[citation needed] Only a handful of gods and warrior-heros, namely Parashurama, Rama, Meghanada, Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Ashwatthama, Arjuna, and Lakshmana, were said to have possessed the knowledge to invoke this weapon.
It is termed as a fiery weapon that creates a fierce fireball,[1] blazing up with terrible flames and countless horrendous thunder flashes.
[citation needed] When used, the Brahmastra which is person-centric can destroy a powerful enemy if they do not possess an alternate counter weapon.
Arjuna, out of nobility, did so; Ashwatthama, however, out of anger, refused to recall the astra and rather directed it to Uttarā's womb to kill the unborn Parikshit in an attempt to produce some level of damage to his opponents, but Krishna intervened and saved the child.
When Vishvamitra, in a fit of anger, unleashed the Brahmastra onto Vasishtha, it was his Brahma Danda that protected him from the lethal weapon.