Shloka 57
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
ददर्श चापि दूरेडस्य मातरं शोककर्शिताम् । उलूप्या सह तिष्ठन्तीं ततो5पृच्छद् धनंजय:
dadārśa cāpi dūre tasya mātaraṃ śokakarśitām | ulūpyā saha tiṣṭhantīṃ tato 'pṛcchad dhanaṃjayaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : Arjuna aperçut aussi, à quelque distance, sa mère — accablée par le chagrin — debout auprès d’Ulūpī. En la voyant là, Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna) interrogea alors Babhrūvāhana, cherchant à comprendre la cause et le sens de la tristesse qui s’était abattue sur les siens.
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic response to suffering: when confronted with visible grief in one’s family, one should not ignore it but inquire responsibly and seek understanding, so that right action and reconciliation can follow.
Arjuna notices Citrāṅgadā, Babhruvāhana’s mother, standing nearby with Ulūpī, visibly distressed by sorrow. Seeing this, Arjuna turns to Babhruvāhana and questions him about the situation.