Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तः स्थापयामास तस्योरसि मर्णिं तदा । पार्थस्यामिततेजा: स पितु: स्नेहादपापकृत्‌,उलूपीके ऐसा कहनेपर निष्पाप कर्म करनेवाले अमित तेजस्वी बभ्रुवाहनने अपने पिता पार्थकी छातीपर स्नेहपूर्वक वह मणि रख दी

Transliteration

iti uktaḥ sthāpayāmāsa tasyorasi maṇiṁ tadā | pārthasyāmitatejāḥ sa pituḥ snehād apāpakṛt ||

Translation

అని చెప్పబడగానే, పాపరహితకర్ముడూ అపారతేజస్సుగల బభ్రువాహనుడు తండ్రి పార్థునిపై స్నేహంతో ఆ మణిని ఆయన వక్షస్థలంపై ఉంచెను.

Word by Word

इतिthus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

स्थापयामासplaced / set

तस्यof him

उरसिon the chest

मणिम्the jewel

तदाthen

पार्थस्यof Partha (Arjuna)

अमिततेजाःof immeasurable splendor

सःhe

पितुःof (his) father

स्नेहात्out of affection

अपापकृत्doer of no sin / sinless in deed

Speaker

वैशमग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Babhruvāhana

Pārtha (Arjuna)

maṇi (jewel)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Affection guided by dharma expresses itself through timely, compassionate action: the son’s reverent care for his father becomes the means of restoration, emphasizing blameless intent and duty-bound love.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being instructed, Babhruvāhana places a powerful jewel upon Arjuna’s chest, an act performed lovingly and without wrongdoing, marking a decisive step toward Arjuna’s recovery in the episode.