Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 20
Vyāsa’s Vision, the Power of Bhāgavatam, and the Arrest of Aśvatthāmā
अथोपस्पृश्य सलिलं सन्दधे तत्समाहित: । अजानन्नपि संहारं प्राणकृच्छ्र उपस्थिते ॥ २० ॥
athopaspṛśya salilaṁ sandadhe tat samāhitaḥ ajānann api saṁhāraṁ prāṇa-kṛcchra upasthite
Vì mạng sống lâm nguy, hắn chạm nước để thanh tịnh rồi nhất tâm tụng niệm thần chú phóng vũ khí, dù không hề biết cách thu hồi nó.
The subtle forms of material activities are finer than grosser methods of material manipulation. Such subtle forms of material activities are effected through purification of sound. The same method is adopted here by chanting hymns to act as nuclear weapons.
FAQs
This verse shows that invoking a supreme weapon without knowing its withdrawal is dangerous and reckless—power must be governed by knowledge and dharma.
Because he was in a life-threatening situation (prāṇa-kṛcchra upasthite) and, in desperation, invoked it despite lacking the knowledge of retraction.
Do not use high-impact power—whether authority, technology, or harsh speech—without understanding consequences and how to stop or repair harm.