Shloka 21
Brahmāstra-pratisaṃhāraḥ, Parīkṣit-nāmakaraṇam, Nagarotsava-varṇanam
Withdrawal of the Brahmāstra; Naming of Parīkṣit; Description of Civic Festivities
यथाहं नाभिजानामि विजये तु कदाचन । विरोधं तेन सत्येन मृतो जीवत्वयं शिशु:,'मैंने कभी अर्जुनसे विरोध किया हो, इसका स्मरण नहीं है; इस सत्यके प्रभावसे यह मरा हुआ बालक अभी जीवित हो जाय
yathāhaṃ nābhijānāmi vijaye tu kadācana | virodhaṃ tena satyena mṛto jīvatv ayaṃ śiśuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “As I do not recall ever having opposed Vijaya (Arjuna) at any time, by the power of that truth—let this child, though dead, become alive again.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthfulness (satya) is portrayed as an active moral power: when one’s conduct is free from hostility and one can truthfully affirm it, that truth may be invoked as a dharmic force (satya-kriyā) to bring about protection and even restoration.
A speaker makes a solemn declaration: he has never opposed Arjuna (Vijaya). He then invokes that truth as a performative act, praying/commanding that a dead child should return to life through the efficacy of the truthful statement.