Shloka 12
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
उलूपि साधु पश्येमं पतिं निपतितं भुवि | पुत्रं चेमं समुत्साद्य घातयित्वा न शोचसि
ulūpi sādhu paśyemaṁ patiṁ nipatitaṁ bhuvi | putraṁ cemaṁ samutsādya ghātayitvā na śocasi ||
Ulūpī, pandanglah baik-baik: suamimu tergeletak jatuh di tanah. Engkau menghasut putra ini hingga ia membunuh tuannya; tidakkah engkau berduka atas perbuatanmu?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral accountability: provoking another into violence does not remove one’s responsibility for the outcome. It also frames grief as an ethical response—lack of remorse after causing harm is presented as blameworthy.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Ulūpī is confronted with the sight of her husband lying fallen. The speaker accuses her of having incited her son to bring about the husband’s slaying and challenges her apparent absence of sorrow.