Shloka 19
Janmaveśma-praveśa and Uttarā’s Śaraṇāgati
Entry into the Birth-Chamber and Uttarā’s Appeal
स्वसेति वा महाबाहो हतपुत्रेति वा पुन: । प्रपन्ना मामियं चेति दयां कर्तुमिहाहसि
svāseti vā mahābāho hataputreti vā punaḥ | prapannā mām iyaṃ ceti dayāṃ kartum ihārhasi ||
«يا عظيمَ الساعدين، سواءٌ نظرتَ إليها على أنها أختي، أو امرأةٌ قُتِل ابنُها، أو مستجيرةٌ جاءتني تلتمس الملجأ—فإذ تراها كذلك، فعليك أن تُظهر الرحمة هنا».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges dharmic compassion: a powerful person should protect and show mercy to one who is vulnerable—especially a bereaved mother or anyone who has sought refuge—regardless of other considerations.
Vaiśampāyana reports an appeal addressed to a warrior (“mighty-armed one”), asking him to treat a woman with kindness by viewing her as a sister, as a mother grieving a slain son, or as a supplicant who has come for protection.