Shloka 17
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
यष्टिं च वैणवीं तस्मै ददौ वृत्रनिषूदन: । इष्टप्रदानमुद्दिश्य शिष्टानां प्रतिपालिनीम्
yaṣṭiṁ ca vaiṇavīṁ tasmai dadau vṛtranisūdanaḥ | iṣṭapradānam uddiśya śiṣṭānāṁ pratipālinīm ||
এ কথা বলে বৃত্রনিষূদন ইন্দ্র রাজাকে স্নেহ-উপহারস্বরূপ বাঁশের একটি দণ্ড দিলেন—ইষ্টপ্রদানার্থে, শিষ্ট ও সৎজনদের রক্ষাকারী সেই দণ্ড।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority is portrayed as protective rather than merely coercive: the staff symbolizes governance that safeguards śiṣṭas (the righteous and disciplined) and supports dharma through measured power and benevolent intent.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Indra (famed for killing Vṛtra) presents a bamboo staff to the recipient as an affectionate gift/boon, described as an instrument or emblem meant for the protection of virtuous people.