Shloka 19
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 ||
「おお、偉大なる腕をもつ者よ。彼女を我が妹と思おうと、子を殺された女と思おうと、あるいは我がもとへ庇護を求めて来た者と思おうと—そのように彼女を見るなら、ここで憐れみを示すべきである。」
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.