Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 56: King Viśvāmitra Decides to Become a Brāhmaṇa
Text 1.56.23
धिग्बलं क्षत्रियबलं ब्रह्मतेजो बलं बलम्।
एकेन ब्रह्मदण्डेन सर्वास्त्राणि हतानि मे॥
dhig balaṁ kṣatriya-balaṁ brahma-tejo balaṁ balam
ekena brahma-daṇḍena sarvāstrāṇi hatāni me
dhik = is reprehensible; balam = strength; kṣatriya-balam = the strength of a kṣatriya; brahma-tejaḥ = of brahminical prowess; balam = the strength; balam = is [real] strength; ekena brahma-daṇḍena = by a single staff of a brāhmaṇa; sarva-astrāṇi = all weapons; hatāni = have been destroyed; me = my.
The strength of a kṣatriya is reprehensible strength. The strength of brahminical prowess is [real] strength. All my weapons have been destroyed by a single staff of a brāhmaṇa.
He thought, “The strength of a kṣatriya is reprehensible. The strength of a brāhmaṇa’s prowess is alone excellent. All of my weapons, except the Brahmāstra, have been destroyed by a single staff of a brāhmaṇa.”