FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.15

यद्यप्यस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्त्वमोघं चाप्रतिक्रियम् । वैष्णवं तेज आसाद्य समशाम्यद् भृगूद्वह ॥ १५ ॥
yadyapy astraṁ brahma-śiras
[yadyapy astram brahma-shiras]
tv amoghaṁ cāpratikriyam
[tv amogham chaapratikriyam]
vaiṣṇavaṁ teja āsādya
[vaishnavam teja aasaadya]
samaśāmyad bhṛgūdvaha
[samashaamyad bhrigoodvaha]
Word-for-word
yadyapi — although astram — weapon brahma-śiraḥ — supreme tu — but amogham — without check ca — and apratikriyam — not to be counteracted vaiṣṇavam — in relation with Viṣṇu tejaḥ — strength āsādya — being confronted with samaśāmyat — was neutralized bhṛgu-udvaha — O glory of the family of Bhṛgu.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yadyapy astraṁ brahma-śiras
yadyapi
although
astram
weapon
brahma-śiraḥ
supreme
tu
but
tv amoghaṁ cāpratikriyam
amogham
without check
ca
and
apratikriyam
not to be counteracted
vaiṣṇavaṁ teja āsādya
vaiṣṇavam
in relation with Viṣṇu
tejaḥ
strength
āsādya
being confronted with
samaśāmyad bhṛgūdvaha
samaśāmyat
was neutralized
bhṛgu-udvaha
O glory of the family of Bhṛgu.
O Śaunaka, glory of Bhṛgu’s family, although the supreme brahmāstra weapon released by Aśvatthāmā was irresistible and without check or counteraction, it was neutralized and foiled when confronted by the strength of Viṣṇu [Lord Kṛṣṇa].
Purport

In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said that the brahmajyoti, or the glowing transcendental effulgence, is resting on Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. In other words, the glowing effulgence known as brahma-tejas is nothing but the rays of the Lord, just as the sun rays are rays of the sun disc. So this Brahma weapon also, although materially irresistible, could not surpass the supreme strength of the Lord. The weapon called brahmāstra, released by Aśvatthāmā, was neutralized and foiled by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa by His own energy; that is to say, He did not wait for any other’s help because He is absolute.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Śaunaka! Though the brahmāstra is effective and cannot be prevented from acting, on meeting the weapon of Viṣṇu, it became completely ineffective.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Though the brahmāstra was supposedly irresistible, it was neutralized by Viṣṇu's strength. What is 'irresistible' to material forces is small before the Lord's will. Categories of inevitability shift around Him.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'irresistible' force in my life have I underestimated the Lord's ability to neutralize?
  • Where am I treating something as a fixed fate that may bend before grace?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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