Shloka 18
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
'पाण्डवोंके विनाशका संकल्प लेकर छोड़ा गया यह दिव्यास्त्र आज समस्त पाण्डुपुत्रोंकी जीवनशून्य कर देगा ।।
kṛtaṃ pāpam idaṃ brahman roṣāviṣṭena cetasā | vadham āśāsya pārthānāṃ mayāstraṃ sṛjatā raṇe ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Esta arma divina, soltada con la resolución de destruir a los Pāṇḍavas, hoy dejará sin vida a todos los hijos de Pāṇḍu. Oh brahmán, con la mente poseída por la ira he cometido este gran pecado: en el campo de batalla, deseando la muerte de los Pārthas, liberé esta arma.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that actions driven by anger and the wish to exterminate others—even in war—carry moral culpability. It frames the discharge of a powerful weapon as pāpa because the motive is wrathful vengeance rather than righteous duty.
In the Sauptika episode’s aftermath, the speaker reports a confession-like admission: a combatant has released an astra on the battlefield with the intention of killing the Pārthas (Pandavas), and recognizes the act as a grave sin born of rage.