Mahabharata · 2.40.19–20
॥
Devanāgarī
त्वं ह्य् आर्तानां समाश्वासो भीतानाम् अभयंकरः ॥
पितृष्वसारं मा भैषीर् इत्य् उवाच जनार्दनः ॥
ददानि कं वरं किं वा करवाणि पितृष्वसः ॥
शक्यं वा यदि वाशक्यं करिष्यामि वचस् तव ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tvaṃ hy ārtānāṃ samāśvāso bhītānām abhayaṃkaraḥ ||
pitṛṣvasāraṃ mā bhaiṣīr ity uvāca janārdanaḥ ||
dadāni kaṃ varaṃ kiṃ vā karavāṇi pitṛṣvasaḥ ||
śakyaṃ vā yadi vāśakyaṃ kariṣyāmi vacas tava ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
त्वं ह्य् आर्तानां समाश्वासोtvaṃ hy ārtānāṃ samāśvāso"for you are the consolation of the afflicted,
भीतानाम् अभयंकरःbhītānām abhayaṃkaraḥthe giver of safety to the frightened";
पितृ-स्वसारं मा भैषीर्pitṛ-svasāraṃ mā bhaiṣīr"o aunt, do not fear" -- said
इत्य् उवाच जनार्दनःity uvāca janārdanaḥJanardana --
ददानि कं वरं किं वाdadāni kaṃ varaṃ kiṃ vā"what boon shall I grant? or what
करवाणि पितृ-स्वसःkaravāṇi pitṛ-svasaḥshall I do, o aunt?
शक्यं वा यदि वा अशक्यंśakyaṃ vā yadi vā aśakyaṃpossible or impossible --
करिष्यामि वचस् तवkariṣyāmi vacas tavaI will fulfill your word.""
पितृष्वसारंpitṛṣvasāraṃoriginal form "pitṛṣvasāraṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
पितृष्वसःpitṛṣvasaḥoriginal form "pitṛṣvasaḥ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
वाशक्यंvāśakyaṃoriginal form "vāśakyaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation
""For you are the consolation of the afflicted, the giver of safety to the frightened." "Do not fear, aunt," said Janardana, "what boon shall I give you? What shall I do, o aunt? Possible or impossible -- I will fulfill your word.""
Version
005bee7e9a32 · published Jul 16, 2026, 3:40:28 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The mother names Krishna for what He is: "the consolation of the afflicted, the giver of safety to the frightened." Tellingly, in the very moment of fear the truth about the Lord is confessed -- He is refuge in distress. And His answer is boundless: "possible or impossible -- I will fulfill it." The verse teaches how vast is the Supreme's mercy toward one who takes refuge in Him: He does not measure it out, does not bargain, but promises to fulfill even the unthinkable. To one who takes refuge in Him with faith the Lord answers not with a sparing measure but with the fullness of His giving; and there is no petition that a loving Lord leaves unanswered when it is raised from a heart that has believed in His protection.