Shloka 2
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
उवाच भरतश्रेष्ठ तावृषी प्राउजलिस्तदा । प्रमुक्तमस्त्रमस्त्रेण शाम्पतामिति वै मया
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
uvāca bharataśreṣṭha tāv ṛṣī prāñjalīs tadā |
pramuktam astram astreṇa śāmpatām iti vai mayā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O best of the Bharatas, then, with hands folded, he addressed those two sages: ‘Revered seers, I released this weapon only with the intention that, by means of a counter-weapon, the enemy’s Brahmāstra might be pacified. If this excellent weapon is now withdrawn, the sinful Aśvatthāman, empowered by his own missile, will surely reduce all of us to ashes.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one possesses a powerful means of destruction, ethical responsibility demands restraint and the prioritization of preventing wider harm; the verse highlights the duty to neutralize catastrophic violence rather than escalate it.
A speaker (as reported by Vaiśampāyana) respectfully appeals to two sages, explaining that he released a counter-weapon solely to calm the enemy’s Brahmāstra; he fears that withdrawing it will allow Aśvatthāman’s missile to burn everyone to ashes.