### SB 1.7.19

> यदाशरणमात्मानमैक्षत श्रान्तवाजिनम् ।\
> अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो मेने आत्मत्राणं द्विजात्मजः ॥१९॥

> yadāśaraṇam ātmānam\
> aikṣata śrānta-vājinam\
> astraṁ brahma-śiro mene\
> ātma-trāṇaṁ dvijātmajaḥ

*yadā*—when; *aśaraṇam*—without being alternatively protected; *ātmānam*—his own self; *aikṣata*—saw; *śrānta-vājinam*—the horses being tired; *astram*—weapon; *brahma-śiraḥ*—the topmost or ultimate (nuclear); *mene*—applied; *ātma-trāṇam*—just to save himself; *dvija-ātma-jaḥ*—the son of a *brāhmaṇa.*

**When the son of the brāhmaṇa [Aśvatthāmā] saw that his horses were tired, he considered that there was no alternative for protection outside his using the ultimate weapon, the brahmāstra [nuclear weapon].**

In the ultimate issue only, when there is no other alternative, the nuclear weapon called the brahmāstra is applied. The word dvijātma-jaḥ is significant here because Aśvatthāmā, although the son of Droṇācārya, was not exactly a qualified brāhmaṇa. The most intelligent man is called a brāhmaṇa, and it is not an hereditary title. Aśvatthāmā was also formerly called the brahma-bandhu or the friend of a brāhmaṇa. Being a friend of a brāhmaṇa does not mean that one is brāhmaṇa by qualification. A friend or son of a brāhmaṇa, when fully qualified, can be called a brāhmaṇa and not otherwise. Since Aśvatthāmā's decision is immature, he is purposely called herein the son of a brāhmaṇa.