Shloka 1
शौनक उवाच अश्वत्थाम्नोपसृष्टेन ब्रह्मशीर्ष्णोरुतेजसा । उत्तराया हतो गर्भ ईशेनाजीवित: पुन: ॥ १ ॥
śaunaka uvāca aśvatthāmnopasṛṣṭena brahma-śīrṣṇoru-tejasā uttarāyā hato garbha īśenājīvitaḥ punaḥ
Śaunaka said: Uttarā’s womb was devastated by the dreadful, invincible brahmāstra released by Aśvatthāmā, yet Mahārāja Parīkṣit was saved by the Supreme Lord.
The sages assembled in the forest of Naimiṣāraṇya inquired from Sūta Gosvāmī about the birth of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, but in the course of the narration other topics like the release of the brahmāstra by the son of Droṇa, his punishment by Arjuna, Queen Kuntīdevī’s prayers, the Pāṇḍavas’ visit to the place where Bhīṣmadeva was lying, his prayers and thereafter the Lord’s departure for Dvārakā were discussed. His arrival at Dvārakā and residing with the sixteen thousand queens, etc., were narrated. The sages were absorbed in hearing such descriptions, but now they wanted to turn to the original topic, and thus the inquiry was made by Śaunaka Ṛṣi. So the subject of the release of the brahmāstra weapon by Aśvatthāmā is renewed.
FAQs
This verse states that Aśvatthāmā’s brahma-śīrṣā weapon killed/struck the embryo of Uttarā, but the Supreme Lord revived the child—indicating Krishna’s direct protection of His devotee even before birth.
Śaunaka is drawing attention to the miraculous divine intervention—how the Lord overruled the deadly brahmāstra—to invite a deeper narration of Parīkṣit’s birth and Krishna’s guardianship.
Even in seemingly hopeless situations, one can take shelter of the Lord; devotion emphasizes faith in divine protection and the supremacy of God’s will over destructive forces.