Shloka 17
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
यष्टिं च वैणवीं तस्मै ददौ वृत्रनिषूदन: । इष्टप्रदानमुद्दिश्य शिष्टानां प्रतिपालिनीम्,ऐसा कहकर वृत्रासुरका नाश करनेवाले इन्द्रने राजाको प्रेमोपहारस्वरूप बाँसकी एक छड़ी दी, जो शिष्ट पुरुषोंकी रक्षा करनेवाली थी
yaṣṭiṁ ca vaiṇavīṁ tasmai dadau vṛtranisūdanaḥ | iṣṭapradānam uddiśya śiṣṭānāṁ pratipālinīm ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Indra, der Bezwinger Vṛtras, gab ihm als Zeichen liebevoller Gunst einen Bambusstab, als Gabe und Segen gedacht—ein Sinnbild, das die Rechtschaffenen und Zuchtvollen stützen und schützen sollte.
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.