Å›rÄ«-bhagavÄn uvÄca
vetthedaṠdroṇa-putrasya
brÄhmam astraá¹ pradarÅ›itam
naivÄsau veda saá¹hÄraá¹
prÄṇa-bÄdha upasthite
Å›rÄ«-bhagavÄn - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; uvÄca - said; vettha - just know from Me; idam - this; droṇa-putrasya - of the son of Droṇa; brÄhmam astram - hymns of the brÄhma (nuclear) weapon; pradarÅ›itam - exhibited; na - not; eva - even; asau - he; veda - know it; saá¹hÄram - retraction; prÄṇa-bÄdhe - extinction of life; upasthite - being imminent.
The brahmÄstra is similar to the modern nuclear weapon manipulated by atomic energy. The atomic energy works wholly on total combustibility, and so the brahmÄstra also acts. It creates an intolerable heat similar to atomic radiation, but the difference is that the atomic bomb is a gross type of nuclear weapon, whereas the brahmÄstra is a subtle type of weapon produced by chanting hymns. It is a different science, and in the days gone by such science was cultivated in the land of BhÄrata-vará¹£a. The subtle science of chanting hymns is also material, but it has yet to be known by the modern material scientists. Subtle material science is not spiritual, but it has a direct relationship with the spiritual method, which is still subtler. A chanter of hymns knew how to apply the weapon as well as how to retract it. That was perfect knowledge. But the son of DroṇÄcÄrya, who made use of this subtle science, did not know how to retract. He applied it, being afraid of his imminent death, and thus the practice was not only improper but also irreligious. As the son of a brÄhmaṇa, he should not have made so many mistakes, and for such gross negligence of duty he was to be punished by the Lord Himself.