Shloka 3
भ्रातृणामात्मनश्वैव परित्राणाय भारत | विसृजैतत् त्वमप्याजावस्त्रमस्त्रनिवारणम्,“भरतनन्दन! भाइयोंकी और अपनी रक्षाके लिये तुम भी युद्धमें इस ब्रह्मास्त्रका प्रयोग करो। अभश्व॒त्थामाके अस्त्रका निवारण इसीके द्वारा हो सकता है”
bhrātṝṇām ātmanaś caiva paritrāṇāya bhārata | visṛjaitat tvam apy ājāv astram astranivāraṇam ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “O descendant of Bharata, for the protection of your brothers and of yourself, you too should release this weapon in battle—the counter-weapon that can neutralize the oncoming missile. In the face of a destructive astric assault, the counsel given here frames retaliation not as vengeance but as a compelled act of defense, undertaken to preserve life and avert a greater calamity.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When confronted with an overwhelming astric threat, the text presents defensive action—deploying a counter-weapon—as a duty aimed at protection (paritrāṇa) rather than revenge. The ethical emphasis is on safeguarding life and preventing greater destruction, even amid the moral chaos of war.
A speaker urges the addressed Bhārata to discharge a counter-weapon in battle to protect himself and his brothers, indicating that the incoming astric attack can be checked only by an appropriate neutralizing astra.