A destructive weapon (arrow) . The following story about the अस्त्र is told in the युद्ध काण्ड of कम्ब रामायण .

In olden times there was a very powerful and mean asura called नाग . ब्रह्मा resorted to virulent black magic to kill नाग , and from the fire-pit arose a terrible goblin called नागपाश . It was deputed to kill नाग and the त्रिमूर्तिस् followed it. नागपाश went to the city of नागासुर called वीरमहेन्द्र , ascended its tower and made a terrible noise the echo of which caused abortion in all the pregnant नाग women. Many children fainted and many died. नागासुर deputed his army chieftain वीरसेन with an army to kill the नाग goblin. At the sight of the army the goblin raised another terrible cry, which blew off वीरसेन and his army, reducing them to powder. Then नागासुर 's minister with a big army attacked the goblin. But the minister was devoured by him, and the army annihilated. Enraged at this defeat of his minister, नागासुर attacked the goblin with an army of crores of soldiers. But, within seconds the goblin devoured the mighty army. At last नागपाश and नागासुर engaged themselves in a duel which lasted for years. Ultimately the goblin swallowed up नागासुर also. Then he went to the त्रिमूर्तिस् and saluted them. They granted him many boons, and शिव , in excess of joy, wore it as one of the ornaments round his neck. Some time later नागपाश set out on a tour to see the fourteen worlds, and शिव specially instructed him not to visit the शाल्मलि island. He visited the various worlds earning all knowledge and started for mount कैलास . On his way he saw शाल्मलि island, the abode of नागस् , and in violation of शिव 's instructions, he entered the island. The नागस् there did not honour him and his false pride made him tremble with rage. Then the नागस् of the island told him thus: "We have a powerful enemy, who visits us every month, and unless we feed him sumptuously he will devour all of us for food He is to come today, and if you are capable enough, you defeat and drive him off and save us. If you do so, we shall crown you as our King and honour you."

The powerful enemy of the नागस् was गरुड and he came. All the नागस् ran off at his sight. गरुड then attacked the goblin नागपाश , who was standing unperturbed before him. There being no chance of victory for the goblin he ran away and took refuge with शिव . गरुड also followed him, and demanded of शिव to return to him, his enemy, the goblin. शिव told गरुड thus:--"If, in future he (the goblin) interferes with anybody connected with you, you may either punish or eat him. Do not do anything with him now".

गरुड agreed to the above proposal of शिव . From that day onwards नागपाश lived in वैकुण्ठ entwined with nooses. He became the arrow called नागपाश or न्åगास्त्र .