Drona's son, beholding that terrible bowman coming
towards him bow in hand, and the two brothers on Janardana's car,
became exceedingly agitated and thought his hour had come. Of soul
incapable of being depressed, he called to his mind that high weapon
(which he had obtained from his sire). He then took up a blade of grass
with his left hand. Fallen into great distress, he inspired that blade
of grass with proper mantras and converted it into that powerful
celestial weapon. Unable to brook the arrows (of the Pandavas) and the presence
of those wielders of celestial weapons, he uttered in wrath these
terrible words: For the destruction of the Pandavas.' Having said these
words, O tiger among kings, the valiant son of Drona let off that weapon
for stupefying all the worlds. A fire then was born in that blade of
grass, which seemed capable of consuming the three worlds like the
all-destroying Yama at the end of the yuga."
Vaishampayana said, "At the very outset the
mighty-armed hero of Dasharha's race understood from signs the intention
of Drona's son. Addressing Arjuna, he said, O Arjuna, O son of
Pandu, the time is come for the use of that celestial weapon which is in
thy memory, knowledge of which was imparted to thee by Drona. For protecting
thyself as also thy brothers, O Bharata, shoot in this battle that
weapon which is capable of neutralising all weapons.'
Thus addressed by Keshava, Arjuna, that slayer of
hostile heroes, quicklyalighted from the car, taking with him his bow with
shaft fixed on the string. Softly wishing good unto the preceptor's
son and then unto himself, and unto all his brothers, that scorcher
of foes then bowed unto all the gods and all his superiors and let off his weapon,
thinking of the welfare of all the worlds and uttering the
words, Let Ashvatthama's weapon be neutralised by this weapon!'
That weapon, quickly let off by the wielder of
gandiva, blazed up with fierce flames like the all-destroying fire that
appears at the end of the yuga. Similarly, the weapon that had been shot by
Drona's son of fierce energy blazed up with terrible flames within a huge
sphere of fire.Numerous peals of thunder were heard; thousands of
meteors fell; and all living creatures became inspired with great dread.
The entire welkin seemed to be filled with noise and assumed a
terrible aspect with those flames of fire. The whole earth with her mountains
and waters and trees, trembled. Then the two great rishis, Narada, who is
the soul of every
creature, and the grandsire of all the Bharata
princes (Vyasa), beholding those two weapons scorching the three worlds,
showed themselves there. The two rishis sought to pacify
the two heroes Ashvatthama and Dhananjaya. Conversant with all duties and desirous
of the welfare of all creatures, the two sages, possessed of great
energy, stood in the midst of those two blazing weapons. Incapable of being
overwhelmed by any force, those two illustrious rishis, placing
themselves between the two weapons, stood like two blazing fires. Incapable of
being checked by any creature endued with life, and adorned by the gods
and danavas, they two acted in this way, neutralising the energy of the
two weapons and doing good to all the world.
The two rishis said, "Those great car-warriors
who have fallen in this battle were acquainted with diverse kinds of
weapons. They, however, never shot such a weapon upon human beings. What
act of rashness is this, ye heroes, that ye have done?"
Vaishampayana said, "At the very sight, O
tiger among men, of those two rishis possessed of splendour like that of fire,
Dhananjaya quickly resolved to withdraw his celestial shaft. Joining
his hands, he addressed those rishis, saying, I used this weapon, saying,
"Let it neutralise the (enemy's) weapon!" If I withdraw this high
weapon, Drona's son of sinful deeds will then, without doubt, consume us all with
the energy of his weapon. Ye two are like gods! It behoveth you to
devise some means by which our welfare as also that of the three worlds
may be secured!'
Having said these words Dhananjaya withdrew his
weapon. The withdrawal of that weapon by the gods themselves in battle is
exceedingly difficult. Not excepting the great Indra himself, there was
nobody save the son of Pandu, who was capable of withdrawing that high
weapon after it had once been let off. That weapon was born of Brahma
energy. No person of uncleansed soul can bring it back after it is once
let off. Only one that leads the life of a brahmacari can do it. If one who
has not practised the vow of brahmacarya seeks to bring it back after
having shot it, it strikes off his own head and destroys him with all
his equipments. Arjuna was a brahmacari and an observer of vows. Having
obtained that almost unobtainable weapon, he had never used it even when
plunged into situations of the greatest danger. Observant of the
vow of truth, possessed of great heroism, leading the life of a
brahmacari, the son of Pandu was submissive and obedient to all his
superiors. It was for this that he succeeded in withdrawing his weapon.
Drona's son, beholding those two rishis standing
before him, could not by his energy withdraw his own terrible weapon. Unable
to withdraw the high weapon in battle, Drona's son, O king, with a
cheerless heart, said unto the island-born rishi these words, Threatened by a
great danger, and desirous of protecting my life, I let off this
weapon, through fear of Bhimasena, O sage! This Bhimasena of false
behaviour, acted sinfully, O holy one, while slaying the son of Dhritarashtra in
battle! It is for this, O regenerate one, that of uncleansed soul as
I am I let off this
weapon. I dare not, however, withdraw it now.
Having inspired this irresistible and celestial weapon with the energy
of fire, I let it off for the destruction of the Pandavas. Contrived for
the destruction of the Pandavas, that weapon, therefore, will take away
the lives of all the sons of Pandu. O regenerate one, I have, in wrath,
done this sinful deed. I invoked this weapon in battle for the destruction
of the Pandavas.'
Vyasa said, "Pritha's son Dhananjaya, O child,
was acquainted with the weapon called brahmashira. Neither from wrath, nor
for thy destruction in battle, did he shoot this weapon. Arjuna, on the
other hand, used it for baffling thy weapon. He has again withdrawn it.
Having obtained even the brahmastra through thy sire's instructions, the
mighty-armed Dhananjaya did not fall off from a kshatriya's duties. Arjuna
is possessed of such patience, and such honesty. He is, besides,
conversant with every weapon, Why dost thou seek to compass the destruction of
such a person with all his brothers? That region where the weapon called
brahmashira is baffled by another high weapon suffers a drought for twelve
years, for the clouds do not pour a drop of water there for this period.
For this reason, the mighty-armed son of Pandu, although he had the
power, would not, from desire of doing good to living creatures, baffle
thy weapon with his. The Pandavas should be protected; thy own self should
be protected; the kingdom also should be protected. Therefore, O thou
of mighty arms, withdraw this celestial weapon of thine. Dispel
this wrath from thy heart and let the Pandavas be safe. The royal sage
Yudhishthira never desires to win victory by perpetrating any sinful act. Give
unto these that gemwhich is on thy head. Taking that, the Pandavas
will in return grant thee thy life!"
Drona's son said, "This my gem is more
valuable than all the wealth that has ever been earned by the Pandavas and the
Kauravas. If this gem is worn, the wearer ceases to have any fear from
weapons or disease or hunger! He ceases to have any fear of gods and
danavas and nagas! His apprehensions from rakshasas as also from robbers
will cease. Even these are the virtues of this gem of mine. I cannot, by
any means, part with it. That, however, O holy one, which thou sayest,
should be done by me. Here is this gem. Here is myself. This blade of
grass (inspired into a fatal weapon) will, however, fall into the wombs of
the Pandava women, for this weapon is high and mighty, and incapable
of being frustrated. O regenerate one, I am unable to withdraw it, having
once let it off. I will now throw this weapon into the wombs of the
Pandava women. As regards thy commands in other respects, O holy one,
I shall certainly obey them."
Vyasa said, "Do then this. Do not, however,
entertain any other purpose, O sinless one! Throwing this weapon into the wombs
of the Pandava women, stop thyself."
Vaishampayana continued, "The son of Drona,
having heard these words of the island-born, threw that uplifted weapon into
the wombs of the Pandava women."
Vaishampayana said, "Understanding that that
weapon was thrown (into the wombs of the Pandava women) by Drona's son of
sinful deeds, Hrishikesha, with a cheerful heart, said these words unto him: A
certain brahmana of pious vows, beholding Virata's daughter who is now
daughter-in-law to Arjuna, while she was at Upaplavya, said,
"While the Kuru line will become extinct, a son will be born to thee. This
thy son for that reason, will be called by the name of Parikshit." The
words of that pious man shall become true: the Pandavas shall have a son
called Parikshit. Unto Govinda, that foremost one of the Satvata race,
while he was saying these words, Drona's son, filled with wrath, replied,
saying, This, O Keshava, that thou sayest from thy partiality for the
Pandavas, shall not happen. O thou of eyes like lotus-petals, my words cannot
but be fulfilled. Uplifted by me, this weapon of mine shall fall on
the foetus that is in the womb of Virata's daughter, upon that foetus
which thou, O Krishna, art desirous of protecting.'
The holy one said, "The fall of this mighty
weapon will not be fruitless. The foetus will die. But being dead, it will live
again and have a long life! As regards thyself, all wise men know thee
for a coward and a sinful wretch! Always engaged in sinful acts, thou
art the slayer of children. For this reason, thou must have to bear
the fruit of these thy sins. For 3,000 years thou shalt wander over this
earth, without a companion and without being able to talk with
anyone. Alone and without anybody by thy side, thou shalt wander through
diverse countries, O wretch, thou shalt have no place in the midst of
men. The stench of pus and blood shall emanate from thee, and inaccessible
forests and dreary moors shall be thy abode! Thou shalt wander over
the Earth, O thou of sinful soul, with the weight of all diseases on
thee.
The heroic Parikshit, attaining to age and a
knowledge of the Vedas and the practice of pious vows, shall obtain all
weapons from the son of Sharadvata. Having obtained a knowledge of all high
weapons, and observant of all kshatriya duties, that
righteous-souled king shall rule the earth for sixty years. More than this, that boy
shall become the mighty-armed king of the Kurus, known by the name
of Parikshit, before thy very eyes, O thou of wicked soul! Though burnt
by the energy of thy weapon's fire, I shall revive him. O lowest of men,
behold the energy of my austerities and my truth."
Vyasa said, "Since,
disregarding us, thou hast perpetrated this exceedingly cruel act, and since thy behaviour is
such although thou art a good brahmana (by birth), therefore, those excellent
words that Devaki's son has said, will, without doubt, be
realised in thy case, an adopter as thou hast been of kshatriya
usages!"
Ashvatthama said, "With thyself among all men,
O holy one, I shall live! Let the words of this illustrious and foremost of
men become true!"
Vaishampayana continued, "Drona's son, then,
having made over his gem to the high-souled Pandavas, cheerlessly proceeded,
before their eyes, to the forest. The Pandavas who had killed and
chastised all their foes, placed Govinda and the island-born Krishna and the
great ascetic Narada at their head, and taking the gem that was born
with Ashvatthama, quickly came back to the intelligent Draupadi who was
sitting in observance of the praya vow.
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