What were the five most powerful weapons of Shri Krishna?

 Five most powerful Weapons of Krishna in no particular order are:

1.Sharanga Bow

Sharanga bow was created by divine architect Vishwakarma for Lord Vishnu. It was used by Krishna in many of his wars.

2. Sudarshan Chakra

Lord Agni gave Sudarshan Chakra to Krishna during Khandava daha . He used it to kill Sishupala.

3. Kaumudaki Mace

Early scriptures showed Lord Vishnu holding Kaumudaki mace in his right hand.

4. Panchajanya

Sage Sandipani was the gurukul teacher of Krishna,Balarama and Sudhama. The sage’s son was kidnapped by a sea demon named Panchajanya or Shankasur who imprisoned the child in a conch shell. As part of guru dakshina, Krishna killed the sea demon and returned the child back to his parents. Sandipani presented the conch to Krishna and named it Panchajanya.

5. Nandaka sword

Lord Vishnu is called as Nandaki in Vishnu Sahastranama. It means one who wields Nandaka. It is also mentioned in Vishnu Purana and Varaha Purana.

Image Courstesy: Google

References:

1. Vishnu Purana
2. Varaha Purana
3. Vishnu Sahastranama
4. Mahabharata

What are all the celestial and destructive divine weapons of Karna?

 

• Being one of the supreme archer in Dwapar Yuga and the greatest student of Parashurama, Karna had many celestial weapons.

In Rangabhoomi Arena, Karna displayed all the celestial weapons which are already displayed by Arjuna

*** Agneyastra, Varunastra, Vayavyaastra, Parjanyastra, Bhaumastra, Parvatyastra, Antardhanastra.

When the spectators, excited with delight, had somewhat regained their equanimity, Vibhatsu began to display his lightness in the use of weapons. By the Agneya weapon, he created fire, and by the Varuna weapon he created water, by the Vayavya weapon, he created air, and by the Parjanya weapon he created clouds. And by the Bhauma weapon, he created land, and by the Parvatya weapon, he brought mountains into being. By the Antardhana weapon all these were made to disappear.

ADI PARVA : SECTION CXXXVII : KMG MAHABHARATA

Then with the permission of Drona, the mighty Karna, delighting in battle, there did all that Partha had done before.

ADI PARVA : SECTION CXXXVIII : KMG MAHABHARATA

*** All sorts of Brahma weapons i.e Brahmastra, High Brahmastra, Brahmashirastra etc

O Bharata, the whole science of arms dwelleth in Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa, and Karna, and Drona's son. They fully know all sorts of Brahma and celestial and human and Vayavya weapons, together with the modes of using and warding them off.

VANA PARVA : SECTION XXXVII : KMG MAHABHARATA

*** Vasavi spear given by Indra for donating Kavach and Kundals

Do thou give me thy ear-rings, and the coat of mail born with thy body, and in return take this dart on these terms! When I encounter the Daitya in battle, this dart that is incapable of being baffled, hurled by my hand, destroyeth enemies by hundreds, and cometh back to my hand after achieving its purpose. In thy hand, however, this dart, O son of Suta, will slay only one powerful enemy of thine. And having achieved that feat, it will, roaring and blazing, return to me!

VANA PARVA : SECTION CCCVIII : KMG MAHABHARATA

*** Aindrastra

At that time, Arjuna shot many weapons including Aindrastra and Karna baffled with his own weapons

Beholding the brahmastra, Arjuna invoked the Aindra weapon with proper mantras.

…

The son of Radha baffled with his own weapons those of Savyasaci.

KARNA PARVA : SECTION 90 : KMG MAHABHARATA

*** Sarpamukhi Baan

Karna possessed the deadly Sarpamukhi Baan which is generated in Airavata race. That Sarpamukhi Baan destroyed the Arjuna's indestructible daidem (it would've killed him too if Shri Krishna didn't press the chariot)

Karna affixed an extremely sharp and flaming arrow that was capable of slaying the enemy. This had a serpent in its mouth. That terrible arrow had been carefully preserved and washed well, protected well for Partha’s destruction. It had been worshipped and laid down on a bed of sandalwood paste. That immensely virulent weapon was lying down in a golden quiver.

KARNA PARVA : CHAPTER 66 : BORI CE MAHABHARATA

*** Bhargavastra

Bhagwan Bharagava Parshurama give his unique personal weapon to his beloved disciple Karna. When Karna invoked this weapon it release billions of arrows. Even Arjuna accepts his inability to counter this weapon. According to Jamini Mahabharata it destroyed 1 Akshouhini sena.

The immensely strong one with an immeasurable soul took a pledge of truth and invoked the bhargava weapon. O king! In the great battle, thousands, millions, billions and crores of extremely sharp arrows issued from it.

KARNA PARVA : CHAPTER 45 : BORI CE MAHABHARATA

*** Atharvastra

Bhagwan Bharagava Parshurama give another unique weapon Atharvastra to Karna. Karna used this weapon to counter Arjuna’s weapon.

KARNA PARVA : ADHYAYA 90 : Verse 8 : GITA PRESS MAHABHARATA

*** Sthunakarna, Indrajala and Mahadev’s Pasupatastra

Karna will urge the immensely strong sons of Dhritarashtra towards Partha. He will shroud the king with sthunakarna, indrajala and pashupata and the maharathas will follow him

KARNA PARVA : CHAPTER 43 : BORI CE MAHABHARATA

*** Vijaya Dhanush of Bhagwan Parashurama

Having spoken these words, the powerful and brave son of a suta, picked up Vijaya, his ancient and excellent bow. O great king! Having strung it, he repeatedly rubbed thestring. He asked the warriors to return.

KARNA PARVA : CHAPTER 45 : BORI CE MAHABHARATA

*** Apart from that Karna gained the entire Dhanurveda knowledge and celestial weapons from Bhagwan Parashurama what latter had obtained from Mahadeva

He obtained the weapons and all the boons that he wished for. Having obtained these diverse objects, Rama lowered his head before Shiva. The immensely ascetic one took the permission of the lord of the gods and departed. This is the ancient account that was told by the rishi.

‘ “‘Bhargava imparted all his knowledge of dhanurveda to the great souled Karna, tiger among men, having been extremely pleased with him. O king! Had Karna not been a deserving person, the descendant of the Bhrigu lineage would not have given him those celestial weapons.

KARNA PARVA : CHAPTER 25 : BORI CE MAHABHARATA

*** Karna even obtain many celestial weapons from Gods, Gandharvas, Yaskhas at Mt Mahendragiri

While residing on the Mahendra mountains that resembled heaven itself, Karna met and mixed with many Gandharvas, Yakshas, and gods. Residing there he acquired all the weapons duly, and became a great favourite of the gods, the Gandharvas, and the Rakshasas.

SANTI PARVA : SECTION II : KMG MAHABHARATA

Now some funny people claim that Karna didn't possess any supreme weapons beyond Brahmastra. Even the archers like Yudhisthira, Kekeya King Brihadkshatra etc had the arsenal which limits to Brahmastra. It is funny claim that supreme archers like Karna didn't possess any weapons beyond Brahmastra.

Karna had many supreme weapons which are beyond Brahmastra but he never used celestial weapons carelessly like Ashwatthama.

• See what Bhagwan Narada and Vyasa Deva says about usage of celestial weapons by Kuru Maharathas when Ashwatthama and Arjuna invoked Brahmashirastra

‘The two rishis said, “The maharathas who have fallen down earlier were knowledgeable about many weapons. These weapons should never be used against humans. Why have you invoked them?”’

SOUPTIKA PARVA : CHAPTER 14 : BORI CE MAHABHARATA

• Even after the fall of Karna, King Dhritarastra lamented that Karna should've invoked many divine weapons (Fun Fact is before his death, Karna used Brahmastra atleast for three times)

Karna must have unleashed many divine weapons.

KARNA PARVA : CHAPTER 5 : BORI CE MAHABHARATA

This instances itself proves that Karna had many celestial weapons beyond Brahmastra. But he never invoked them due to some pride issues or may be fear of catastrophic affect among Humans. And are you expecting that Karna will use supreme level weapons who rarely use mid level celestial weapons like Agneyastra, Varunastra, Vayavyaastra etc

OM NAMO BHAGWATE VASUDEVA 🙏🙏🙏

HAR HAR MAHADEV 🙏🙏🙏

What are all the celestial and destructive divine weapons of Karna?

 

• Karna possessed Agneyastra, Varunastra, Parjanyastra, Vayavyastra, Bhoumyastra, Parvatastra and Antardhanastra.

During the Rangbhumi, Arjuna demonstrated multiple astras and Karna did the exact same thing

He created fire with an agneya weapon. He created water with a varuna weapon. He created winds with a vayavya weapon. He created rain with a parjanya weapon. He entered the ground with a bhoumya weapon. He created mountains with a parvata weapon. He made everything disappear with an antardhana weapon.

-Mahabharata, Jatugriha-Daha Parva, Chapter 125

With Drona’s permission, Karna, always eager to do battle and immensely strong, exhibited all that Partha had displayed before.

• He had Bhargavastra

The immensely strong one with an immeasurable soul took a pledge of truth and invoked the bhargava weapon. O king! In the great battle, thousands, millions, billions and crores of extremely sharp arrows issued from it. They were extremely terrible and blazed, shafted with the feathers of herons and peacocks. The Pandava soldiers were mangled and nothing could be seen. O lord of the earth! Great sounds of lamentation arose among the Panchalas. In the encounter, they were afflicted by the power of the bhargava weapon.

-Mahabharata, Karna-Vadha Parva, Chapter 1195(45)

• He had received Brahmastra from Parashurama, Indra’s spear in exchange of his Kavacha and he also has Nagastra

He possessed a divine spear that was as radiant as lightning. It was decorated with gold and was capable of killing the enemy. Purandara gave him that in exchange for the earrings. Among the arrows in his quiver, there was a divine arrow, decorated with gold. It was lying there and was smeared with sandalwood paste. It had a serpent in its mouth and the slayer of enemies did not use it. The brave one ignored maharathas like Bhishma and Drona and learnt the extremely terrible brahmastra from Jamadagni’s son.

-Mahabharata, Karna-Vadha Parva, Chapter 1155(5)

• Had the divine Vijaya bow given to him by Parashurama which he used on the 17th day

My bow, Vijaya, is supreme among all weapons. Vishvakarma constructed it for Indra’s sake. It was with this that Shatakratu vanquished large numbers of daityas. In the ten directions, the daityas were confounded because of its roar. Shakra gave that revered weapon to Bhargava and Bhargava gave that divine and supreme bow to me. With this, I will fight against the mighty-armed Arjuna, foremost among victorious ones, like Indra fighting in a battle against all the assembled daityas. Rama gave me this terrible bow and it is superior to Gandiva. It was with this bow that he conquered the earth twenty-one times. Bhargava told me about this bow’s divine deeds and Rama gave it to me. I will use it to fight against Pandava.

-Mahabharata, Karna-Vadha Parva, Chapter 1172(22)

These were the weapons which Karna had without a shadow of doubt. Other weapons were subject to interpretation as there are several statements saying Parashurama giving all his weapons to Karna (such statements existed for Arjuna and Drona as well, saying Drona imparted all weapons to Arjuna, but Arjuna doesn’t seem to have Narayanastra)

|| Namō Veṅkaṭeśāya || 🛞 U 🐚

According to Valmiki Ramayana, how many weapons did Shri Lakshman have? I mean how many weapons did he mention to have possess?

 (1) Adiparashakti Janki Maa mentioned that Lakshmanji had Brahmashirastra, Agneyastra, Vayavyastra, Aindrastra, Varunastra.

"Having searched all the resorts of men, received the tidings of my fate, and crossed the impassable ocean, those two brothers have perishe din the imprint of a cow's hoof ( a small puddle)." "Rama and Lakshmana surely knew the use of of Varuna, Agneya, Aindra, Vayavya and Brahmashira weapons.

~Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 48

(2) Brahmastra — Lakshmanji invoked it on 2 occasions. 1st time to kill Atikaya and 2nd time to kill all demons of Lanka.

Supreme Lord Rama himself said that Brahmastra fired Lakshmanji was capable to kill all demons of Earth including Ravan and Meghnat.

Then, Lakshmana for his part was enraged and told his brother that he would employ the missile presided over by Brahma for the purpose of killing all the demons. Then, Rama spoke to that Lakshmana, who was endowed with auspicious bodily marks as follows: "You ought not to kill all the demons on earth, merely for the sake of a single demon." "O long-armed Lakshmana! We shall try to kill Indrajit alone.

~Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 80

(3) In his battle with Meghnat, Lakshmanji had also used Maheshwarastra (belonging to Parameshwara Mahadeva) and Saurastra ( belonging to Lord Soorya Narayana)

Then, that enraged Indrajit employed a missile presided over by Agni the god of fire which was blazing.The valiant Lakshmana obstructed Agni-missile, by a Saurastra missile presided over by the sun-god.

~valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 90

Indrajit was filled with anger and took hold of a sharp Asura missile capable of tearing down an enemy. Seeing that terrible missile, the brilliant Lakshmana obstructed that missile by using Maheswara-missile.

~valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 90

(4) Kauberastra — It is a very special missile of Lakshmanji and was gifted to him by Lord Kubera. It had strength to kill all the gods including Indra and all the demons of Earth in just one shot.

The immensely energetic Lakshmana picked up another arrow. In a dream, Kubera, immeasurable in his soul, had himself given him this. It was impossible to vanquish and impossible to withstand, even for Indra, the gods and the asuras.

~valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 90

(5) Lakshmanji also had Raudrastra, Yamyastra, Asurastra, Aishika missile that's why he could easily counter them.

Their rays were reduced to ashes and those two excellent arrows were no longer radiant. Angry, Atikaya released the aishika weapon presided over by Tvashta (the architect of gods). The valiant Soumitri severed this with aindrastra.

~valmiki Ramayana CE 6(59)

On seeing that the aishika had been destroyed, the prince who was Ravana’s son angrily invoked yamyastra on an arrow. Lakshmana destroyed this with vayavyastra.

~valmiki Ramayana CE 6(59)

Skilled in warfare, the great Indrajit too discharged a missile presided over by Rudra (the god of destruction) in battle. By that Rudra missile, that very wonderful Varuna-missile was struck.

~valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 90

Finding his missile repelled, Indrajit was filled with anger and took hold of a sharp Asura missile used by demons and capable of tearing down an enemy.

~valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 90

(6) Lakshmanji also had a divine bow and divine sword of Varuna Deva.He also had inexhaustible quiver full of arrows and also a divine armour all belonging to Varuna deva.

"Oh, Lakshma! At a grand sacrifice perfomed by Janaka, the great-souled Varuna(god of water) personally gave heavently bows which are dreadful to look at, divine impenetrable pices of armour, quivers containing an inexhaustible stock of arms, two swords decked with gold and with spotless lustre like that of a sun - all these were kept at the residence of our receptor Vasista, after paying due reverence. Take all those arms and return soon."

~Valmiki Ramayana Ayodhya Kanda Sarga 31

(7) Adiparashakti Janki Mata herself said that Lakshmanji is superior to even Kartvirya Arjuna in wielding and use of weapons. The same Kartvirya Arjuna had effortlessly defeated Ravan. Lakshmanji, with his normal arrows could destroy all divine weapons of Indra using Vajra.

With one shot, he was capable of releasing five hundred arrows. In the use of weapons, Lakshmana was thus superior to Kartavirya.With his weapons, the great-souled one could destroy Shakra’s weapons.

~valmiki Ramayana CE 6(39)

What were the five most powerful weapons of Shri Krishna?

 Sudharsan Chakra

It was the Primary Weapon of Lord Krishna and he used it many times against powerful foes. One of the notable feats with this weapon is when he used it to cut off the thousands hands of Banasura:

With great force Gadadhara, worked up with ire, took up that wonderful discus, effulgent like the sun, at the discharge of which, all the worlds, mobile and immobile, become unconscious and flesh-eating creatures find great pleasure, discharged it and cut off Vana’s arms. When discharged by Shridhara, parmeating the universe, that firmament-like discus so moved about in the battle-field that no body could see its true form. Gradually cutting off Vana’s thousand arms and making him the owner of only two the Sudarshana discus returned into Krishna’s hands.

Narayanastra

He used this weapon to counter the Pashupatastra of Lord Shiva in Banasura Battle:

Lord Kṛṣṇa counteracted a brahmāstra with another brahmāstra, a wind weapon with a mountain weapon, a fire weapon with a rain weapon, and Lord Śiva’s personal pāśupatāstra weapon with His own personal weapon, the nārāyaṇāstra.

Vaishnavastra

In Shoniputra battle, He terrified and defeated Bhutas, Yakshas and Asuras using this weapon:

Having thus counteracted those four weapons with his four arrows Madhava discharged his Vaishnava weapon like unto Antaka (the destroyer) with his mouth wide open. When the Vaishnava weapon was discharged all the Bhutas, Yakshas and Asuras of Vana’s host, unconscious and stricken with fear, fled on all sides. Then beholding his army abounding in Pramathas thus routed the great Asura Vana speedily ran towards the battle-field.

Saranga Bow

One of the 3 great bows mentioned in Mahabharat previously owned by Vishnu himself:

There were three celestial bows owned by the denizens of heaven, viz., Gandiva owned by Varuna, the bow called Vijaya owned by Indra, and that other celestial bow of great energy said to have been owned by Vishnu. This last (Sarnga), capable of striking fear into the hearts of hostile warriors, was held by Krishna.

Kaumodaki Mace

He used this mace to kill Dantavakra:

Although hit by Dantavakra’s club, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the deliverer of the Yadus, did not budge from His place on the battlefield. Rather, with His massive Kaumodakī club the Lord struck Dantavakra in the middle of his chest. His heart shattered by the club’s blow, Dantavakra vomited blood and fell lifeless to the ground, his hair disheveled and his arms and legs sprawling

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