Shloka 6
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
विसृष्टस्य रणे तस्य परमास्त्रस्य संग्रहे । अशक्तः पाण्डवादन्य: साक्षादपि शतक्रतु:
visṛṣṭasya raṇe tasya paramāstrasya saṅgrahe | aśaktaḥ pāṇḍavād anyaḥ sākṣād api śatakratuḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang mailunsad na sa labanan ang kataas-taasang sandatang iyon, wala nang iba sa mga Pāṇḍava ang may kapangyarihang bawiin at muling ipaloob ito—maging si Śatakratu (Indra) ay hindi rin makakaya. Ipinahihiwatig ng talatang ito ang mabigat na pananagutang kaakibat ng mga sandatang banal: kapag pinakawalan na, napakahirap na itong ibalik, at tanging ang bihasa at marunong magpigil ang makapipigil sa landas ng pagwasak nito.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that the use of supreme weapons demands exceptional restraint: releasing a divine missile is easy compared to recalling it, and true mastery lies in the ability to control and withdraw destructive power.
Vaiśampāyana remarks that once the supreme weapon was discharged in battle, recalling it was beyond everyone’s capacity—so difficult that even Indra is said to be unable—implying that only Arjuna had the skill to withdraw it after release.