Mahabharata: Saptarishis Brahmastra Dronacharya

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Acquisition of Knowledge: Dronacharya, the royal preceptor to the Pandavas and Kauravas, acquired the knowledge of numerous celestial weapons, including the Brahmastra, from the legendary sage Parashurama.
Mastery and Teaching: Drona was a master of advanced military arts and had knowledge of how to invoke and, importantly, withdraw the Brahmastra. He taught this skill primarily to his favorite disciple Arjuna, and only partially to his own son Ashwatthama, due to concerns about the latter's temperament.
Usage in the War: During the Kurukshetra war, Dronacharya used the Brahmastra multiple times. He was heavily criticized by the Saptarishis themselves when he deployed this powerful weapon against ordinary foot soldiers, an action considered a violation of the rules of dharma (righteous conduct) as such weapons should only be used against an equivalent or superior foe.
Ashwatthama's Misuse: After Drona's death, an enraged Ashwatthama later used the Brahmashirsha astra (a weapon even more potent than the Brahmastra) indiscriminately. When he aimed it at the womb of Uttara to end the Pandava lineage, the Saptarishis (along with sage Vyasa and Narada) intervened to prevent a cataclysm.