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 ||
ਇਉਂ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਧਨੰਜਯ ਦੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਪਰਮ ਬੁੱਧੀਮਾਨ ਰਾਜਾ ਬਭ੍ਰੁਵਾਹਨ ਨੇ ਆਚਮਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਚੁੱਪ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਯੋਪਵੇਸ਼—ਆਮਰਨ ਉਪਵਾਸ—ਦਾ ਸੰਕਲਪ ਧਾਰ ਕੇ ਬੈਠ ਗਿਆ।
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.