Shloka 2
उवाच च महेष्वासो गन्धर्व कुरुसत्तम: । जातकौतूहलो$तीव वसिष्ठस्य तपोबलात्,फिर महाधनुर्धर कुरुश्रेष्ठ अर्जुनने गन्धर्वसे कहा--'सखे! वसिष्ठके तपोबलकी बात सुनकर मेरे हृदयमें बड़ी उत्कण्ठा पैदा हो गयी है
uvāca ca maheṣvāso gandharva kurusattamaḥ | jātakautūhalo 'tīva vasiṣṭhasya tapobalāt |
Vaiśampāyana said: Then the great archer, the foremost of the Kurus, addressed the Gandharva: “Hearing of Vasiṣṭha’s ascetic power, an intense curiosity has arisen in me.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the acknowledged moral-spiritual authority of tapas (ascetic discipline): the mere report of a sage’s austerity-power (Vasiṣṭha) can move a warrior to reverent inquiry, implying that inner discipline and dharmic merit command respect beyond martial strength.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a renowned Kuru archer speaks to a Gandharva, stating that he has become intensely curious after hearing about Vasiṣṭha’s ascetic power, setting up further questioning or explanation about the sage’s extraordinary potency.