Shloka 19
Janmaveśma-praveśa and Uttarā’s Śaraṇāgati
Entry into the Birth-Chamber and Uttarā’s Appeal
स्वसेति वा महाबाहो हतपुत्रेति वा पुन: । प्रपन्ना मामियं चेति दयां कर्तुमिहाहसि,“महाबाहो! तुम यह समझकर कि यह मेरी बहिन है अथवा जिसका बेटा मारा गया है, वह दुखिया है अथवा शरणमें आयी हुई एक दयनीय अबला है, मुझपर दया करने योग्य हो”
svāseti vā mahābāho hataputreti vā punaḥ | prapannā mām iyaṃ ceti dayāṃ kartum ihārhasi ||
“O mighty-armed one, whether you regard her as my sister, or again as a woman whose son has been slain, or as one who has come to me for refuge—seeing her thus, you ought to show compassion here.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse urges dharmic compassion: a powerful person should protect and show mercy to one who is vulnerable—especially a bereaved mother or anyone who has sought refuge—regardless of other considerations.
Vaiśampāyana reports an appeal addressed to a warrior (“mighty-armed one”), asking him to treat a woman with kindness by viewing her as a sister, as a mother grieving a slain son, or as a supplicant who has come for protection.