FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.19

यदाशरणमात्मानमैक्षत श्रान्तवाजिनम् । अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो मेने आत्मत्राणं द्विजात्मज: ॥ १९ ॥
yadāśaraṇam ātmānam
[yadaasharanam aatmaanam]
aikṣata śrānta-vājinam
[aikshata shraanta-vaajinam]
astraṁ brahma-śiro mene
[astram brahma-shiro mene]
ātma-trāṇaṁ dvijātmajaḥ
[aatma-traanam dvijaatmajah]
Word-for-word
yadā — when aśaraṇam — without being alternatively protected ātmānam — his own self aikṣata — saw śrānta-vājinam — the horses being tired astram — weapon brahma-śiraḥ — the topmost or ultimate (nuclear) mene — applied ātma-trāṇam — just to save himself dvija-ātma-jaḥ — the son of a brāhmaṇa..
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yadāśaraṇam ātmānam
yadā
when
aśaraṇam
without being alternatively protected
ātmānam
his own self
aikṣata śrānta-vājinam
aikṣata
saw
śrānta-vājinam
the horses being tired
astraṁ brahma-śiro mene
astram
weapon
brahma-śiraḥ
the topmost or ultimate (nuclear)
mene
applied
ātma-trāṇaṁ dvijātmajaḥ
ātma-trāṇam
just to save himself
dvija-ātma-jaḥ
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].
Purport

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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When he understood he had no one to protect him and his horses were exhausted, the son of a brāhmaṇa considered using the brahmāstra to protect himself.
Commentary

He saw that he had no protector (aśaraṇam). He considered that the brahmāstra would be a method of protecting himself (ātma-trāṇam). The word dvijātmajaḥ (son of a brāhmaṇa) indicates that he was short-sighted.

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Tired and cornered, Aśvatthāmā reached for the brahmāstra — the ultimate weapon — having no other recourse. Desperation pushes us toward disproportionate responses. Beware the panic move.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'ultimate weapon' am I tempted to use when I feel cornered?
  • Where would patience or surrender outperform escalation?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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