यद्यप्यस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्त्वमोघं चाप्रतिक्रियम् ।
वैष्णवं तेज आसाद्य समशाम्यद्भृगूद्वह ॥१५॥

yadyapy astraṠbrahma-śiras
tv amoghaá¹ cÄpratikriyam
vaiṣṇavaá¹ teja ÄsÄdya
samaÅ›Ämyad bhá¹›gÅ«dvaha

 yadyapi - although; astram - weapon; brahma-Å›iraḥ - supreme; tu - but; amogham - without check; ca - and; apratikriyam - not to be counteracted; vaiṣṇavam - in relation with Viṣṇu; tejaḥ - strength; ÄsÄdya - being confronted with; samaÅ›Ämyat - was neutralized; bhá¹›gu-udvaha - O glory of the family of Bhá¹›gu.


Text

O Åšaunaka, glory of Bhá¹›gu’s family, although the supreme brahmÄstra weapon released by AÅ›vatthÄmÄ 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-gÄ«tÄ it is said that the brahmajyoti, or the glowing transcendental effulgence, is resting on Lord ÅšrÄ« 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 brahmÄstra, released by AÅ›vatthÄmÄ, was neutralized and foiled by Lord ÅšrÄ« Kṛṣṇa by His own energy; that is to say, He did not wait for any other’s help because He is absolute.