Shloka 17
Subhadrā’s Petition to Kṛṣṇa for the Revival of Parīkṣit (अभिमन्युज-प्राणरक्षा-प्रार्थना)
त्वया होतत् प्रतिज्ञातमैषीके यदुनन्दन । अहं संजीवयिष्यामि मृतं जातमिति प्रभो
tvayā hotat pratijñātam aiṣīke yadunandana | ahaṁ saṁjīvayiṣyāmi mṛtaṁ jātam iti prabho ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O Yadunandana, O Panginoon—nang pakawalan ni Aśvatthāman ang sandata ng aśvattha (brahmāstra), noon mo ginawa ang taimtim na pangako: ‘Ibabalik ko sa buhay ang batang isinilang na patay.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of a vow (pratijñā) and the dharmic duty to protect the innocent even after war’s devastation; Kṛṣṇa’s promise embodies steadfast truthfulness and compassionate guardianship.
Vaiśampāyana recalls that when Aśvatthāman unleashed the brahmāstra-like weapon that threatened the unborn heir in Uttarā’s womb, Kṛṣṇa had pledged to revive the child even if born dead—setting up the fulfillment of that promise.