Shloka 17
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
वैशम्पायन उवाच अहो गूढतम: प्रश्नस्त्वया पृष्टो जनेश्वर । नातप्ततपसा होष नावेदविदुषा तथा
vaiśampāyana uvāca: aho gūḍhatamaḥ praśnas tvayā pṛṣṭo janeśvara | nātaptatapasā hoṣa nāvedaviduṣā tathā ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : « Ah ! Seigneur des hommes, tu as posé une question des plus secrètes. Une telle matière n’est pas saisie par celui qui n’a pas pratiqué l’austérité, ni de la même manière par celui qui n’est pas véritablement savant dans les Veda. »
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses that the deepest ethical and spiritual questions (gūḍhatama praśna) require inner discipline (tapas) and authoritative understanding (Vedic learning). Profound dharma is not merely intellectual; it is realized through purification, practice, and right instruction.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Vaiśampāyana responds to a ruler’s inquiry by acknowledging its exceptional depth and indicating that such knowledge is accessible only to those prepared by austerity and true learning—signaling that an elevated teaching is about to follow.