Shloka 51
Vyāsa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira: Pratismṛti-vidyā, Arjuna’s Aśtra-Quest, and the Move to Kāmyaka
ईप्सितो होष वै कामो वरं चैनं॑ प्रयच्छ मे । त्वत्तोड्द्य भगवन्तस्त्रं कृत्स्नमिच्छामि वेदितुम्,“'भगवन्! मैं आपसे सम्पूर्ण अस्त्रोंका ज्ञान प्राप्त करना चाहता हूँ, यही मेरा अभीष्ट मनोरथ है; अतः मुझे यही वर दीजिये”
īpsito hoṣa vai kāmo varaṃ cainaṃ prayaccha me | tvatto ’dya bhagavan astraṃ kṛtsnam icchāmi veditum ||
“ಭಗವನ್! ಇದೇ ನನ್ನ ಇಷ್ಟವಾದ ವರ—ಇದನ್ನೇ ನನಗೆ ದಯಪಾಲಿಸಿ. ಇಂದು ನಿಮ್ಮಿಂದ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಅಸ್ತ್ರವಿದ್ಯೆಯನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights purposeful seeking of knowledge under a qualified authority: power (astra-vidyā) is approached as a disciplined, formally granted learning, implying responsibility and ethical restraint in acquiring martial capability.
A speaker (reported by Vaiśampāyana) states that the desired boon is the complete instruction in weapons, requesting the revered teacher to grant that knowledge immediately.