Text 28]
The Son of Droṇa Punished
349
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 Droṇācārya, 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 a son of a  brāhmaṇa  he should not have made so many mistakes, and for such gross negligence of duty he was to be punished by the Lord Himself.
TEXT 28
न ह्यस्यान्यतमं किञ्चिदस्त्रं प्रत्यवकर्शनम् । 
    जह्यस्त्रतेज उन्नद्वमस्त्रज्ञो ह्यस्त्रतेजसा ॥२८॥
na hy asyānyatamam kiñcid 
    astram praty avakarśanam 
    jahy astra-teja unnaddham 
    astra-jño hy astra-tejasā
na—not; hi—certainly; asya—of it; anyatamam—other; kiñcit—anything; astram—weapon; prati—counter; avakarśanam—reactionary; jahi—subdue it; astra-tejah—the glare of this weapon; unnaddham—very powerful; astra-jñah—O expert in military science; hi—as a matter of fact; astra-tejasā—by the influence of your weapon.
TRANSLATION
O Arjuna, only another brahmāstra can counteract this weapon. Since you are expert in the military science, subdue this weapon's glare with your own weapon.
PURPORT
For the atomic bombs there is no counterweapon to neutralize the effects. But by subtle science the action of a  brahmāstra  can be counteracted, and those who were expert in the military science in those days could counteract the  brahmāstra . The son of Droṇācārya did not know the art of counteracting the weapon, and therefore Arjuna was asked to counteract it by the power of his own weapon.