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.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
dṛṣṭvaiva naraśārdūlastāvagnisamatejasau। sañjahāra śaraṃ divyaṃ tvaramāṇo dhanañjayaḥ ॥10-15-1॥
As soon as he saw those two warriors, both blazing like fire, Arjuna, the tiger among men, quickly drew a celestial arrow.
uvāca vadatāṃ śreṣṭhas tāv ṛṣī prāñjalīs tadā। prayuktam astram astreṇa śāmyatām iti vai mayā॥10-15-2॥
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."
saṁhṛte paramāstre'smin sarvān asmān aśeṣataḥ। pāpakarmā dhruvaṁ drauṇiḥ pradhakṣyaty astratejasā ॥10-15-3॥
If the supreme weapon is withdrawn now, Droṇa's son, who is evil-minded, will surely destroy all of us completely with the power of his weapon.
atra yaddhitamasmākaṃ lokānāṃ caiva sarvathā। bhavantau devasaṅkāśau tathā saṃhartumarhataḥ ॥10-15-4॥
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.
ity uktvā sañjahārāstraṃ punareva dhanañjayaḥ। saṃhāro duṣkarastasya devairapi hi saṃyuge ॥10-15-5॥
Having said this, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) once again withdrew the weapon. The act of withdrawing that weapon is difficult even for the gods in battle.
visṛṣṭasya raṇe tasya paramāstrasya saṅgrahe। na śaktaḥ pāṇḍavād anyaḥ sākṣād api śatakratuḥ ॥10-15-6॥
No one except the Pāṇḍava was able to restrain that supreme weapon released in battle, not even Indra himself.
brahmatejobhavaṃ taddhi visṛṣṭamakṛtātmanā। na śakyamāvartayituṃ brahmacārivratādṛte ॥10-15-7॥
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.
acīrṇabrahmacaryo yaḥ sṛṣṭvā vartayate punaḥ। tadastraṃ sānubandhasya mūrdhānaṃ tasya kṛntati ॥10-15-8॥
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.
brahmacārī vratī cāpi duravāpam avāpya tat। paramavyasanārto'pi nārjuno'straṃ vyamuñcata ॥10-15-9॥
Though a celibate and observer of vows, and having obtained that rare weapon, Arjuna, even in great distress, released it.
satyavratadharaḥ śūro brahmacārī ca pāṇḍavaḥ। guruvartī ca tenāstraṃ sañjahārārjunaḥ punaḥ ॥10-15-10॥
Arjuna, who was truthful, brave, celibate, a Pāṇḍava, and obedient to his teacher, again withdrew the weapon.
drauṇir apy atha samprekṣya tau ṛṣī purataḥ sthitau। na śaśāka punar ghoram astraṃ saṃhartum āhave ॥10-15-11॥
Drona's son, seeing those two sages standing before him, was unable to withdraw the terrible weapon in the battle.
aśaktaḥ pratisaṃhāre paramāstrasya saṃyuge। drauṇir dīnam-anā rājan dvaipāyanam abhāṣata ॥10-15-12॥
O king, the son of Droṇa, unable to withdraw the supreme weapon in battle and feeling dejected, spoke to Vyāsa.
uttamavyasanārtena prāṇatrāṇamabhīpsunā। mayaitadastramutsṛṣṭaṃ bhīmasenabhayān mune ॥10-15-13॥
O sage, I, afflicted by great calamity and wishing to save my life, discharged this weapon out of fear of Bhīmasena.
adharmaś ca kṛto'nena dhārtarāṣṭraṃ jighāṃsatā। mithyācāreṇa bhagavan bhīmasenena saṃyuge ॥10-15-14॥
O venerable one, Bhimasena committed an act of unrighteousness in battle, seeking to kill Dhritarashtra's son by deceit.
ataḥ sṛṣṭam idaṃ brahman mayā astram akṛtātmanā। tasya bhūyo 'dya saṃhāraṃ kartuṃ nāham iha utsahe ॥10-15-15॥
Therefore, O Brahman, this weapon was created by me with an impure mind; I am not able to withdraw it again today here.
visṛṣṭaṃ hi mayā divyam etad astraṃ durāsadam। apāṇḍavāyeti mune vahnitejo'numantr̥ya vai ॥10-15-16॥
O sage, I released this divine weapon, which is difficult to withstand, but not at the Pāṇḍavas, having invoked the brilliance of fire.
tad idaṃ pāṇḍaveyānām antakāyābhisaṃhitam। adya pāṇḍusutān sarvān jīvitād bhraṃśayiṣyati ॥10-15-17॥
This, which is meant for the destruction of the sons of Pāṇḍu, will today deprive all the sons of Pāṇḍu of their lives.
kṛtaṃ pāpam idaṃ brahman roṣāviṣṭena cetasā। vadham āśāsya pārthānāṃ mayā astraṃ sṛjatā raṇe ॥10-15-18॥
O Brahman, in my anger, I committed this sinful act, expecting to destroy the sons of Pṛthā, when I released the weapon in battle.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said:
astraṃ brahmaśirastāt vidvān pārtho dhanañjayaḥ। utsṛṣṭavān na roṣeṇa na vadhāya tavāhave ॥10-15-19॥
Arjuna, known as Partha and Dhananjaya, released the Brahmashiras weapon, but not in anger and not to kill your son in battle.
astram astreṇa tu raṇe tava saṃśamayiṣyatā। visṛṣṭam arjunena idaṃ punaś ca pratisaṃhṛtam ॥10-15-20॥
But in battle, this missile, which was discharged by Arjuna, was neutralized by you with another missile and then withdrawn again.
brahmāstram apy avāpya etad upadeśāt pituḥ tava। kṣatradharmān mahābāhur na akampata dhanañjayaḥ॥10-15-21॥
Even after receiving the Brahmāstra through your father's instruction, the mighty-armed Dhananjaya (Arjuna) did not falter in his warrior duties.
evaṃ dhṛtimataḥ sādhoḥ sarvāstraviduṣaḥ sataḥ। sabhrātṛbandhoḥ kasmāttvaṃ vadhamasya cikīrṣasi ॥10-15-22॥
Why do you wish to kill this steadfast and virtuous man, who knows all weapons, is noble, and has brothers and relatives?
astraṃ brahmaśiro yatra paramāstreṇa vadhyate। samā dvādaśa parjanyas tadrāṣṭraṃ nābhivarṣati ॥10-15-23॥
Where the Brahmashira weapon is countered by a supreme weapon, for twelve years the rain god does not rain upon that kingdom.
etad-arthaṃ mahā-bāhuḥ śaktimān api pāṇḍavaḥ। na vihanty etad astraṃ te prajā-hita-cikīrṣayā॥10-15-24॥
For this reason, the mighty and powerful Pāṇḍava refrains from destroying your weapon, wishing to benefit the people.
pāṇḍavās tvaṃ ca rāṣṭraṃ ca sadā saṃrakṣyam eva naḥ। tasmāt saṃhara divyaṃ tvam astram etan mahābhuja ॥10-15-25॥
The Pāṇḍavas, yourself, and the kingdom must always be protected by us. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, withdraw this divine weapon.
aroṣas tava caivāstu pārthāḥ santu nirāmayāḥ। na hy adharmeṇa rājarṣiḥ pāṇḍavo jetum icchati ॥10-15-26॥
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.
maṇiṃ caitaṃ prayacchaibhyo yaste śirasi tiṣṭhati। etadādāya te prāṇānpratidāsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ ॥10-15-27॥
Give this jewel, which is on your head, to these men; once they have it, the Pāṇḍavas will spare your life.
drauṇiruvāca॥
Drauṇi said:
pāṇḍavairyāni ratnāni yaccānyatkauravairdhanam। avāptānīha tebhyo'yaṃ maṇirmama viśiṣyate ॥10-15-28॥
Of all the gems and wealth obtained here by the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas, this gem of mine surpasses them all.
yamābadhya bhayaṃ nāsti śastravyādhikṣudhāśrayam। devebhyo dānavebhyo vā nāgebhyo vā kathañcana ॥10-15-29॥
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.
na ca rakṣogaṇabhayaṃ na taskarabhayaṃ tathā। evaṃvīryo maṇirayaṃ na me tyājyaḥ kathaṃcana ॥10-15-30॥
I do not fear groups of demons or thieves. This powerful jewel is not to be abandoned by me under any circumstances.
yattu me bhagavānāha tanme kāryamanantaram। ayaṃ maṇirayaṃ cāhamiṣīkā nipatiṣyati ॥ garbheṣu pāṇḍaveyānāmamoghaṃ caitadudyatam ॥10-15-31॥
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.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said:
evaṃ kuru na cānyā te buddhiḥ kāryā kadācana। garbheṣu pāṇḍaveyānāṃ visṛjyaitadupārama ॥10-15-32॥
Do thus; never let your mind be otherwise. Abandon this in regard to the wombs of the sons of Pāṇḍu, and cease.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tataḥ paramamastraṃ tadaśvatthāmā bhṛśāturaḥ। dvaipāyanavacaḥ śrutvā garbheṣu pramumoca ha ॥10-15-33॥
Then, greatly distressed, Aśvatthāmā, after hearing Vyāsa's words, released the supreme weapon at the unborn children.
