Shloka 37
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
Devanagari script
न हि मे पितरं हत्वा निष्कृतिर्विद्यते क्वचित् | नरकं प्रतिपत्स्यामि ध्रुवं गुरुवधार्दित:
Transliteration
na hi me pitaraṃ hatvā niṣkṛtir vidyate kvacit | narakaṃ pratipatsyāmi dhruvaṃ guruvadhārditaḥ ||
Translation
“我既弑父，便再无任何赎罪之道可寻。为弑师之罪——弑己父之罪——所压迫，我必定堕入地狱。”
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
मेof me/my
मे:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
FormGenitive, Singular
पितरम्father
पितरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
हत्वाhaving killed
हत्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
निष्कृतिःexpiation/redemption
निष्कृतिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootनिष्कृति
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
विद्यतेexists/is found
विद्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootविद्
FormLat (Present), Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Active (middle form)
क्वचित्anywhere/ever
क्वचित्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्वचित्
नरकम्hell
नरकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनरक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
प्रतिपत्स्यामिI shall go/attain
प्रतिपत्स्यामि:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-√पद्
FormLrt (Simple future), Parasmaipada, First, Singular, Active
ध्रुवम्certainly
ध्रुवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootध्रुव
गुरु-वध-अर्दितःafflicted by the sin of killing a guru/elder (father)
गुरु-वध-अर्दितः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअर्दित (from √अर्द्) / गुरु-वध (compound)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
V
VaishampayanaF
father (pitar)G
guru (as father/elder authority)N
naraka (hell)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grave ethical weight of killing one’s father—treated as guru-vadha—and the fear that such an act may be beyond ordinary expiation, leading to inevitable karmic downfall (naraka).
Vaishampayana reports a speaker’s anguished confession: having killed his father, he sees no available atonement and anticipates certain descent into hell due to the sin of slaying a revered elder (guru).