Shloka 17
Bhīṣma’s Recollection of the Duel: Charioteer’s Fall, Brahmin Protection, and Portents after Rāma’s Collapse
तयोरब्रह्यास्त्रयोरासीदन््तरा वै समागम: । असम्प्राप्यैव राम॑ं च मां च भारतसत्तम,भरतवंशशिरोमणे! वे दोनों ब्रह्मास्त्र मेरे तथा परशुरामजीके पास न पहुँचकर बीचमें ही एक-दूसरेसे भिड़ गये
tayor brahmāstrayor āsīd antarā vai samāgamaḥ | asamprāpyaiva rāmaṁ ca māṁ ca bhāratasattama bharatavaṁśaśiromaṇe |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Di antara dua Brahmāstra itu telah berlaku pertembungan secara langsung. Bahkan sebelum sampai kepada Rāma (Paraśurāma) atau kepadaku, wahai yang terbaik dalam kalangan Bhārata, permata mahkota keturunan Bharata—dua senjata agung itu bertemu di pertengahan jalan dan saling meniadakan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most devastating powers are subject to limits and counter-forces; the episode highlights the ethical weight of deploying ultimate weapons and the ideal of restraint—when matched, such forces can cancel out rather than serve personal victory.
During the Bhīṣma–Paraśurāma confrontation, both release Brahmāstras. Bhīṣma reports that the two missiles meet in midair before reaching either warrior, colliding with each other and preventing direct impact on Rāma or Bhīṣma.