ब्रह्मशिरस्
यन्त्रोपारोपितकोशांशः
[सम्पाद्यताम्]वाचस्पत्यम्
[सम्पाद्यताम्]
 पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्। |
ब्र(व्र)ह्मशिरस्¦ न॰ अस्त्रभेदे तच्चास्त्रं द्रोणेन स्वसुताय अश्वत्थाम्नेअर्जुनाय चाध्यापितं तदस्त्रप्रयोगसंहारादिकथाभा॰ सौ॰
१२ अ॰।
Monier-Williams
[सम्पाद्यताम्]|
पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्। |
ब्रह्मशिरस्/ ब्रह्म--शिरस् n. " ब्रह्मा's head " , N. of a mythical weapon MBh. R. Hariv. (also -शीर्षन्BhP. )
Purana index
[सम्पाद्यताम्]|
पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्। |
--an अस्त्र applied by अश्वत्थाम against Arjuna; फलकम्:F1: भा. I. 7. १९ and २७; 8. १५; १२. 1.फलकम्:/F used in the तारक war. फलकम्:F2: Br. III. ६५. ३३.फलकम्:/F
Purana Encyclopedia
[सम्पाद्यताम्]|
पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्। |
Brahmaśiras^1 : nt.: Name of a missile (once called brahmāstra 10. 15. 21).
A. History: Supposed to have arisen from Brahman's lustre (brahmatejobhava 10. 15. 7); Droṇa, after practising severe austerities, received the missile Brahmaśiras from Agastya 10. 12. 14; later it was taught by Droṇa to Arjuna when he was satisfied (pritimān, prīyamāṇaḥ) with him (Arjuna) 1. 123. 72; 10. 12. 5 and, not with great delight (nātihṛṣṭamanāḥ), to Aśvatthāman whom he had apparently first refused to teach 10. 12. 6.
B. Description: powerful missile (paramāstra) 1. 123. 78; 10. 15. 3, 6; famous as ‘uncomparable’ in the worlds (asāmānyam idaṁ tāta lokeṣv astraṁ nigadyate) 1. 123. 76; divine (divya) 10. 15. 16; outstanding (viśiṣṭa) 1. 123. 74; highly irresistible (atidurdhara) 1. 123. 74; fiery (mahārciṣmat) 10. 14. 7; difficult to obtain (duravāpa) 10. 15. 9; worshipped by gods and Gandharvas (devagandharvapūjita) 10. 12. 14; capable of burning the whole earth (dahed yad pṛthivīm api) 10. 12. 4.
C. Restrictions on its use:
(1) while giving the astra to Arjuna, Droṇa told him not to use it against men, but to use it only if he was attacked in a battle by a superhuman enemy (amānuṣaḥ śatruḥ); if released against an enemy of lesser mettle (alpatejas), the missile would burn the world 1. 123. 75, 77;
(2) while teaching it to Aśvatthāman, who was known to be rash by nature, Droṇa warned him not to use it even under dire circumstances in battle, especially not against men (paramāpadgatenāpi na sma tāta tvayā raṇe/idam astraṁ prayoktavyaṁ mānuṣeṣu viśeṣataḥ) 10. 12. 7-8.
D. Taught by Droṇa only to Arjuna and Aśvatthāman:
(1) It was given to Arjuna since Droṇa considered him to be distinguished among his pupils (viśiṣṭaṁ sarvaśiṣyebhyaḥ) 1. 123. 72; 10. 15. 21; when taught to Arjuna, he would be an unrivalled archer (bhavitā tvatsamo nānyaḥ pumāĩ loke dhanurdharaḥ) 1. 123. 78; Droṇa taught to Arjuna, both its use and withdrawal (saprayoganivartanam) 1. 123. 74; its withdrawal very difficult; once released, no one except Arjuna, not even Indra, was capable of withdrawing it 10. 15. 5, 6; it could not be withdrawn by one who had not observed celibacy; if a non-qualified person tried to withdraw it, it would cut his head and destroy his belongings 10. 15. 7-8; Arjuna could withdraw it as he was truthful, brave, had practised celibacy, and was obedient to his teacher 10. 15. 10, 20, 24; although fully qualified to withdraw it, Arjuna never used it in the epic war nor outside it, even under stress (brahmacārī vratī cāpi duravāpam avāpya tat/paramavyasanārto 'pi nārjuno 'straṁ vyamuñcata) 10. 15. 9, (brahmāstram apy avāpyaitad…kṣatradharmān mahābāhur nākampata dhanaṁjayaḥ) 10. 15. 21;
(2) Envious of Arjuna, Aśvatthāman asked his father to teach him Brahmaśiras; Droṇa gave it to him but not with a pleased mind (nātihṛṣṭamanā iva) 10. 12. 6; (since Aśvatthāman could not make use of it) he wanted to exchange it with Kṛṣṇa for his (Sudarśana) Cakra so that Aśvatthāman could be invincible 10. 12. 15, 36; Kṛṣṇa offered to give any one of his weapons to Aśvatthāman without receiving from him in return his Brahmaśiras 10. 12. 18-19; Aśvatthāman chose the Cakra but failed even so much as to move it from its place 10. 12. 20-23.
E. Use: As Aśvatthāman was cruel and rash, there was every danger of his using Brahmaśiras against Bhīma, who was chasing him 10. 12. 40; when Aśvatthāman actually used it on an iṣīkā, Kṛṣṇa advised Arjuna to release his Brahmaśiras to counter it; Arjuna got down from the chariot with bow and arrow in hand, wished ‘well’ (svasti 10. 14. 5; 1. 1. 155) first to Aśvatthāman, then to himself and to his brothers (the Pāṇḍavas); then bowing down to deities and teachers, he released Brahmaśiras, wishing welfare, and saying ‘may the missile pacify (Aśvatthāman's) missile’ (utsasarja śivaṁ dhyāyann astram astreṇa śāmyatām) 10. 14. 4-6; 10. 15. 2, 20; 1. 1. 155; at that time fire broke out like the fire at the end of the aeon; the fire of Arjuna's missile matched the fire of Aśvatthāman's missile; as a result terror struck the creatures, skies were filled with great sound and were engulfed in fire, earth, with its mountains and trees, shook; the two missiles produced heat with their lustre 10. 14. 7-11; just then Nārada and Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, desiring welfare for all the people, appeared and stood between the two missiles; they pointed out that Brahmaśiras was never used by any one before against men 10. 14. 16; in response to their appeal, Arjuna immediately withdrew his Brahmaśiras; but Aśvatthāman could not 10. 15. 1-15; moreover, if Brahmaśiras was pacified by the other powerful missile (paramāstra) there would be no rain in the land for twelve years 10. 15. 23; Aśvatthāman then directed his missile towards the foetus of the Pāṇḍavas 10. 15. 31, 32; 10. 16. 9. [See Iṣīkā, Brahmaśiras^2, Brahmāstra ]
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Brahmaśiras^2 : nt.: Name of the missile of Śiva (Rudra) (identified with the fierce (ghora), divine (divya) Pāśupatāstra 3. 41. 7).
A. Origin: It arose from amṛta 3. 89. 11; Rudra acquired it with austerities 3. 89. 10.
B. Description: great (mahat) and unrivalled (apratima) 3. 89. 10, fierce, of terrible power (raudraṁ bhīmaparākramam) 3. 41. 8; 3. 89. 11; it destroys the whole world at the time of the yugānta 3. 41. 8.
C. Given to Arjuna: Arjuna requested Śiva to give his Brahmaśiras (Pāśupata); armed with it, Arjuna wanted to burn in battle the Dānavas, the Rākṣasas, the Bhūtas, the Piśācas, the Gandharvas, and the Pannagas; using it Arjuna wanted to fight with Bhīṣma, Droṇa. Kṛpa, and Karṇa 3. 41. 8-11; Arjuna received it from Rudra together with the mantras to be recited at the time of its employment, the mode of withdrawing it, and the benediction meant for expiation (if wrongly used) samantraṁ sasaṁhāraṁ saprāyaścittamaṅgalam 3. 89. 11 (however, Nī. prāyaścittam astrāgninā niraparādhānāṁ dāhe yo doṣas tasya śodhanam/maṅgalaṁ dagdhānām evārāmādīnāṁ punarvikasanam/ on Bom. Ed. 3. 91. 12).
D. Effect: When employed, thousands of śūlas, gadās, and serpent-like ‘charmed’ arrows came out of it (śarāś cāśīviṣākārāḥ saṁbhavanty anumantritāḥ) 3. 41. 10. [See Pāśupata, Brahmaśiras^1 ]
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Brahmaśiras : nt.: Name of a tīrtha.
On the river Bhāgīrathī; listed by Aṅgiras in the Tīrthavaṁśa 13. 26. 3; one who visits it, bathes in the Bhāgīrathī and fasts for one month obtains the Somaloka 13. 26. 38.
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Mahabharata Cultural Index
[सम्पाद्यताम्]|
पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्। |
Brahmaśiras^1 : nt.: Name of a missile (once called brahmāstra 10. 15. 21).
A. History: Supposed to have arisen from Brahman's lustre (brahmatejobhava 10. 15. 7); Droṇa, after practising severe austerities, received the missile Brahmaśiras from Agastya 10. 12. 14; later it was taught by Droṇa to Arjuna when he was satisfied (pritimān, prīyamāṇaḥ) with him (Arjuna) 1. 123. 72; 10. 12. 5 and, not with great delight (nātihṛṣṭamanāḥ), to Aśvatthāman whom he had apparently first refused to teach 10. 12. 6.
B. Description: powerful missile (paramāstra) 1. 123. 78; 10. 15. 3, 6; famous as ‘uncomparable’ in the worlds (asāmānyam idaṁ tāta lokeṣv astraṁ nigadyate) 1. 123. 76; divine (divya) 10. 15. 16; outstanding (viśiṣṭa) 1. 123. 74; highly irresistible (atidurdhara) 1. 123. 74; fiery (mahārciṣmat) 10. 14. 7; difficult to obtain (duravāpa) 10. 15. 9; worshipped by gods and Gandharvas (devagandharvapūjita) 10. 12. 14; capable of burning the whole earth (dahed yad pṛthivīm api) 10. 12. 4.
C. Restrictions on its use:
(1) while giving the astra to Arjuna, Droṇa told him not to use it against men, but to use it only if he was attacked in a battle by a superhuman enemy (amānuṣaḥ śatruḥ); if released against an enemy of lesser mettle (alpatejas), the missile would burn the world 1. 123. 75, 77;
(2) while teaching it to Aśvatthāman, who was known to be rash by nature, Droṇa warned him not to use it even under dire circumstances in battle, especially not against men (paramāpadgatenāpi na sma tāta tvayā raṇe/idam astraṁ prayoktavyaṁ mānuṣeṣu viśeṣataḥ) 10. 12. 7-8.
D. Taught by Droṇa only to Arjuna and Aśvatthāman:
(1) It was given to Arjuna since Droṇa considered him to be distinguished among his pupils (viśiṣṭaṁ sarvaśiṣyebhyaḥ) 1. 123. 72; 10. 15. 21; when taught to Arjuna, he would be an unrivalled archer (bhavitā tvatsamo nānyaḥ pumāĩ loke dhanurdharaḥ) 1. 123. 78; Droṇa taught to Arjuna, both its use and withdrawal (saprayoganivartanam) 1. 123. 74; its withdrawal very difficult; once released, no one except Arjuna, not even Indra, was capable of withdrawing it 10. 15. 5, 6; it could not be withdrawn by one who had not observed celibacy; if a non-qualified person tried to withdraw it, it would cut his head and destroy his belongings 10. 15. 7-8; Arjuna could withdraw it as he was truthful, brave, had practised celibacy, and was obedient to his teacher 10. 15. 10, 20, 24; although fully qualified to withdraw it, Arjuna never used it in the epic war nor outside it, even under stress (brahmacārī vratī cāpi duravāpam avāpya tat/paramavyasanārto 'pi nārjuno 'straṁ vyamuñcata) 10. 15. 9, (brahmāstram apy avāpyaitad…kṣatradharmān mahābāhur nākampata dhanaṁjayaḥ) 10. 15. 21;
(2) Envious of Arjuna, Aśvatthāman asked his father to teach him Brahmaśiras; Droṇa gave it to him but not with a pleased mind (nātihṛṣṭamanā iva) 10. 12. 6; (since Aśvatthāman could not make use of it) he wanted to exchange it with Kṛṣṇa for his (Sudarśana) Cakra so that Aśvatthāman could be invincible 10. 12. 15, 36; Kṛṣṇa offered to give any one of his weapons to Aśvatthāman without receiving from him in return his Brahmaśiras 10. 12. 18-19; Aśvatthāman chose the Cakra but failed even so much as to move it from its place 10. 12. 20-23.
E. Use: As Aśvatthāman was cruel and rash, there was every danger of his using Brahmaśiras against Bhīma, who was chasing him 10. 12. 40; when Aśvatthāman actually used it on an iṣīkā, Kṛṣṇa advised Arjuna to release his Brahmaśiras to counter it; Arjuna got down from the chariot with bow and arrow in hand, wished ‘well’ (svasti 10. 14. 5; 1. 1. 155) first to Aśvatthāman, then to himself and to his brothers (the Pāṇḍavas); then bowing down to deities and teachers, he released Brahmaśiras, wishing welfare, and saying ‘may the missile pacify (Aśvatthāman's) missile’ (utsasarja śivaṁ dhyāyann astram astreṇa śāmyatām) 10. 14. 4-6; 10. 15. 2, 20; 1. 1. 155; at that time fire broke out like the fire at the end of the aeon; the fire of Arjuna's missile matched the fire of Aśvatthāman's missile; as a result terror struck the creatures, skies were filled with great sound and were engulfed in fire, earth, with its mountains and trees, shook; the two missiles produced heat with their lustre 10. 14. 7-11; just then Nārada and Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, desiring welfare for all the people, appeared and stood between the two missiles; they pointed out that Brahmaśiras was never used by any one before against men 10. 14. 16; in response to their appeal, Arjuna immediately withdrew his Brahmaśiras; but Aśvatthāman could not 10. 15. 1-15; moreover, if Brahmaśiras was pacified by the other powerful missile (paramāstra) there would be no rain in the land for twelve years 10. 15. 23; Aśvatthāman then directed his missile towards the foetus of the Pāṇḍavas 10. 15. 31, 32; 10. 16. 9. [See Iṣīkā, Brahmaśiras^2, Brahmāstra ]
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Brahmaśiras^2 : nt.: Name of the missile of Śiva (Rudra) (identified with the fierce (ghora), divine (divya) Pāśupatāstra 3. 41. 7).
A. Origin: It arose from amṛta 3. 89. 11; Rudra acquired it with austerities 3. 89. 10.
B. Description: great (mahat) and unrivalled (apratima) 3. 89. 10, fierce, of terrible power (raudraṁ bhīmaparākramam) 3. 41. 8; 3. 89. 11; it destroys the whole world at the time of the yugānta 3. 41. 8.
C. Given to Arjuna: Arjuna requested Śiva to give his Brahmaśiras (Pāśupata); armed with it, Arjuna wanted to burn in battle the Dānavas, the Rākṣasas, the Bhūtas, the Piśācas, the Gandharvas, and the Pannagas; using it Arjuna wanted to fight with Bhīṣma, Droṇa. Kṛpa, and Karṇa 3. 41. 8-11; Arjuna received it from Rudra together with the mantras to be recited at the time of its employment, the mode of withdrawing it, and the benediction meant for expiation (if wrongly used) samantraṁ sasaṁhāraṁ saprāyaścittamaṅgalam 3. 89. 11 (however, Nī. prāyaścittam astrāgninā niraparādhānāṁ dāhe yo doṣas tasya śodhanam/maṅgalaṁ dagdhānām evārāmādīnāṁ punarvikasanam/ on Bom. Ed. 3. 91. 12).
D. Effect: When employed, thousands of śūlas, gadās, and serpent-like ‘charmed’ arrows came out of it (śarāś cāśīviṣākārāḥ saṁbhavanty anumantritāḥ) 3. 41. 10. [See Pāśupata, Brahmaśiras^1 ]
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*1st word in right half of page p121_mci (+offset) in original book.
previous page p120_mci .......... next page p122_mci
Brahmaśiras : nt.: Name of a tīrtha.
On the river Bhāgīrathī; listed by Aṅgiras in the Tīrthavaṁśa 13. 26. 3; one who visits it, bathes in the Bhāgīrathī and fasts for one month obtains the Somaloka 13. 26. 38.
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*1st word in right half of page p397_mci (+offset) in original book.