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 ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana sprach: „O Nachkomme Bharatas, zum Schutz deiner Brüder und deiner selbst sollst auch du diese Waffe im Kampf entsenden — die Gegenwaffe, die das heranfliegende Geschoss zu neutralisieren vermag. Angesichts eines vernichtenden astrischen Angriffs wird dieser Rat nicht als Rache verstanden, sondern als notwendige Tat der Verteidigung, um Leben zu bewahren und ein größeres Unheil abzuwenden.“
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.