Verse Text
trāsena, yathā prathame –
abhidravati mām īśa śaras taptāyaso vibho |
kāmaṁ dahatu māṁ nātha mā me garbho nipātyatām ||23||
Translation
Lowness arising from fear, from the First Canto: O my Lord, You are all-powerful. A fiery iron arrow is coming towards me fast. My Lord, let it burn me personally, if You so desire, but please do not let it burn and abort my embryo. Please do me this favor, my Lord. SB 1.8.10
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The mother of Parikṣit speaks, thinking that her son, still in the womb, would be worthy of serving the Lord, and thinking of herself as incapable of doing anything, prays to Kṛṣṇa. Taptāyaso śaras means “an arrow of iron emitting fire.”
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
When Uttarā was attacked by the brahmāstra of Aśvatthāmā, she became afraid of losing her child, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who was still within the womb. She immediately surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and said, “My dear Lord, kindly save my child! I do not mind if I myself must be killed by the brahmāstra of Aśvatthāmā.” This is an instance of humility caused by fear.