Shloka 10
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
ननु त्वया नाम विभो धर्मराजस्य यज्ञिय: । अयमश्चो<्नुसर्तव्य: स शेषे कि महीतले,'प्रभो! तुम्हें तो महाराज युधिष्ठिरके यज्ञ-सम्बन्धी अश्वके पीछे-पीछे जाना है; फिर यहाँ पृथ्वीपर कैसे सो रहे हो?
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: nanu tvayā nāma vibho dharmarājasya yajñiyaḥ ayam aśvo 'nusartavyaḥ; sa śeṣe kiṃ mahītale?
Vaiśampāyana said: “Surely, O mighty one, you are meant to follow the sacrificial horse belonging to King Yudhiṣṭhira in his rite. Why then are you lying here upon the earth, remaining behind?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharma as obligation: when one has been assigned a sacred duty—here, following the Aśvamedha horse—neglect and inertia are ethically blameworthy. It highlights vigilance and responsibility in service of a righteous king and a consecrated rite.
The speaker (Vaiśampāyana) points out that the addressed person, who should be accompanying Yudhiṣṭhira’s sacrificial horse as part of the Aśvamedha proceedings, is instead found lying on the ground, and is questioned for remaining behind.