# SB 1.7.19 > यदाशरणमात्मानमैक्षत श्रान्तवाजिनम् । > अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो मेने आत्मत्राणं द्विजात्मजः ॥१९॥ ## Text > yadāśaraṇam ātmānam > aikṣata śrānta-vājinam > astraṁ brahma-śiro mene > ātma-trāṇaṁ dvijātmajaḥ ## Synonyms *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.* ## Translation **When the son of the brāhmaṇa [Aśvatthāmā] saw that his horses were tired, he considered that there was no alternative for protection outside of his using the ultimate weapon, the brahmāstra [nuclear weapon].** ## Purport In the ultimate issue only, when there is no alternative, the nuclear weapon called the *brahmāstra* is applied. The word *dvijātmajaḥ* 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 a 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 a *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.*