Asvatthama released the weapon just to finish all the male member of Pandu 's family; therefore in one sense it was more dangerous than the atomic bombs because it could penetrate even the most protected place and would never miss the target. Knowing all this, Lord Sri Krsna took up at once His personal weapon to protect His devotees, who did not know anyone other than Krsna.
In the Bhagavad-gita 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 ananya-visayatmanam is significant. The Pandavas were cent percent dependent 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 that there was no time for the Pandavas to counteract the brahmastra of Asvatthama, 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 important than the vow. He is better known as the bhakta-vatsala, or the lover of His devotee, and thus He preferred to continue as bhakta-vatsala than to be a worldly moralist who never breaks his solemn vow. SB 1.8.13
In the Bhagavad-gita 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 ananya-visayatmanam is significant. The Pandavas were cent percent dependent 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 that there was no time for the Pandavas to counteract the brahmastra of Asvatthama, 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 important than the vow. He is better known as the bhakta-vatsala, or the lover of His devotee, and thus He preferred to continue as bhakta-vatsala than to be a worldly moralist who never breaks his solemn vow. SB 1.8.13