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?”

15

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.