Shloka 8

Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon

Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15

Devanagari script

अचीर्णब्रिह्यचर्यो य: सूष्टवा वर्तयते पुन: । तदस्त्रं सानुबन्धस्य मूर्थानं तस्य कृन्तति

Transliteration

acīrṇa-brahmacaryo yaḥ sūṣṭvā vartayate punaḥ | tad astraṃ sānubandhasya mūrdhānaṃ tasya kṛntati ||

Translation

ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ଯିଏ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଚର୍ୟ ଆଚରଣ କରିନାହିଁ, ସେ ଯଦି ସେଇ ଅସ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ପ୍ରୟୋଗ କରି ପୁନଃ ଫେରାଇବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରେ, ତେବେ ସେଇ ଅସ୍ତ୍ର ତାହାର ଉପରେ ଫେରି ତାହାର ସଗା-ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ତାହାର ମୁଣ୍ଡ କାଟିଦିଏ।

Word by Word

• अचीर्णब्रह्मचर्यः: one who has not observed brahmacarya
• अचीर्णब्रह्मचर्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचीर्णब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुष्ट्वा: having praised / having invoked (by praise)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• वर्तयते: causes to return / tries to bring back
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु) / वर्तय् (णिजन्त-धातु)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (missile)
• अस्त्रम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सानुबन्धस्य: of (him) together with his relations/retinue
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सानुबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मूर्धानम्: head
• मूर्धानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तस्य: of him
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• कृन्तति: cuts off
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृत्/कृन्त् (धातु)
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• astra (divine/supernatural weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Extraordinary power (astra-vidyā) is inseparable from moral qualification. Without brahmacarya-like restraint and purity, even a successfully launched weapon becomes self-destructive, harming the user and those bound to him.

What is happening in the narrative?

The text explains a rule about a potent weapon: if an unqualified person—one lacking brahmacarya—uses it and then attempts to recall/withdraw it, the weapon rebounds and beheads him along with his dependents/relations, emphasizing the peril of improper ritual-ethical conduct in warfare.