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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.19
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A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 19
- yadāśaraṇam ātmānam
- aikṣata śrānta-vājinam
- astraṁ brahma-śiro mene
- ātma-trāṇaṁ dvijātmajaḥ
yadāwhen — when; aśaraṇamwithout being alternatively protected — without being alternatively protected; ātmānamhis own self — his own self; aikṣatasaw — saw; śrāntathe horses being tired-vājinamthe horses being tired — the horses being tired; astramweapon — weapon; brahmathe topmost or ultimate (nuclear)-śiraḥthe topmost or ultimate (nuclear) — the topmost or ultimate (nuclear); meneapplied — applied; ātmajust to save himself-trāṇamjust to save himself — just to save himself; dvijathe son of a brāhmaṇa-ātmathe son of a brāhmaṇa-jaḥthe son of a brāhmaṇa — the son of a brāhmaṇa.
When the son of the brāhmaṇa [Aśvatthāmā] saw that his horses were tired, he considered that there was no alternative for protection outside of his using the ultimate weapon, the brahmāstra [nuclear weapon].
In the ultimate issue only, when there is no alternative, the nuclear weapon called the brahmāstra is applied. The word dvijātmajaḥ is significant here because Aśvatthāmā, although the son of Droṇācārya, was not exactly a qualified brāhmaṇa. The most intelligent man is called a brāhmaṇa, and it is not a hereditary title. Aśvatthāmā was also formerly called the brahma-bandhu, or the friend of a brāhmaṇa. Being a friend of a brāhmaṇa does not mean that one is a brāhmaṇa by qualification. A friend or son of a brāhmaṇa, when fully qualified, can be called a brāhmaṇa and not otherwise. Since Aśvatthāmā's decision is immature, he is purposely called herein the son of a brāhmaṇa.