Shloka 19
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो विलप्य विरता भर्तु: पादौ प्रगृह् सा । उपविष्टा भवद् दीना सोच्छवासं पुत्रमीक्षती
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato vilapya viratā bhartuḥ pādau pragṛhya sā | upaviṣṭā bhavad dīnā socchvāsaṃ putram īkṣatī ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Setelah meratap lalu terdiam, ia memeluk kedua kaki suaminya. Tenggelam dalam duka tak berdaya, ia duduk di sana, menghela napas panjang yang terputus-putus, sementara pandangannya berulang kali tertuju kepada putranya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intense sorrow is expressed within social-ethical forms: clasping the husband’s feet signifies humility and appeal, while the repeated sighing and looking toward the son foreground the competing pulls of spousal devotion and maternal concern—both recognized duties within dharma.
After lamenting, Citrāṅgadā stops wailing, grasps her husband’s feet, and sits down in a dejected state, breathing heavily and repeatedly glancing at her son, indicating fear and concern for the child amid the unfolding events.