Shloka 19

Brahmāstra-pratisaṃhāraḥ, Parīkṣit-nāmakaraṇam, Nagarotsava-varṇanam

Withdrawal of the Brahmāstra; Naming of Parīkṣit; Description of Civic Festivities

Devanagari script

नोक्तपूर्व मया मिथ्या स्वैरेष्वपि कदाचन । न च युद्धात्‌ परावृत्तस्तथा संजीवतामयम्‌

Transliteration

noktapūrvaṃ mayā mithyā svaireṣv api kadācana | na ca yuddhāt parāvṛttas tathā saṃjīvatām ayam ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Never before have I spoken a falsehood—not even in moments of play or carefree sport. Nor have I ever turned back from battle. By the power of this truth, may this child live again.”

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• उक्तपूर्वम्: previously spoken (before)
• उक्तपूर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्तपूर्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Common, Instrumental, Singular

• मिथ्या: falsely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथ्या

• स्वैरेषु: in amusements / in sports (at will)
• स्वैरेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वैर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• अपि: even / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• कदाचन: ever / at any time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• युद्धात्: from battle
• युद्धात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• परावृत्तः: turned back / retreated
• परावृत्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परावृत्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus / in that manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• संजीवताम्: let (them) live / may (they) be revived
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+जीव्
• Form: Imperative, Third, Plural

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Abhimanyu
• Abhimanyu's child (the unborn/infant heir)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Truthfulness (satya) and steadfast courage are presented as moral forces with real efficacy. The speaker invokes a satyakriyā—an act of truth—asserting lifelong integrity (never lying, never retreating) so that the merit and power of that truth may protect life and restore what is threatened.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Ashvamedhika Parva context, a crisis surrounds Abhimanyu’s child (the Pandava heir). A solemn declaration is made: the speaker claims he has never lied, even in play, and has never turned away from battle; on the strength of that truth, he prays that the child may live (be revived/protected).