Shloka 17
Vyāsa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira: Pratismṛti-vidyā, Arjuna’s Aśtra-Quest, and the Move to Kāmyaka
दीक्षितं विधिनानेन धृतवाक्कायमानसम् | अनुजज्ञे तदा वीरं भ्राता भ्रातरमग्रज:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! ऐसा कहकर शक्तिशाली धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने मन, वाणी और शरीरको संयममें रखकर दीक्षा ग्रहण करनेवाले अर्जुनको विधिपूर्वक पूर्वोक्त प्रतिस्मृति-विद्याका उपदेश किया। तदनन्तर बड़े भाई युधिष्ठिरने अपने वीर भाई अर्जुनको वहाँसे प्रस्थान करनेकी आज्ञा दी
dīkṣitaṁ vidhinānena dhṛtavāk-kāya-mānasam | anujajñe tadā vīraṁ bhrātā bhrātaram agrajaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Tras instruirlo conforme al rito debido, el hermano mayor concedió licencia al héroe—Arjuna—que había asumido la disciplina consagratoria, refrenando palabra, cuerpo y mente. Así, Yudhiṣṭhira, con decoro y deber fraternal, autorizó a Arjuna a partir hacia la empresa que se proponía.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds disciplined restraint—control of speech, body, and mind—as the ethical foundation for undertaking a serious mission. It also highlights dharma expressed through proper procedure (vidhi) and responsible authorization by an elder, showing that right action is strengthened by self-mastery and lawful conduct.
After Arjuna has accepted an initiation-like discipline and is prepared for his undertaking, Yudhiṣṭhira completes the formal instruction/ritual propriety and then grants Arjuna permission to depart. Vaiśampāyana narrates this to King Janamejaya.