ब्रह्मास्त्र

{ brahmāstra }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

BRAHMĀSTRA   This is known by another name Brahmaśirāstra also. This weapon was given to Agastya by Śiva. It is mentioned in [Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 138, Stanza 9] , that Agastya gave this weapon to Agniveśa, who gave it to Droṇa and Droṇa gave it to Arjuna and instructed him about the use of it as follows: “You should never shoot this arrow at man. If it is used against mean people the three worlds would be destroyed. It is said that this weapon has no parallel in the world. Keep this pure, and give ear to what I say. If an enemy, other than human being attacks you, this weapon may be used to kill him in battle.”

A dictionary, Marathi and English

   Weapon of Brahmá, an arrow, a straw, or anything charmed and endowed by the recitation over it of a mantra. Ex. नरकें ब्र0 सोडिलें जाण ॥ तेंही गिळिलें अवलीळा ॥. 2 The curse or imprecation of a Bráhman.

A Sanskrit English Dictionary

ब्रह्मास्त्र  n.  n. ‘ ब्रह्मा's missile’, N. of a mythical weapon (which deals infallible destruction), [MBh.]; [R.]; [Kathās.]
   of a partic. kind of incantation, [Cat.] ( cf. [IW. 402, 1])

Shabda-Sagara

ब्रह्मास्त्र  n.  ( -स्त्रं) The BRAHMĀ'S weapon, a fabulous weapon originally [Page522-a+ 60] from BRAHMĀ.
   2. The imprecation of a Brāhman.
    E. ब्रह्म and अस्त्र a weapon.

ROOTS:

ब्रह्म अस्त्र