Next Verse

Shloka 1

Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon

Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15

अप-#-कात पञ्चदशो<् ध्याय: वेदव्यासजीकी आज्ञासे अर्जुनके द्वारा अपने अस्त्रका उपसंहार तथा अभश्रत्थामाका अपनी मणि देकर पाण्डवोंके गर्भोपर दिव्यास्त्र छोड़ना वैशम्पायन उवाच दृष्टवैव नरशार्दूल तावग्निसमतेजसौ । गाण्डीवधन्वा संचिन्त्य प्राप्तकालं महारथ: । संजहार शरं दिव्यं त्वरमाणो धनंजय:

vaiśampāyana uvāca | dṛṣṭvaiva naraśārdūla tāv agnisamatejasau | gāṇḍīvadhanvā saṃcintya prāptakālaṃ mahārathaḥ | saṃjahāra śaraṃ divyaṃ tvaramāṇo dhanaṃjayaḥ ||

Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: O tigre sa mga tao! Nang masilayan ni Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna), ang dakilang mamamana na may hawak ng Gāṇḍīva, ang dalawang pantas na nagliliwanag na tila apoy, pinag-isipan niya ang hinihingi ng sandaling iyon. Pagkaraan, sa mabilis na pasya, sinimulan ng dakilang mandirigmang nakasakay sa karwahe na bawiin at pigilin ang kaniyang banal na sandata—pinili ang napapanahong pagpipigil-sa-sarili kaysa sa lakas na walang preno sa harap ng kabanalan.

वैशम्पायनःVaiśampāyana
वैशम्पायनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवैशम्पायन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive), Active
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
नरशार्दूलO tiger among men
नरशार्दूल:
TypeNoun
Rootनरशार्दूल
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
तौthose two
तौ:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Dual
अग्नि-सम-तेजसौhaving brilliance equal to fire
अग्नि-सम-तेजसौ:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअग्निसमतेजस्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Dual
गाण्डीव-धन्वाthe one whose bow is Gāṇḍīva (Arjuna)
गाण्डीव-धन्वा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगाण्डीवधन्वन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
संचिन्त्यhaving reflected/considered
संचिन्त्य:
TypeVerb
Rootचिन्त्
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Active, सम्
प्राप्त-कालम्the proper time/occasion
प्राप्त-कालम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्राप्तकाल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महारथःthe great chariot-warrior
महारथः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमहारथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
संजहारwithdrew/drew back
संजहार:
TypeVerb
Rootहृ
FormPerfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, सम्
शरम्arrow
शरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
दिव्यम्divine
दिव्यम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootदिव्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
त्वरमाणःhastening
त्वरमाणः:
TypeVerb
Rootत्वर्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
धनंजयःDhanañjaya (Arjuna)
धनंजयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधनंजय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
A
Arjuna (Dhanaṃjaya)
G
Gāṇḍīva (bow)
T
two sages/ṛṣis (unnamed here)
D
divine missile (divya-śara/astra)

Educational Q&A

Even in extreme conflict, dharma requires sensitivity to context: recognizing sanctity (the presence of sages) and the demands of the moment (prāptakāla), a warrior should restrain destructive power rather than unleash it impulsively.

Arjuna sees two fire-bright sages and, realizing the situation calls for restraint, quickly begins the withdrawal (saṃhāra) of a divine missile he had set in motion or prepared to use.