Shloka 3
शान्तिकं पौष्टिक॑ रक्षा शत्रुघ्न भयनाशनम् | जप्यं यद् ब्रह्म॒समितं तद् भवान् वक्तुमहति
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | śāntikaṁ pauṣṭikaṁ rakṣā śatrughnaṁ bhayanāśanam | japyaṁ yad brahmasammitaṁ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ||
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Bitte verkünde mir jenes Mantra, das würdig ist, als Japa wiederholt zu werden, das Frieden und Gedeihen bringt, Schutz gewährt, Feinde vernichtet und Furcht vertreibt — ein Mantra, das in Ehrfurcht gehalten wird wie dem Veda gleich. Sei so gütig, es zu offenbaren.“
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames mantra-recitation (japa) as a dharmic means to cultivate peace, welfare, protection, and fearlessness, and it emphasizes that such a practice should be grounded in Vedic authority (brahmasammita), not merely personal preference.
Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions an elder/teacher, requesting instruction about a revered, Veda-sanctioned mantra whose recitation is said to confer peace, prosperity, protection, victory over enemies, and the removal of fear.