FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.28

न ह्यस्यान्यतमं किञ्चिदस्त्रं प्रत्यवकर्शनम् । जह्यस्त्रतेज उन्नद्धमस्त्रज्ञो ह्यस्त्रतेजसा ॥ २८ ॥
na hy asyānyatamaṁ kiñcid
[na hy asyaanyatamam kinchid]
astraṁ pratyavakarśanam
[astram pratyavakarshanam]
jahy astra-teja unnaddham
[jahy astra-teja unnaddham]
astra-jño hy astra-tejasā
[astra-jno hy astra-tejasaa]
na — not hi — certainly asya — of it anyatamam — other kiñcit — anything astram — weapon prati — counter avakarśanam — reactionary jahi — subdue it astra-tejaḥ — the glare of this weapon unnaddham — very powerful astra-jñaḥ — expert in military science hi — as a matter of fact astra-tejasā — by the influence of your weapon.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na hy asyānyatamaṁ kiñcid
na
not
hi
certainly
asya
of it
anyatamam
other
kiñcit
anything
astraṁ pratyavakarśanam
astram
weapon
prati
counter
avakarśanam
reactionary
jahy astra-teja unnaddham
jahi
subdue it
astra-tejaḥ
the glare of this weapon
unnaddham
very powerful
astra-jño hy astra-tejasā
astra-jñaḥ
expert in military science
hi
as a matter of fact
astra-tejasā
by the influence of your weapon.
O Arjuna, only another brahmāstra can counteract this weapon. Since you are expert in the military science, subdue this weapon’s glare with the power of your own weapon.

For the atomic bombs there is no counterweapon to neutralize the effects. But by subtle science the action of a brahmāstra can be counteracted, and those who were expert in the military science in those days could counteract the brahmāstra. The son of Droṇācārya did not know the art of counteracting the weapon, and therefore Arjuna was asked to counteract it by the power of his own weapon.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
No other weapon can counteract this weapon. O knower of weapons! Destroy the profuse fire of this weapon with the fire of your brahmāstra.
Commentary

“But the fire can be counteracted by the water weapon.” Nothing can stop this weapon (pratyavakarśanam). Since you know all about weapons, you must destroy the fire of this weapon with the fire of your brahmāstra.

Only another brahmāstra can counteract one — meet skill with skill. The Lord doesn't bypass Arjuna's expertise; He directs it. Our trained capacities are how He often works.
Reflection Questions
  • What trained capacity am I underusing because I'm waiting for a miracle?
  • Where does the Lord want to act through my skill, not despite it?
📝 My note

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