SB 1.8.13 (1964)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 13
Vyasanam bikshya tat tesham ananya vishayatmnam Sudarshenena shastrena swanam rakskam byadhat bibhu.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Vyasanam—great danger, Bikshya—having observed it, Tat—that, Tesham—their. Ananya—any other, Vishaya—means, Atmanam—thus inclined, Sudarshanena—by the wheel of Sri Krishna, Shastrena—by the weapon, Swanam—of His own devotees, Raksham—protection, Byadhat—did do it, Bibhu—the Almighty.
TRANSLATION
The Almighty Personality of Godhead Shri Krishna having observed that a great danger had fallen upon His unalloyed devotees who were fully surrendered souls, took up at once His Sudarshan Disc weapon in order to protect them.
PURPORT
The Brahmastra or the Supreme weapon released by the Aswathama was something similar to the nuclear weapon with more radiation and heat but this Brahmastra is the product of more subtle science being product of finer sound or Mantra recorded in the Vedas. Another advantage of this weapon is that it is not blind like the nuclear weapon because it was only meant for the target and nothing besides that. Aswathama released the weapon just to finish all the male members of Pandu's family and therefore in one sense it was more dangerous than the atomic bombs because it would act even within the most protected place and would never miss the target. Knowing all these Lord Shri Krishna took up at once His personal weapon to protect His devotees who did not know anyone else than Krishna. In the Bhagwat Geeta the Lord has clearly promised that His devotees are never to be vanquished. And He behaves according to the quality or degree of the devotional service by the devotees. Here the word Ananyabishyatmanam is significant. The Pandavas were cent per cent depended on the protection of the Lord although they were all great warriors themselves. But the Lord neglects even the greatest warrior and also vanquishes them in no time. When the Lord saw it that there was no time for the Pandavas to counteract the Brahmastra of Aswathama, He took up the weapon even at the risk of breaking His own vow. Although the battle of Kurukshetra was almost finished still according to His vow He should not have taken up His own weapon but the emergency was more fateful than to keep His own vow. He is more well known as the Bhaktavatsal or the lover of His devotee and as such He preferred to continue as Bhaktavatsal than to be worldly morailist who never breaks his solemn vow.