Shloka 13

Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)

Devanagari script

काम॑ स्वपितु बालो<यं भूमौ मृत्युवशं गतः । लोहिताक्षो गुडाकेशो विजय: साधु जीवतु

Transliteration

kāmaṃ svapitu bālo 'yaṃ bhūmau mṛtyuvaśaṃ gataḥ | lohitākṣo guḍākeśo vijayaḥ sādhu jīvatu ||

Translation

ମୃତ୍ୟୁବଶରେ ପଡ଼ିଥିବା ଏହି ମୋ ବାଳକ ଭୂମିରେ ଯେତେଦିନ ଇଚ୍ଛା ସେତେଦିନ ଶୁଇ ରହୁ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଲୋହିତାକ୍ଷ, ଗୁଡାକେଶ, ବିଜୟୀ ଅର୍ଜୁନ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଜୀବିତ ରହୁନ୍ତୁ—ଏହି ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ।

Word by Word

• कामम्: even if; let it be
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामम्
• Form: avyaya (emphatic/permission: 'even if/let it be')

• स्वपितु: may (he) sleep
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्वप्
• Form: loṭ (imperative/benedictive sense), 3rd person singular, parasmaipada

• बालः: the child
• बालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि
• Form: feminine, locative, singular

• मृत्युवशम्: under the control of death
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु-वश
• Form: masculine/neuter (usage as accusative singular), accusative, singular

• गतः: gone; having fallen into
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: past passive participle, masculine, nominative, singular

• लोहिताक्षः: red-eyed (one)
• लोहिताक्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोहित-अक्ष
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• गुडाकेशः: Gudakesha (Arjuna)
• गुडाकेशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुडाकेश
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular (proper epithet of Arjuna)

• विजयः: Vijaya (the victorious one)
• विजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular (as epithet/name)

• साधु: indeed; rightly; it is good
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु
• Form: avyaya (approving particle/adverb)

• जीवतु: may (he) live
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव्
• Form: loṭ (imperative/benedictive), 3rd person singular, parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Mṛtyu (Death)
• Arjuna (Guḍākeśa, Lohitākṣa, Vijaya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts private grief with public duty: even if a personal loss must be endured, the preservation of a righteous protector (Arjuna) is presented as the greater good, reflecting an ethic of prioritizing dharma and collective welfare over individual attachment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a moment of intense lament and valuation: a child is described as lying on the ground under Death’s power, while a fervent wish is voiced that Arjuna—identified by multiple epithets—should live, implying that his survival is crucial for the unfolding restoration and protection after the war.