Shloka 17
त्वया होतत् प्रतिज्ञातमैषीके यदुनन्दन । अहं संजीवयिष्यामि मृतं जातमिति प्रभो,“यदुनन्दन! प्रभो! अश्वत्थामाने जब सींकके बाणका प्रयोग किया था, उस समय तुमने यह प्रतिज्ञा की थी कि मैं उत्तराके मरे हुए बालकको भी जीवित कर दूँगा
tvayā hotat pratijñātam aiṣīke yadunandana | ahaṁ saṁjīvayiṣyāmi mṛtaṁ jātam iti prabho ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Yadunandana, O Lord—when Aśvatthāman released the weapon of the aśvattha (brahmāstra), you then made this solemn promise: ‘I shall restore to life the child who has been born dead.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of a vow (pratijñā) and the dharmic duty to protect the innocent even after war’s devastation; Kṛṣṇa’s promise embodies steadfast truthfulness and compassionate guardianship.
Vaiśampāyana recalls that when Aśvatthāman unleashed the brahmāstra-like weapon that threatened the unborn heir in Uttarā’s womb, Kṛṣṇa had pledged to revive the child even if born dead—setting up the fulfillment of that promise.