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 ||
„O du Mächtigarmiger, ob du sie als meine Schwester betrachtest, oder als eine Frau, deren Sohn erschlagen wurde, oder als eine, die zu mir um Schutz geflohen ist—sie so zu sehen, gebietet dir, hier Erbarmen zu zeigen.“
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.