Shloka 3
Chapter 14: Divyāstra-Prayoga and Ṛṣi Intervention (दिव्यास्त्रप्रयोगः ऋषिसमागमश्च)
भ्रातृणामात्मनश्वैव परित्राणाय भारत | विसृजैतत् त्वमप्याजावस्त्रमस्त्रनिवारणम्
bhrātṝṇām ātmanaś caiva paritrāṇāya bhārata | visṛjaitat tvam apy ājāv astram astranivāraṇam ||
হে ভারতবংশধর! ভ্রাতৃগণের ও নিজের রক্ষার্থে তুমিও যুদ্ধে এই অস্ত্র নিক্ষেপ করো—এটি প্রতিঅস্ত্র, যা আগত অস্ত্রকে নিবৃত্ত করতে সক্ষম।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When confronted with an overwhelming astric threat, the text presents defensive action—deploying a counter-weapon—as a duty aimed at protection (paritrāṇa) rather than revenge. The ethical emphasis is on safeguarding life and preventing greater destruction, even amid the moral chaos of war.
A speaker urges the addressed Bhārata to discharge a counter-weapon in battle to protect himself and his brothers, indicating that the incoming astric attack can be checked only by an appropriate neutralizing astra.