Shloka 18
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
इत्युक्त्वा पन्नगसुतां सपत्नी चैत्रवाहनी । ततः प्रायमुपासीना तूष्णीमासीज्जनाधिप,नरेश्वर! नागकन्यासे ऐसा कहकर उसकी सौत चित्रवाहनकुमारी चित्रांगा आमरण उपवासका संकल्प लेकर चुपचाप बैठ गयी
ity uktvā pannagasutāṃ sapatnī caitravāhanī | tataḥ prāyam upāsīnā tūṣṇīm āsīj janādhipa naraśvara ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Having spoken thus to the serpent-maiden, her co-wife—the princess of Citravāhana—then undertook the vow of prāya (fasting unto death). Sitting in solemn silence, she remained steadfast, O king, O lord of men. The episode underscores the grave ethical weight of marital rivalry and honor, where a woman chooses self-denial as a final protest and expiation rather than open conflict.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical seriousness of speech and honor within family life: instead of escalating rivalry, the co-wife adopts an extreme vow (prāya) and silence, presenting self-denial as a final moral stance and a form of expiation or protest.
After addressing the Nāga-maiden, the princess described as the co-wife (Caitravāhanī) sits down and undertakes prāya—fasting unto death—remaining silent, while the narrator (Vaiśaṃpāyana) reports this to the king.