Shloka 7
अश्वत्थाम-शापः, परिक्षिद्भविष्यत्, मणि-न्यासः
Aśvatthāman’s Curse, Parikṣit’s Future, and the Mani’s Restitution
पतिष्यति तदस्त्रं हि गर्भे तस्या मयोद्यतम् । विराटदुहितु: कृष्ण यं त्वं रक्षितुमिच्छसि
patiṣyati tad astraṃ hi garbhe tasyā mayodyatam | virāṭa-duhituḥ kṛṣṇa yaṃ tvaṃ rakṣitum icchasi ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「我が放ったその武器は、必ずや彼女の胎を撃つであろう――おおクリシュナよ――ヴィラाटの娘、そなたが守ろうとする者の胎を。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grave ethical breach involved in directing a weapon toward an unborn child and the dharmic imperative to protect the innocent and preserve rightful lineage; it sets the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s protective intervention against misuse of martial power.
A deadly astra that has been launched is said to be heading toward the womb of Virāṭa’s daughter (Uttarā). Kṛṣṇa is addressed because he intends to protect her and the unborn heir, making this a crisis point where divine protection confronts the catastrophic aftermath of war.