Shloka 2
Brahmaśirastra-pratisaṃhāra — Retraction and redirection of the supreme weapon
Sauptika Parva, Adhyāya 15
उवाच भरतश्रेष्ठ तावृषी प्राउजलिस्तदा । प्रमुक्तमस्त्रमस्त्रेण शाम्पतामिति वै मया
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
uvāca bharataśreṣṭha tāv ṛṣī prāñjalīs tadā |
pramuktam astram astreṇa śāmpatām iti vai mayā ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“婆罗多族中最卓越者啊！当时他合掌恭敬，对那两位圣仙说道：‘尊贵的牟尼啊，我放出此器，唯为一事——以对治之器，使敌人所放的梵天神箭（Brahmāstra）得以平息。若如今收回这上妙之器，那作恶的阿湿婆他曼凭其自身飞矢之威焰，必将我们尽皆焚为灰烬。’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one possesses a powerful means of destruction, ethical responsibility demands restraint and the prioritization of preventing wider harm; the verse highlights the duty to neutralize catastrophic violence rather than escalate it.
A speaker (as reported by Vaiśampāyana) respectfully appeals to two sages, explaining that he released a counter-weapon solely to calm the enemy’s Brahmāstra; he fears that withdrawing it will allow Aśvatthāman’s missile to burn everyone to ashes.