Shloka 14
Janmaveśma-praveśa and Uttarā’s Śaraṇāgati
Entry into the Birth-Chamber and Uttarā’s Appeal
अभिमन्यो: सुतो वीर न संजीवति यद्ययम् । जीवति त्वयि दुर्धर्ष कि करिष्याम्यहं त्वया,“दुर्धर्ष वीर! यदि तुम्हारे जीते-जी अभिमन्युके इस बालकको जीवनदान न मिला तो तुम मेरे किस काम आओगे
abhimanyoḥ suto vīra na saṃjīvati yady ayam | jīvati tvayi durdharṣa kiṃ kariṣyāmy ahaṃ tvayā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O hero, if this son of Abhimanyu does not come back to life, then even if you remain alive, O unassailable one, what use are you to me? If, while you still live, this child of Abhimanyu is not granted life, of what value will your prowess be to my purpose?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores ethical accountability: mere survival or martial strength is meaningless if it cannot protect the vulnerable and preserve the rightful lineage. Valor is measured by its service to dharma—here, safeguarding the future through the child of a fallen hero.
In the post-war context, the speaker stresses the urgency of saving Abhimanyu’s child. Addressing a powerful warrior as “durdharṣa,” he argues that if the child is not restored to life, the warrior’s continued life and prowess are of no practical or moral use.