Shloka 7
अश्वत्थाम-शापः, परिक्षिद्भविष्यत्, मणि-न्यासः
Aśvatthāman’s Curse, Parikṣit’s Future, and the Mani’s Restitution
पतिष्यति तदस्त्रं हि गर्भे तस्या मयोद्यतम् । विराटदुहितु: कृष्ण यं त्वं रक्षितुमिच्छसि
patiṣyati tad astraṃ hi garbhe tasyā mayodyatam | virāṭa-duhituḥ kṛṣṇa yaṃ tvaṃ rakṣitum icchasi ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «Esa arma que he lanzado caerá, en verdad, sobre su vientre—oh Kṛṣṇa—sobre el seno de la hija de Virāṭa, a quien tú deseas proteger».
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grave ethical breach involved in directing a weapon toward an unborn child and the dharmic imperative to protect the innocent and preserve rightful lineage; it sets the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s protective intervention against misuse of martial power.
A deadly astra that has been launched is said to be heading toward the womb of Virāṭa’s daughter (Uttarā). Kṛṣṇa is addressed because he intends to protect her and the unborn heir, making this a crisis point where divine protection confronts the catastrophic aftermath of war.