Shloka 40
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
इत्येवमुक्त्वा नूपते धनंजयसुतो नृपः । उपस्पृश्याभवत् तूष्णीं प्रायोपेतो महामति:,नरेश्वरर ऐसा कहकर धनंजयकुमार परम बुद्धिमान् राजा बभ्रुवाहन पुन: आचमन करके आमरण उपवासका व्रत लेकर चुपचाप बैठ गया
ity evam uktvā nūpate dhanañjayasuto nṛpaḥ | upaspṛśyābhavat tūṣṇīṃ prāyopeto mahāmatiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having spoken thus, the king—Babhruvāhana, the son of Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)—performed ācamana (ritual sipping of water) and then fell silent, adopting the resolve of prāyopaveśa, a fast unto death. The scene underscores a royal conscience turning inward: when a ruler judges himself to have gravely erred, he seeks expiation not through power but through self-restraint and acceptance of consequence.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights expiation through self-restraint: when one believes a grave wrong has been committed, dharma may demand humility, purification, silence, and willingness to bear the result—rather than asserting power or offering excuses.
After making a decisive statement, King Babhruvāhana (Arjuna’s son) performs a purificatory sipping of water and then sits in silence, undertaking prāyopaveśa—an austere vow to fast until death.