Shloka 11
Kuntī’s Prayers and the Neutralization of the Brahmāstra
Uttarā Protected; Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief Begins
सूत उवाच उपधार्य वचस्तस्या भगवान् भक्तवत्सल: । अपाण्डवमिदं कर्तुं द्रौणेरस्त्रमबुध्यत ॥ ११ ॥
sūta uvāca upadhārya vacas tasyā bhagavān bhakta-vatsalaḥ apāṇḍavam idaṁ kartuṁ drauṇer astram abudhyata
สูตะกล่าวว่า ครั้นทรงสดับถ้อยคำของนางด้วยความอดกลั้น พระภควานศรีกฤษณะผู้ทรงรักภักดีต่อภักตะ ก็ทรงทราบทันทีว่า อัศวัตถามา บุตรแห่งโทรณะ ได้ปล่อยพรหมาศตราเพื่อทำลายเชื้อสายสุดท้ายแห่งวงศ์ปาณฑพะ
The Lord is impartial in every respect, but still He is inclined towards His devotees because there is a great necessity of this for everyone’s well-being. The Pāṇḍava family was a family of devotees, and therefore the Lord wanted them to rule the world. That was the reason He vanquished the rule of the company of Duryodhana and established the rule of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. Therefore, He also wanted to protect Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who was lying in embryo. He did not like the idea that the world should be without the Pāṇḍavas, the ideal family of devotees.
FAQs
This verse highlights that the Lord, moved by Kuntī’s words, immediately understood the danger and acted as the devoted protector—showing His special care for His devotees.
The Lord recognized the intent behind the brahmāstra: not merely to harm, but to make the Pāṇḍavas’ dynasty extinct, which would include the unborn heir.
The shloka teaches that sincere prayer and devotion invite divine guidance—helping one perceive threats clearly and respond with faith rather than panic.