Āraṇyaka-parva Adhyāya 44 — Arjuna’s Entry into Nandana and Audience with Indra
वादित्रं देवविहितं नूलोके यन्न विद्यते । तदर्जयस्व कौन्तेय श्रेयो वै ते भविष्यति,'कुन्तीनन्दन! मनुष्यलोकमें जो अबतक प्रचलित नहीं है, देवताओंकी उस वाद्यकलाका ज्ञान प्राप्त कर लो। इससे तुम्हारा भला होगा'
vaiśampāyana uvāca | vāditraṃ devavihitaṃ nṛloke yan na vidyate | tad arjayāsva kaunteya śreyo vai te bhaviṣyati |
“ಓ ಕುಂತೀಪುತ್ರಾ! ದೇವರುಗಳು ವಿಧಿಸಿದ, ಮಾನವಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಇನ್ನೂ ತಿಳಿಯದ ಆ ದಿವ್ಯ ವಾದ್ಯಕಲೆಯನ್ನು ಸಂಪಾದಿಸು; ಅದರಿಂದ ನಿನಗೆ ಶ್ರೇಯಸ್ಸು ಉಂಟಾಗುವುದು.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse commends disciplined learning of a higher, divinely sanctioned skill not for vanity but for śreyas—true welfare. It frames knowledge (even artistic knowledge) as ethically meaningful when pursued for upliftment and long-term good.
Vaiśampāyana reports an instruction addressed to Kaunteya (Arjuna): he is urged to obtain a divine form of instrumental art unknown in the human realm, with the assurance that such attainment will bring him benefit and auspicious outcomes.