अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो मेने आत्मत्राणं द्विजात्मजः ॥१९॥
yadÄÅ›araṇam ÄtmÄnam
aiká¹£ata Å›rÄnta-vÄjinam
astraṠbrahma-śiro mene
Ätma-trÄṇaá¹ dvijÄtmajaḥ
2 times this text was mentioned in purports to other texts: LSB(2)
yadÄ - when; aÅ›araṇam - without being alternatively protected; ÄtmÄnam - his own self; aiká¹£ata - saw; Å›rÄnta-vÄjinam - the horses being tired; astram - weapon; brahma-Å›iraḥ - the topmost or ultimate (nuclear); mene - applied; Ätma-trÄṇam - just to save himself; dvija-Ätma-jaḥ - the son of a brÄhmaṇa.
When the son of the brÄhmaṇa [AÅ›vatthÄmÄ] saw that his horses were tired, he considered that there was no alternative for protection outside of his using the ultimate weapon, the brahmÄstra [nuclear weapon].
In the ultimate issue only, when there is no alternative, the nuclear weapon called the brahmÄstra is applied. The word dvijÄtmajaḥ is significant here because AÅ›vatthÄmÄ, although the son of DroṇÄcÄrya, was not exactly a qualified brÄhmaṇa. The most intelligent man is called a brÄhmaṇa, and it is not a hereditary title. AÅ›vatthÄmÄ was also formerly called the brahma-bandhu, or the friend of a brÄhmaṇa. Being a friend of a brÄhmaṇa does not mean that one is a brÄhmaṇa by qualification. A friend or son of a brÄhmaṇa, when fully qualified, can be called a brÄhmaṇa and not otherwise. Since AÅ›vatthÄmÄ’s decision is immature, he is purposely called herein the son of a brÄhmaṇa.
