14.068
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus, after lamenting piteously like one mad, the ascetic woman Uttara, grieving deeply for her son, collapsed wretchedly onto the ground. (14-68-1)
But when she saw her fallen, whose kin and attendants were slain, Kunti cried out in grief, and so did all the women of the Bharata lineage. (14-68-2)
O king, that abode of the Pāṇḍavas, in a moment, became unfit to be seen and was filled with cries of distress. (14-68-3)
O king, the princess of Virāṭa, afflicted with grief for her son and overcome by faintness, became thus for a moment at that time. (14-68-4)
But having regained consciousness, Uttarā, O bull among the Bharatas, placed her son on her lap and spoke these words. (14-68-5)
You are the son of the knower of dharma, yet you recognize unrighteousness. You, who do not offer greeting to the chief hero of the Vṛṣṇis. (14-68-6)
Son, go and tell my message to your father, O hero: for living beings, when the destined time arrives, it is hard to endure, in whatever way. (14-68-7)
I, who today am deprived by you of both husband and son, though destined to die, continue to live, my fortune destroyed, possessing nothing. (14-68-8)
Or, if permitted by Dharmaraja, O mighty-armed one, I shall either consume deadly poison or enter the fire. (14-68-9)
Or else, O dear one, it is hard to bear that my heart, bereft of husband and son, is not split into a thousand pieces. (14-68-10)
Arise, my son, behold this great-grandmother, afflicted with sorrow, distressed, overwhelmed, helpless, and sunk in the ocean of grief. (14-68-11)
Look upon the noble lady, Panchali, and Satyavati, the ascetic woman; and look upon me, greatly anguished and struck down like a doe wounded by a hunter. (14-68-12)
Arise, see the face of the wise lord of the people, whose eyes are like lotus petals, with a restless glance as before. (14-68-13)
But thus, seeing Uttarā who had fallen down while speaking deliriously, all those women again raised her up. (14-68-14)
But then, having again gained courage, the daughter of the king of the Matsyas, with folded hands, saluted the lotus-eyed one by bowing to the ground. (14-68-15)
Having heard her great lamentation, he, the best among men, then purified himself, and Kṛṣṇa withdrew that Brahmāstra weapon. (14-68-16)
Kṛṣṇa (the Daśāraha, Acyuta) promised his own life, and the pure-souled one declared everything openly to the world. (14-68-17)
I do not speak falsely in reply; this is true—it shall happen. I will restore him to life before the eyes of all embodied beings. (14-68-18)
I have never before spoken falsehood, not even in pleasures at any time; nor has this one ever turned back in battle thus among the living. (14-68-19)
Just as dharma and especially the brāhmaṇas are dear to me, so too may this son of Abhimanyu, though dead, be born alive (14-68-20).
As I have never known enmity through victory, by that truth, may this child who is dead live. (14-68-21)
Just as truth and dharma are always established in me, so too is this dead child, the son of Abhimanyu, among the living. (14-68-22)
Just as Kaṁsa and Keśī were slain by me through righteousness, by that same truth may this boy live again here. (14-68-23)
O best of the Bharatas, O great king, the boy, having thus been addressed by Vāsudeva, slowly regained consciousness and began to move. (14-68-24)
