Shloka 5
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
इत्युक्त्वा संजहारास्त्रं पुनरेवं धनंजय: । संहारो दुष्करस्तस्य देवैरपि हि संयुगे
ity uktvā saṃjahārāstraṃ punar evaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ | saṃhāro duṣkaras tasya devair api hi saṃyuge ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ayant ainsi parlé, Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna) rappela de nouveau l’arme. Dans la cohue du combat, rappeler ce trait divin était d’une difficulté extrême—même pour les dieux—révélant à la fois le péril d’une telle puissance une fois lâchée et la discipline rare qu’il faut pour la contenir après l’avoir libérée.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores restraint and responsibility: the true mastery of power is not merely releasing a formidable weapon but being able to withdraw it, preventing needless destruction even amid war.
After making a statement (contextually, a decision or warning), Arjuna retracts the astra he had invoked. The narrator emphasizes that recalling such a weapon in the heat of combat is extraordinarily difficult—even for the gods—thereby magnifying Arjuna’s exceptional control.