Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 20
Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
अथोपस्पृश्य सलिलं सन्दधे तत्समाहित: । अजानन्नपि संहारं प्राणकृच्छ्र उपस्थिते ॥ २० ॥
athopaspṛśya salilaṁ sandadhe tat samāhitaḥ ajānann api saṁhāraṁ prāṇa-kṛcchra upasthite
With his life in peril, he sanctified himself by touching water and, with concentrated mind, invoked the mantras to release the weapon—though he did not know how to withdraw it.
The subtle forms of material activities are finer than grosser methods of material manipulation. Such subtle forms of material activities are effected through purification of sound. The same method is adopted here by chanting hymns to act as nuclear weapons.
FAQs
This verse shows that invoking a supreme weapon without knowing its withdrawal is dangerous and reckless—power must be governed by knowledge and dharma.
Because he was in a life-threatening situation (prāṇa-kṛcchra upasthite) and, in desperation, invoked it despite lacking the knowledge of retraction.
Do not use high-impact power—whether authority, technology, or harsh speech—without understanding consequences and how to stop or repair harm.