Chapter 14
Vaishampayana said, “At the very outset the mighty-armed hero ofDasharha’s race understood from signs the intention of Drona’s son.Addressing Arjuna, he said, O Arjuna, O son of Pandu, the time is comefor the use of that celestial weapon which is in thy memory, knowledge ofwhich was imparted to thee by Drona. For protecting thyself as also thybrothers, O Bharata, shoot in this battle that weapon which is capable ofneutralising 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 thestring. Softly wishing good unto the preceptor’s son and then untohimself, and unto all his brothers, that scorcher of foes then bowed untoall the gods and all his superiors and let off his weapon, thinking ofthe welfare of all the worlds and uttering the words, Let Ashvatthama’sweapon be neutralised by this weapon!’
That weapon, quickly let off by the wielder of gandiva, blazed up withfierce flames like the all-destroying fire that appears at the end of theyuga. Similarly, the weapon that had been shot by Drona’s son of fierceenergy blazed up with terrible flames within a huge sphere of fire.Numerous peals of thunder were heard; thousands of meteors fell; and allliving creatures became inspired with great dread. The entire welkinseemed to be filled with noise and assumed a terrible aspect with thoseflames of fire. The whole earth with her mountains and waters and trees,trembled. Then the two great rishis, Narada, who is the soul of everycreature, and the grandsire of all the Bharata princes (Vyasa), beholdingthose two weapons scorching the three worlds, showed themselves there.The two rishis sought to pacify the two heroes Ashvatthama andDhananjaya. Conversant with all duties and desirous of the welfare of allcreatures, the two sages, possessed of great energy, stood in the midstof those two blazing weapons. Incapable of being overwhelmed by anyforce, those two illustrious rishis, placing themselves between the twoweapons, stood like two blazing fires. Incapable of being checked by anycreature endued with life, and adorned by the gods and danavas, they twoacted in this way, neutralising the energy of the two weapons and doinggood to all the world.
The two rishis said, “Those great car-warriors who have fallen in thisbattle 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?”
