Shloka 9
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
ब्रह्मचारी व्रती चापि दुरवापमवाप्य तत् । परमव्यसनार्तोडपि नार्जुनो<स्त्रं व्यमुजचत
brahmacārī vratī cāpi duravāpam avāpya tat | paramavyasanārto 'pi nārjuno 'straṃ vyamuñcat ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—अर्जुन ने ब्रह्मचारी और व्रतधारी रहकर ही उस दुर्लभ अस्त्र को प्राप्त किया था; इसलिए वे बड़े-से-बड़े संकट से पीड़ित होने पर भी कभी उस अस्त्र का प्रयोग नहीं करते थे।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power acquired through brahmacarya and vows must be governed by restraint; even in extreme distress, one should not deploy destructive means without dharmic necessity.
Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna’s disciplined acquisition of a rare weapon and emphasizes that Arjuna would not discharge it even under severe crisis, highlighting his self-control and ethical caution.