Shloka 5
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
इत्युक्त्वा संजहारास्त्रं पुनरेवं धनंजय: । संहारो दुष्करस्तस्य देवैरपि हि संयुगे,ऐसा कहकर अर्जुनने पुनः उस अस्त्रको पीछे लौटा लिया। युद्धमें उसे लौटा लेना देवताओंके लिये भी दुष्कर था। संग्राममें एक बार उस दिव्य अस्त्रको छोड़ देनेपर पुनः उसे लौटा लेनेमें पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनके सिवा साक्षात् इन्द्र भी समर्थ नहीं थे
ity uktvā saṃjahārāstraṃ punar evaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ | saṃhāro duṣkaras tasya devair api hi saṃyuge ||
इत्युक्त्वा पुनर्धनञ्जयः तदस्त्रं संजहार। तस्य दिव्यास्त्रस्य संहारः संग्रामे देवैरपि दुष्करः।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores restraint and responsibility: the true mastery of power is not merely releasing a formidable weapon but being able to withdraw it, preventing needless destruction even amid war.
After making a statement (contextually, a decision or warning), Arjuna retracts the astra he had invoked. The narrator emphasizes that recalling such a weapon in the heat of combat is extraordinarily difficult—even for the gods—thereby magnifying Arjuna’s exceptional control.