Shloka 20
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
अस्त्रमस्त्रेण तु रणे तव संशमयिष्यता । विसृष्टमर्जुनेनेदं पुनश्न प्रतिसंहृतम्
astram astreṇa tu raṇe tava saṁśamayīṣyatā | visṛṣṭam arjunenedam punaś ca pratisaṁhṛtam ||
Vyāsa dit : «Arjuna a lancé cette arme au cœur du combat précisément pour apaiser et neutraliser la tienne par la sienne ; et maintenant, ce but atteint, il l’a de nouveau retirée.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, righteous conduct requires proportionality and restraint: a weapon may be used to neutralize a threat, but once the danger is checked it should be withdrawn rather than pursued for needless destruction.
Vyāsa explains that Arjuna discharged his astra specifically to counter and calm the opponent’s astra on the battlefield, and then recalled his own weapon after accomplishing that purpose.