10.015
Pancharatra and Core: Narada and Vyasa ask to withdraw the weapons for the welfare of the world. While Arjuna withdraws the weapon, Ashwatthama is unable to do so because of his impurity. Ashwatthama parts with the gem.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
दृष्ट्वैव नरशार्दूलस्तावग्निसमतेजसौ। सञ्जहार शरं दिव्यं त्वरमाणो धनञ्जयः ॥१०-१५-१॥
As soon as he saw those two warriors, both blazing like fire, Arjuna, the tiger among men, quickly drew a celestial arrow.
उवाच वदतां श्रेष्ठस्तावृषी प्राञ्जलिस्तदा। प्रयुक्तमस्त्रमस्त्रेण शाम्यतामिति वै मया ॥१०-१५-२॥
Then, the best among speakers, those two sages, with joined palms, said: "Let the weapon that has been used be pacified by another weapon, thus indeed by me."
संहृते परमास्त्रेऽस्मिन्सर्वानस्मानशेषतः। पापकर्मा ध्रुवं द्रौणिः प्रधक्ष्यत्यस्त्रतेजसा ॥१०-१५-३॥
If the supreme weapon is withdrawn now, Droṇa's son, who is evil-minded, will surely destroy all of us completely with the power of his weapon.
अत्र यद्धितमस्माकं लोकानां चैव सर्वथा। भवन्तौ देवसङ्काशौ तथा संहर्तुमर्हतः ॥१०-१५-४॥
Here, whatever is truly beneficial for us and for all the worlds, you two, who are like gods, are indeed worthy to accomplish that destruction.
इत्युक्त्वा सञ्जहारास्त्रं पुनरेव धनञ्जयः। संहारो दुष्करस्तस्य देवैरपि हि संयुगे ॥१०-१५-५॥
Having said this, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) once again withdrew the weapon. The act of withdrawing that weapon is difficult even for the gods in battle.
विसृष्टस्य रणे तस्य परमास्त्रस्य सङ्ग्रहे। न शक्तः पाण्डवादन्यः साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः ॥१०-१५-६॥
No one except the Pāṇḍava was able to restrain that supreme weapon released in battle, not even Indra himself.
ब्रह्मतेजोभवं तद्धि विसृष्टमकृतात्मना। न शक्यमावर्तयितुं ब्रह्मचारिव्रतादृते ॥१०-१५-७॥
That which has arisen from the splendor of Brahman, emitted by one who has not mastered himself, cannot be reversed except through the vow of a brahmacārin.
अचीर्णब्रह्मचर्यो यः सृष्ट्वावर्तयते पुनः। तदस्त्रं सानुबन्धस्य मूर्धानं तस्य कृन्तति ॥१०-१५-८॥
If one who has not practiced celibacy repeats the invocation after launching the missile, that missile with its connection will cut off his own head.
ब्रह्मचारी व्रती चापि दुरवापमवाप्य तत्। परमव्यसनार्तोऽपि नार्जुनोऽस्त्रं व्यमुञ्चत ॥१०-१५-९॥
Though a celibate and observer of vows, and having obtained that rare weapon, Arjuna, even in great distress, released it.
सत्यव्रतधरः शूरो ब्रह्मचारी च पाण्डवः। गुरुवर्ती च तेनास्त्रं सञ्जहारार्जुनः पुनः ॥१०-१५-१०॥
Arjuna, who was truthful, brave, celibate, a Pāṇḍava, and obedient to his teacher, again withdrew the weapon.
द्रौणिरप्यथ सम्प्रेक्ष्य तावृषी पुरतः स्थितौ। न शशाक पुनर्घोरमस्त्रं संहर्तुमाहवे ॥१०-१५-११॥
Drona's son, seeing those two sages standing before him, was unable to withdraw the terrible weapon in the battle.
अशक्तः प्रतिसंहारे परमास्त्रस्य संयुगे। द्रौणिर्दीनमना राजन्द्वैपायनमभाषत ॥१०-१५-१२॥
O king, the son of Droṇa, unable to withdraw the supreme weapon in battle and feeling dejected, spoke to Vyāsa.
उत्तमव्यसनार्तेन प्राणत्राणमभीप्सुना। मयैतदस्त्रमुत्सृष्टं भीमसेनभयान्मुने ॥१०-१५-१३॥
O sage, I, afflicted by great calamity and wishing to save my life, discharged this weapon out of fear of Bhīmasena.
अधर्मश्च कृतोऽनेन धार्तराष्ट्रं जिघांसता। मिथ्याचारेण भगवन्भीमसेनेन संयुगे ॥१०-१५-१४॥
O venerable one, Bhimasena committed an act of unrighteousness in battle, seeking to kill Dhritarashtra's son by deceit.
अतः सृष्टमिदं ब्रह्मन्मयास्त्रमकृतात्मना। तस्य भूयोऽद्य संहारं कर्तुं नाहमिहोत्सहे ॥१०-१५-१५॥
Therefore, O Brahman, this weapon was created by me with an impure mind; I am not able to withdraw it again today here.
विसृष्टं हि मया दिव्यमेतदस्त्रं दुरासदम्। अपाण्डवायेति मुने वह्नितेजोऽनुमन्त्र्य वै ॥१०-१५-१६॥
O sage, I released this divine weapon, which is difficult to withstand, but not at the Pāṇḍavas, having invoked the brilliance of fire.
तदिदं पाण्डवेयानामन्तकायाभिसंहितम्। अद्य पाण्डुसुतान्सर्वाञ्जीविताद्भ्रंशयिष्यति ॥१०-१५-१७॥
This, which is meant for the destruction of the sons of Pāṇḍu, will today deprive all the sons of Pāṇḍu of their lives.
कृतं पापमिदं ब्रह्मन्रोषाविष्टेन चेतसा। वधमाशास्य पार्थानां मयास्त्रं सृजता रणे ॥१०-१५-१८॥
O Brahman, in my anger, I committed this sinful act, expecting to destroy the sons of Pṛthā, when I released the weapon in battle.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said:
अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्तात विद्वान्पार्थो धनञ्जयः। उत्सृष्टवान्न रोषेण न वधाय तवाहवे ॥१०-१५-१९॥
Arjuna, known as Partha and Dhananjaya, released the Brahmashiras weapon, but not in anger and not to kill your son in battle.
अस्त्रमस्त्रेण तु रणे तव संशमयिष्यता। विसृष्टमर्जुनेनेदं पुनश्च प्रतिसंहृतम् ॥१०-१५-२०॥
But in battle, this missile, which was discharged by Arjuna, was neutralized by you with another missile and then withdrawn again.
ब्रह्मास्त्रमप्यवाप्यैतदुपदेशात्पितुस्तव। क्षत्रधर्मान्महाबाहुर्नाकम्पत धनञ्जयः ॥१०-१५-२१॥
Even after receiving the Brahmāstra through your father's instruction, the mighty-armed Dhananjaya (Arjuna) did not falter in his warrior duties.
एवं धृतिमतः साधोः सर्वास्त्रविदुषः सतः। सभ्रातृबन्धोः कस्मात्त्वं वधमस्य चिकीर्षसि ॥१०-१५-२२॥
Why do you wish to kill this steadfast and virtuous man, who knows all weapons, is noble, and has brothers and relatives?
अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो यत्र परमास्त्रेण वध्यते। समा द्वादश पर्जन्यस्तद्राष्ट्रं नाभिवर्षति ॥१०-१५-२३॥
Where the Brahmashira weapon is countered by a supreme weapon, for twelve years the rain god does not rain upon that kingdom.
एतदर्थं महाबाहुः शक्तिमानपि पाण्डवः। न विहन्त्येतदस्त्रं ते प्रजाहितचिकीर्षया ॥१०-१५-२४॥
For this reason, the mighty and powerful Pāṇḍava refrains from destroying your weapon, wishing to benefit the people.
पाण्डवास्त्वं च राष्ट्रं च सदा संरक्ष्यमेव नः। तस्मात्संहर दिव्यं त्वमस्त्रमेतन्महाभुज ॥१०-१५-२५॥
The Pāṇḍavas, yourself, and the kingdom must always be protected by us. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, withdraw this divine weapon.
अरोषस्तव चैवास्तु पार्थाः सन्तु निरामयाः। न ह्यधर्मेण राजर्षिः पाण्डवो जेतुमिच्छति ॥१०-१५-२६॥
Let there be no anger in you, and may the sons of Pritha remain free from illness. For the royal sage Pandava does not wish to win by unrighteous means.
मणिं चैतं प्रयच्छैभ्यो यस्ते शिरसि तिष्ठति। एतदादाय ते प्राणान्प्रतिदास्यन्ति पाण्डवाः ॥१०-१५-२७॥
Give this jewel, which is on your head, to these men; once they have it, the Pāṇḍavas will spare your life.
द्रौणिरुवाच॥
Drauṇi said:
पाण्डवैर्यानि रत्नानि यच्चान्यत्कौरवैर्धनम्। अवाप्तानीह तेभ्योऽयं मणिर्मम विशिष्यते ॥१०-१५-२८॥
Of all the gems and wealth obtained here by the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas, this gem of mine surpasses them all.
यमाबध्य भयं नास्ति शस्त्रव्याधिक्षुधाश्रयम्। देवेभ्यो दानवेभ्यो वा नागेभ्यो वा कथञ्चन ॥१०-१५-२९॥
One who is bound by Yama need not fear weapons, disease, or hunger, nor is there any danger from gods, demons, or nāgas in any way.
न च रक्षोगणभयं न तस्करभयं तथा। एवंवीर्यो मणिरयं न मे त्याज्यः कथञ्चन ॥१०-१५-३०॥
I do not fear groups of demons or thieves. This powerful jewel is not to be abandoned by me under any circumstances.
यत्तु मे भगवानाह तन्मे कार्यमनन्तरम्। अयं मणिरयं चाहमिषीका निपतिष्यति ॥ गर्भेषु पाण्डवेयानाममोघं चैतदुद्यतम् ॥१०-१५-३१॥
But what the Lord told me, I must do at once. This gem, this arrow, I will let fall. This unfailing weapon has been released into the wombs of the sons of Pāṇḍu.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said:
एवं कुरु न चान्या ते बुद्धिः कार्या कदाचन। गर्भेषु पाण्डवेयानां विसृज्यैतदुपारम ॥१०-१५-३२॥
Do thus; never let your mind be otherwise. Abandon this in regard to the wombs of the sons of Pāṇḍu, and cease.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततः परममस्त्रं तदश्वत्थामा भृशातुरः। द्वैपायनवचः श्रुत्वा गर्भेषु प्रमुमोच ह ॥१०-१५-३३॥
Then, greatly distressed, Aśvatthāmā, after hearing Vyāsa's words, released the supreme weapon at the unborn children.
