Shloka 18
Book 10, Adhyāya 12: Aśvatthāmā’s Request for the Cakra and the Brahmaśiras Context
इदं धनुरियं शक्तिरिदं चक्रमियं गदा | यद्यदिच्छसि चेदस्त्र॑ मत्तस्तत् तद् ददामि ते
idaṃ dhanur iyaṃ śaktir idaṃ cakram iyaṃ gadā | yad yad icchasi ced astraṃ mattas tat tad dadāmi te ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : «Voici mon arc ; voici la lance ; voici le disque ; et voici la massue. Quelle que soit l’arme que tu veuilles prendre de moi, je te l’accorde, chacune sans exception.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of empowerment: offering weapons is not merely generosity but a transfer of capacity for harm or protection. It highlights that choice (icchasi) and responsibility accompany any grant of power.
A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) presents a set of iconic weapons—bow, spear, discus, and mace—and tells the addressee that any weapon they wish to take will be given to them, indicating a moment of arming or enabling someone for imminent action.