Text 28] The Son of Drona 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 Dronacarya, 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 brahmana 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

a mera faeces scraaaq |
Beat «= TANG | TAANAT [cI

na hy asyanyatamam kiicid
astram praty avakarsanam

Jahy astra-teja unnaddham
astra-jiio hy astra-tejasa

na—not: hi—certainly; asya—of it; anyatamam—other; kiicit—anything;
astram—weapon; prati—counter; avakarsanam—reactionary; jahi—subdue
it; astra-tejah—the glare of this weapon; unnaddham—very powerful;
astra-jiah—O expert in military science; hi—as a matter of fact; astra-tejasa
—by the influence of your weapon.

TRANSLATION

O Arjuna, only another brahmastra 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 brahmastra can be counter-
acted, and those who were expert in the military science in those days
could counteract the brahmastra. The son of Dronacarya did not know the
art of counteracting the weapon, and therefore Arjuna was asked to
counteract it by the power of his own weapon.
