10.014
Pancharatra and Core: Krishna asks Arjuna to release the counterweapon to protect Bhima. Seeing the destructive power of both the weapons, sages and Narada are concerned.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
iṅgitenaiva dāśārhastam abhiprāyam āditaḥ। drauṇer buddhvā mahābāhur arjunaṃ pratyabhāṣata ॥10-14-1॥
By a mere gesture, Krishna, the descendant of the Dasharha, understood Arjuna's intention and, perceiving the intention of Drona's son, the mighty-armed Arjuna spoke to him.
arjunārjuna yaddivyam astraṃ te hṛdi vartate. droṇopadiṣṭaṃ tasyāyaṃ kālaḥ samprati pāṇḍava ॥10-14-2॥
O Arjuna, now is the time to use the divine weapon taught to you by Droṇa, which resides in your heart, O son of Pāṇḍu.
bhrātṝṇām ātmanaś caiva paritrāṇāya bhārata। visṛja etat tvam api ājāvastram astra-nivāraṇam ॥10-14-3॥
O Bhārata, for the protection of both your brothers and yourself, you too should release this missile-repelling goat-skin garment.
keśavenaivamuktastu pāṇḍavaḥ paravīrahā। avatāradrathāttūrṇaṃ pragṛhya saśaraṃ dhanuḥ ॥10-14-4॥
Thus addressed by Keśava, the son of Pāṇḍu, the destroyer of enemy heroes, quickly got down from the chariot, taking up his bow and arrows.
pūrvam ācāryaputrāya tato'nantaram ātmane | bhrātṛbhyaś caiva sarvebhyaḥ svastīty uktvā parantapaḥ ||10-14-5||
The scorcher of foes first offered well-wishes to the teacher's son, then to himself, to his brothers, and to all, saying 'well-being' to each.
devatābhyo namaskṛtya gurubhyaścaiva sarvaśaḥ। utsasarja śivaṃ dhyāyannastramastreṇa śāmyatām ॥10-14-6॥
After bowing to the deities and to the teachers in every way, and meditating on Śiva, he released the weapon, wishing that the weapon be pacified by another weapon.
tatas tad astraṃ sahasā sṛṣṭaṃ gāṇḍīvadhanvanā। prajajvāla mahārciṣmat yugāntānala-saṃnibham ॥10-14-7॥
Then, the weapon suddenly released by Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, blazed with immense flames, like the fire that appears at the end of the world.
tathaiva droṇaputrasya tadastraṃ tigmatejasaḥ। prajajvāla mahājvālaṃ tejomaṇḍalasaṃvṛtam ॥10-14-8॥
In the same way, the weapon of Droṇa's son, blazing with sharp brilliance, flared up with great flames, surrounded by a sphere of radiance.
nirghātā bahavaś cāsan petur ulkāḥ sahasraśaḥ। mahad bhayaṃ ca bhūtānāṃ sarveṣāṃ samajāyata ॥10-14-9॥
There were many thunderbolts, and thousands of meteors fell; a great fear arose among all beings.
saśabdam abhavad vyoma jvālā-mālā-ākulaṃ bhṛśam। cacāla ca mahī kṛtsnā sa-parvata-vana-drumā ॥10-14-10॥
The sky resounded and was intensely filled with garlands of flames. The whole earth, along with its mountains, forests, and trees, trembled.
te astre tejasā lokāṃstāpayantī vyavasthite. maharṣī sahitau tatra darśayāmāsatustadā ॥10-14-11॥
Then, the great sages, being together there, showed (them) burning the worlds with the brilliance of the missile.
nāradaḥ sa ca dharmātmā bharatānāṃ pitāmahaḥ। ubhau śamayituṃ vīrau bhāradvāja-dhanañjayau ॥10-14-12॥
Nārada, along with the righteous-souled grandsire of the Bharatas, and both heroes, Bhāradvāja and Dhanañjaya, set out to pacify them.
tau munī sarvadharmajñau sarvabhūtahitaiṣiṇau। dīptayorastrayormadhye sthitau paramatejasau ॥10-14-13॥
Those two sages, who knew all dharmas and sought the welfare of all beings, stood with supreme brilliance between the two blazing missiles.
tad-antaram-anādhṛṣyau-upagamya yaśasvinau। āstām-ṛṣivarau tatra jvalitau-iva pāvakau ॥10-14-14॥
Then, having approached, the two illustrious and unassailable sages remained there, shining like blazing fires.
prāṇabhṛdbhiranādhṛṣyau devadānavasaṃmatau। astratejaḥ śamayituṃ lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā ॥10-14-15॥
They were invincible to all living beings, respected by both gods and demons, and subdued the power of weapons for the welfare of the worlds.
ṛṣī ūcatuḥ॥
The sages said:
nānāśastravidaḥ pūrve ye'pyatītā mahārathāḥ। naitad astraṃ manuṣyeṣu taiḥ prayuktaṃ kathaṃcana ॥10-14-16॥
Even the great chariot-warriors of the past, who were skilled in many weapons, never used this weapon among men.
