Shloka 13
Uttarā-vilāpaḥ and Kṛṣṇasya satya-vacanenābhi-mañyu-jasyābhijīvanam
Uttarā’s Lament and the Revival of Abhimanyu’s Son by Krishna’s Truth-Act
वार्ष्णेय मधुहन् वीर शिरसा त्वां प्रसादये । द्रोणपुत्रास्त्रनिर्दग्धं जीवयैनं॑ ममात्मजम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
vārṣṇeya madhuhan vīra śirasā tvāṁ prasādaye |
droṇaputrāstra-nirdagdhaṁ jīvayainaṁ mamātmajam ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô héros des Vṛṣṇis, ô vainqueur de Madhu, je m’incline la tête et j’implore ta faveur. Mon fils a été brûlé par l’arme du fils de Droṇa ; rends la vie à cet enfant qui est le mien.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical turn from vengeance to protection: in the aftermath of war, the highest dharma is compassion and preservation of life and lineage. It also shows humility and surrender—seeking remedy through righteous, divine agency rather than further violence.
A grieving mother (contextually Uttarā) appeals to Kṛṣṇa, addressing him by clan and heroic epithets, and begs him to revive her son who has been burned by Aśvatthāman’s weapon. The plea frames Kṛṣṇa as the refuge capable of countering the catastrophic effects of astras.