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Shloka 53

ननु त्वाहुर्वेदितारं महास्त्रं ब्राह्मं विधेयं परमं जनास्तत्‌

nanu tvāhur veditāraṁ mahāstraṁ brāhmaṁ vidheyaṁ paramaṁ janās tat

Sañjaya dit : «Assurément, les hommes déclarent que l’arme suprême de Brahmā—le grand trait céleste—ne doit être employée que par celui qui la connaît véritablement.» Ce vers souligne une retenue morale dans la guerre : le droit de manier la puissance la plus haute et la plus destructrice est indissociable d’un savoir discipliné et d’une intention responsable, non d’une simple possession ou ambition.

ननुindeed; surely; well then
ननु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootननु
त्वाyou (object)
त्वा:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootत्वद्
FormAccusative, Singular
आहुःthey say; they have said
आहुः:
TypeVerb
Rootअह्
FormPerfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
वेदितारम्knower; one who knows
वेदितारम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवेदितृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महास्त्रम्a great weapon (astra)
महास्त्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहास्त्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
ब्राह्मम्Brahma-related; Brahmic
ब्राह्मम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootब्राह्म
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
विधेयम्to be employed/used; to be applied
विधेयम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-धा (विधा) + यत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
परमम्supreme; highest
परमम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
जनाःpeople
जनाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तत्that
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Brāhmāstra (Brahmā-weapon)

Educational Q&A

Supreme power (like the Brāhmāstra) is not meant for indiscriminate use; it must be wielded only by a true knower who follows proper discipline and ethical restraint.

Sañjaya comments on the principle governing the use of the Brāhmāstra, emphasizing that common tradition holds it should be deployed only by one who genuinely understands it—hinting at the tension between capability, legitimacy, and moral limits in the battle.