Shloka 6
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
विसृष्टस्य रणे तस्य परमास्त्रस्य संग्रहे । अशक्तः पाण्डवादन्य: साक्षादपि शतक्रतु:
visṛṣṭasya raṇe tasya paramāstrasya saṅgrahe | aśaktaḥ pāṇḍavād anyaḥ sākṣād api śatakratuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When that supreme missile had been released in battle, none other among the Pāṇḍavas had the power to withdraw and reabsorb it—indeed, not even Śatakratu (Indra) could do so. The passage underscores the grave responsibility that accompanies divine weaponry: once unleashed, its return is extraordinarily difficult, and only a master of restraint and skill can prevent its destructive course.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that the use of supreme weapons demands exceptional restraint: releasing a divine missile is easy compared to recalling it, and true mastery lies in the ability to control and withdraw destructive power.
Vaiśampāyana remarks that once the supreme weapon was discharged in battle, recalling it was beyond everyone’s capacity—so difficult that even Indra is said to be unable—implying that only Arjuna had the skill to withdraw it after release.