Shloka 5

Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)

Devanagari script

किंतु सर्वापराधो<5यं यदि तेड्द्य धनंजय: । क्षमस्व याच्यमाना वै जीवयस्व धनंजयम्‌

Transliteration

kintu sarvāparādho 'yaṁ yadi te 'dya dhanañjayaḥ | kṣamasva yācyamānā vai jīvayasva dhanañjayam ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Even if this Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) has committed every offense against you, forgive him today. I beg you for his very life—let Dhanañjaya live.”

Word by Word

• किंतु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंतु

• सर्व-अपराधः: the whole offence / complete fault
• सर्व-अपराधः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• ते: of you / your
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• अद्य: today, now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• धनंजयः: Dhananjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षमस्व: forgive (you should forgive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Atmanepada

• याच्यमाना: being entreated / begging
• याच्यमाना: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याच्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, शानच् (present passive participle)

• वै: indeed, surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• जीवयस्व: let live / keep alive
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada, Causative (णिच्)

• धनंजयम्: Dhananjaya (Arjuna) (as object)
• धनंजयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates kṣamā (forgiveness) as a dharmic response even when the other party seems wholly at fault, emphasizing mercy and the preservation of life over anger and punishment.

What is happening in the narrative?

A speaker (reported by Vaiśaṃpāyana) conveys an urgent supplication to forgive Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) and to spare his life, framing the moment as a decisive ethical choice between vengeance and compassion.