Shloka 10
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
सत्यव्रतधर: शूरो ब्रह्मचारी च पाण्डव: | गुरुवर्ती च तेनास्त्रं संजहारार्जुन: पुन:
satyavratadharaḥ śūro brahmacārī ca pāṇḍavaḥ | guruvartī ca tenāstraṃ saṃjahārārjunaḥ punaḥ ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—सत्यव्रतधारी, ब्रह्मचारी, शूरवीर पाण्डव अर्जुन गुरु की आज्ञा का पालन करने वाले थे; इसलिए उन्होंने उस अस्त्र को फिर से संहृत कर लिया।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power must be governed by dharma: truthfulness, self-restraint, and obedience to rightful guidance (guru/authority) determine when a weapon should be used or withdrawn.
Arjuna, characterized by vows of truth and disciplined conduct, follows his teacher’s instruction and therefore retracts/recalls the invoked weapon (astra) again.