Shloka 18
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
इत्युक्त्वा पन्नगसुतां सपत्नी चैत्रवाहनी । ततः प्रायमुपासीना तूष्णीमासीज्जनाधिप,नरेश्वर! नागकन्यासे ऐसा कहकर उसकी सौत चित्रवाहनकुमारी चित्रांगा आमरण उपवासका संकल्प लेकर चुपचाप बैठ गयी
ity uktvā pannagasutāṃ sapatnī caitravāhanī | tataḥ prāyam upāsīnā tūṣṇīm āsīj janādhipa naraśvara ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Tras hablar así a la doncella serpiente, su coesposa—la princesa de Citravāhana, Citrāṅgā—tomó entonces el voto de prāya (ayuno hasta la muerte). Y, sentada en solemne silencio, permaneció firme, oh rey, señor de los hombres.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical seriousness of speech and honor within family life: instead of escalating rivalry, the co-wife adopts an extreme vow (prāya) and silence, presenting self-denial as a final moral stance and a form of expiation or protest.
After addressing the Nāga-maiden, the princess described as the co-wife (Caitravāhanī) sits down and undertakes prāya—fasting unto death—remaining silent, while the narrator (Vaiśaṃpāyana) reports this to the king.