि राघव ॥
धर्मचक्रं ततो वीर कालचक्रतं तथैव च॥
विष्णुचक्रं तथात्युग्रमैन्द्रं चक्रं तथैव च ॥
Tāni divyāni bhadraṁ te dadāmyastraṇi sarvaśaḥ.
Daṇḍacakram mahad divyaṁ tava dāsyāmi rāghava.
Dharmacakram tato vīra kālacakratam tathaiva ca.
Viṣṇucakram tathātyugramaindraṁ cakram tathaiva ca.
"Raghunandan! Today, I am giving you all those divine weapons. O brave one! I will give you the divine and great Dandachakra, Dharmachakra, Kalachakra, Vishnuchakra, and the most dreadful Indrachakra."
वज्रमस्त्र नरश्रेष्ठ शैवं शूलवरं तथा।
अस्त्र ब्रह्मशिरश्चैव ऐषीकमपि राघव ॥
ददामि ते महाबाहो ब्राह्ममस्त्रमनुत्तमम्।
Vajramastra narashreṣṭha śaivaṁ śūlavaraṁ tathā।
astra brahmaśiraścaiva aiṣhīkamapi rāghava ।
Dadāmi te mahābāho brāhmamastram anuttamam।
"Raghav! I will also give Indra's Vajrastra, Shiva's trident, and Brahma's weapon, Brahmashir. Along with this, I also give you the Aishikastra and the ultimate Brahmastra."
गदे द्वे चैव काकुत्स्थ मोदकीशिखरी शुभे ॥
प्रदीप्ते नरशार्दूल प्रयच्छामि नृपात्मज।
धर्मपाशामहं राम कालपाशं तथैव च ॥
वारुणं पाशमस्त्रं च ददाम्यहमनुत्तमम्।
Gade dve chaiva kākutstha modakīśikharī śubhe॥
Pradīpte naraśārdūla prayacchāmi nṛpātmaja।
Dharmapāśāma haṁ rāma kālapāśaṁ tathaiva cha॥
Vāruṇaṁ pāśamastraṁ cha dadāmyahamanuttamam
"Apart from these, I also offer you two very bright and beautiful maces, Modaki and Shikhari. O, Prince Ram! Dharmapasha, Kalpasha, and Varunpasha are also very good weapons. I also dedicate these to you today."
अशनी द्रे प्रयच्छामि शुष्कार्द्र रघुनन्दन ॥
ददामि चास्त्र पैनाकमस्त्र नारायण तथा।
Ashanī dre prayacchāmi śuṣkārdra raghunandan॥
Dadāmi chāstra paṇākamastra nārāyaṇa tathā।
"Raghunandan! I am giving you two types of fire, dry and wet, and also Pinaka and Narayanastra."
आग्रेयमस्त्रं दयितं शिखरं नाम नामतः ॥
वायव्यं प्रथम नाम ददामि तव चानघ।
Āgreyamastraṁ dayitaṁ śikharaṁ nāma nāmataḥ॥
Vāyavyaṁ prathama nāma dadāmi tava cānagha।
"I offer you the dear weapon of Agnidev, the Aagney-astra, also known as Shikharastra. Ram! I am also giving you the Vaayavyastra (weapon of Vayu), which is the chief among the weapons."
अस्त्रं हयशिरो नाम क्रौञ्चमस्त्रं तथैव च ॥
शतिद्वयं च काकुत्स्थ ददामि तव राघव।
Astraṁ hayaśiro nāma krauñcamastreṁ tathaiva ca॥
Śatidvayaṁ ca kākutstha dadāmi tava rāghava।
"Also, I give you the weapons named Hayashira, kraunchmastra and two powers."
कङ्काल मुसलं घोरें कापालमथ किङ्गिणीम् ॥
वधार्थ रक्षसां यानि ददाम्येतानि सर्वशः।
Kaṅkāla musalaṁ ghoreṁ kāpālamatha kiṅgiṇīm॥
Vadhārtha rakṣasāṁ yāni dadāmyetāni sarvaśaḥ।
"I am giving you all the weapons like Kankal, a pestle named Ghor, Kapal, and Kinkini, etc., which are useful in killing the demons."
वैद्याधरं महास्त्रं च नन्दनं नाम नामतः ॥
असिरत्र महाबाहो ददामि नृवरात्मज।
Vaidyādharaṁ mahāstraṁ ca nandanaṁ nāma nāmataḥ॥
Asiratra mahābāho dadāmi nṛvarātmaja।
"Ram! I also offer to you the great weapon and the sword of the famous scholar by the name of Nandan."
गान्धर्वमस्त्रं दयितं मोहनं नाम नामतः ॥
प्रस्वापन प्रशमन ददिा सौम्यं च राघव।
Gāndharvamastraṁ dayitaṁ mohanaṁ nāma nāmataḥ॥
Prasvāpana prashamana dadīa saumyaṁ ca rāghava।
"I also give you the chief weapons of the Gandharvs called Sammohan (hypnosis), Praswaapan, Prashaman, and Saumya-astra."
वर्षणां शोषणां चैव संतापनविलापने ॥
मादनं चैव दुर्धर्ष कन्दर्पदयितं तथा।
गान्धर्वमस्त्रं दयितं मानवं नाम नामतः ॥
पैशाचमस्त्रं दयितं मोहनं नाम नामतः ॥
प्रतीच्छ नरशार्दुल राजपुत्र महायशः ॥
Varṣhaṇāṁ śoṣhaṇāṁ caiva santāpanavilāpane॥
Mādanaṁ caiva durdharṣha kandarpadayitaṁ tathā।
Gāndharvamastraṁ dayitaṁ mānavaṁ nāma nāmataḥ॥
Paiśācamastraṁ dayitaṁ mohanaṁ nāma nāmataḥ॥
Pratīccha naraśārdula rājaputra mahāyaśhaḥ॥
"O, dear Prince! Receive from me the weapons of rain, exploitation, wrath, lamentation, and Kamadeva's favourite formidable weapon, Maadan, and Maanavastra of the Gandhavas and the Mohanastra of the demons."
तामसं नरशार्दूल सौमनं च महाबलम्।
संवर्तं चैव दुर्धर्षं मौसलं च नृपात्मज ॥
सत्यमस्त्र महाबाहो तथा मायामयं परम्।
सौरं तेजःप्रभं नाम परतेजोऽपकर्षणम् ॥
Tāmasaṁ naraśārdūla saumanaṁ ca mahābalam।
Saṁvartaṁ caiva durdharṣhaṁ mausalaṁ ca nṛpātmaja॥
Satyamastra mahābāho tathā māyāmayaṁ param।
Sauraṁ tejaḥprabhaṁ nāma paratejo'pakarṣhaṇam॥
"I also dedicate the Tamas, Mahabaliastra, and the brightness of the Sun god to you."
सोमास्त्रं शिशिरं नाम त्वाष्ट्रमस्त्रं सुदारुणम्।
दारुणं च भगस्यापि शीतेषुमथ मानवम् ॥
Somāstraṁ śiśiraṁ nāma tvāṣṭram-astraṁ sudāruṇam।
Dāruṇaṁ ca bhagasyāpi śīteṣhu matha mānavam॥
"I give you the weapon of Soma devata named Shishir, the most severe weapon of Twashta (Vishvakarma), the fiercest weapon of Bhagdevata, and also the weapon named Manuka Shiteshu."
After that Vishwamitra said, “Raghukulanandan Ram! You are worthy of receiving weapons, therefore, accept the following weapons also - Satyavaan Satyakirti, Dhushta, Rabhas, Pratihaaratar, Pramukha, Avanmukha, Lakshya, Alakshaya, Dridnaabha, Sunaabh, Dashaaksha, Shatavakra, Dashashirsha, Shatodar, Padhmanaabha, Mahaanabha, Dundunaabha, Swanaabh, Jyotish, Shakun, Nairaasya, Vimal, Daitya-naashak, Yougandhar, and Vinidra, Shuchibahu, Mahabahu, Nishkali, Virucha, Sarchimali, Dhutirmali, Vrittiman, Ruchir, Pitrya, Saumanas, Vidhoot, Makar, Parveer, Rati, Dhan, Dhaanya, Kaamrupa, Kaamruchi, Moha, Avaran, Jumbhak, Sarpnath, Panthan and Varuna – all these are the sons of Prajapati Krishaswa. They take the form as desired and are supremely brilliant."
Vishwamitra accumulated all these Astra and Shastra through Tapasya. Since the Supreme Lord took a human form and descended on Earth as Ram to free the planet of the demons, Rishi Vishwamitra gave these weapons back to him. Such are the Divine actions of God and Sages- incomprehensive to our material intellect. It could be understood only through the grace of a Guru and God.
Source: Valmiki Ramayan
