The Narayanastra is the personal missile weapon of Vishnu in his Narayana form, this astra lets loose a powerful tirade of millions of deadly missiles simultaneously. The intensity of the shower increases with resistance. The only solution is total submission before the missile, given which it will stop.

Ashwathama, a Kuru warrior-hero in the epic Mahabharata unleashes the weapon on the Pandava forces. Lord Krishna, who is the Avatara of Vishnu tells the Pandavas and their warriors to drop their weapons and lay down on the ground, submitting completely to the power of the weapon.

Pandava hero Bhima refuses to do so, thinking

See also

• Wars of Hindu Mythology
• Mahabharata