निशीथे सूतपुत्रेण शरवर्षेण पीडिताः ॥
एते द्रवन्ति पाञ्चालाः सिंहस्येव भयान् मृगाः ॥
एतस्यैवं प्रवृद्धस्य सूतपुत्रस्य संयुगे ॥
निषेद्धा विद्यते नान्यस् त्वद् ऋते भीमविक्रम ॥
स त्वं कुरु महाबाहो कर्म युक्तम् इहात्मनः ॥
मातुलानां पितॄणां च तेजसो ऽस्त्रबलस्य च ॥
एतदर्थं हि हैडिम्ब पुत्रान् इच्छन्ति मानवाः ॥
कथं नस् तारयेद् दुःखात् स त्वं तारय बान्धवान् ॥
niśīthe sūtaputreṇa śaravarṣeṇa pīḍitāḥ ||
ete dravanti pāñcālāḥ siṃhasyeva bhayān mṛgāḥ ||
etasyaivaṃ pravṛddhasya sūtaputrasya saṃyuge ||
niṣeddhā vidyate nānyas tvad ṛte bhīmavikrama ||
sa tvaṃ kuru mahābāho karma yuktam ihātmanaḥ ||
mātulānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca tejaso 'strabalasya ca ||
etadarthaṃ hi haiḍimba putrān icchanti mānavāḥ ||
kathaṃ nas tārayed duḥkhāt sa tvaṃ tāraya bāndhavān ||
"...cannot withstand, oppressed by the flame of arrows. At midnight, oppressed by the son of a suta's shower of arrows, here flee the Panchalas, like deer in fear before a lion. Of this son of a suta, so grown in strength, in combat there is no other who could restrain him except you, o terrible in valor. So accomplish then, o mighty-armed one, a deed worthy of yourself, worthy of your uncles and fathers, of your fiery power and the strength of your weapons. For it is for this, o son of Hidimba, that people desire sons."
5d73ae1e5c58 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:49:34 PM UTC
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"It is for this that people desire sons" — so that there will be one to save the family in its hour of trouble. It is telling that Krishna reminds Ghatotkacha of the meaning of sonship: a son is the family's support in time of need. The verse teaches that a child is born not for the glory of its parents but to prolong and defend their work; and the highest duty of a son is to become the salvation of his own when they are drowning. In this appeal lies the ancient understanding of family as the mutual bond of generations.