Shloka 18
Brahmāstra-pratisaṃhāraḥ, Parīkṣit-nāmakaraṇam, Nagarotsava-varṇanam
Withdrawal of the Brahmāstra; Naming of Parīkṣit; Description of Civic Festivities
न ब्रवीम्युत्तरे मिथ्या सत्यमेतद् भविष्यति । एष संजीवयाम्येनं पश्यतां सर्वदेहिनाम्
na bravīmy uttare mithyā satyam etad bhaviṣyati | eṣa saṃjīvayāmy enaṃ paśyatāṃ sarvadehinām ||
“उत्तरा! मैं मिथ्या नहीं बोलता। मेरी यह प्रतिज्ञा सत्य होकर ही रहेगी। देखो—समस्त देहधारियों के देखते-देखते मैं अभी इस बालक को जीवित कर देता हूँ।”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds satya (truthfulness) and fidelity to one’s vow: a righteous person does not utter falsehood, and a solemn promise is treated as morally binding, to be fulfilled even under intense emotional and public scrutiny.
In the aftermath of the war, Uttarā’s child lies lifeless; the speaker declares to Uttarā that he does not lie and that his pledge will be realized, announcing—before all present—that he will revive the child.