Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

अफ--णकात अशीतितमो<्ध्याय: चित्रांगदाका विलाप

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | tato bahutaraṃ bhīrur vilapya kamalekṣaṇā | mumoh duḥkha-santaptā papāta ca mahītale ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Bấy giờ Citrāṅgadā, người có đôi mắt như hoa sen, vốn tính nhút nhát, than khóc rất lâu. Bị thiêu đốt bởi nỗi đau ly biệt chồng, nàng ngất lịm và ngã xuống mặt đất.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaishampayana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular

• ततः: then/thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• बहुतरम्: more/excessively (as an adverbial accusative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुतर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भीरुः: timid (woman)
• भीरुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीरु
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विलप्य: having lamented
• Type: Verb
• Root: विलप्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• कमल-ईक्षणा: lotus-eyed (woman)
• कमल-ईक्षणा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमल-ईक्षणा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• मुमोह: fainted/became unconscious
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular

• दुःख-संतप्ता: tormented by sorrow
• दुःख-संतप्ता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख-संतप्त
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पपात: fell
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मही-तले: on the ground/on the earth's surface
• मही-तले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही-तल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Citrāṅgadā
• Janamejaya
• earth/ground (mahītala)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the human cost of conflict: sorrow and collapse follow separation and loss. Ethically, it invites compassion and responsible action from those who can heal or restore, rather than indifference to suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the crisis involving Arjuna (in the surrounding episode), Citrāṅgadā is overwhelmed by grief at her husband’s separation and fate; she laments intensely, faints, and falls to the ground as Vaiśampāyana narrates to King Janamejaya.