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 ||
Setelah berkata demikian, Indra, pembunuh Vṛtra, menganugerahkan kepadanya sebuah tongkat bambu sebagai hadiah kasih—dengan maksud menjadi sarana pemberi anugerah yang diinginkan, serta lambang yang menjaga kaum saleh dan beradab.
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.