Shloka 12
Kuntī’s Prayers and the Neutralization of the Brahmāstra
Uttarā Protected; Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief Begins
तर्ह्येवाथ मुनिश्रेष्ठ पाण्डवा: पञ्च सायकान् । आत्मनोऽभिमुखान्दीप्तानालक्ष्यास्त्राण्युपाददु: ॥ १२ ॥
tarhy evātha muni-śreṣṭha pāṇḍavāḥ pañca sāyakān ātmano ’bhimukhān dīptān ālakṣyāstrāṇy upādaduḥ
โอ้เชานกะ ผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่นักบวช! ครั้นเห็นพรหมาศตราอันเจิดจ้าพุ่งตรงเข้ามา ปาณฑพะทั้งหลายก็ยกอาวุธทั้งห้าของตนขึ้นรับมือ
The brahmāstras are finer than the nuclear weapons. Aśvatthāmā discharged the brahmāstra simply to kill the Pāṇḍavas, namely the five brothers headed by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and their only grandson, who was lying within the womb of Uttarā. Therefore the brahmāstra, more effective and finer than the atomic weapons, was not as blind as the atomic bombs. When the atomic bombs are discharged they do not discriminate between the target and others. Mainly the atomic bombs do harm to the innocent because there is no control. The brahmāstra is not like that. It marks out the target and proceeds accordingly without harming the innocent.
FAQs
This verse shows the Pāṇḍavas facing imperceptible, blazing astras, setting the scene for the Lord’s protective intervention—Bhāgavata repeatedly teaches that Bhagavān safeguards those connected to Him, even amid supernatural threats.
Because the missiles were approaching directly and were dangerous, the Pāṇḍavas responded as kṣatriyas by preparing defense—yet the narrative emphasizes that some threats (like brahmāstra) ultimately require divine resolution.
Do your duty responsibly and immediately (take practical steps), while remembering that outcomes may exceed human control—cultivate reliance on God’s protection alongside sincere effort.