Shloka 17
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
ब्राह्मणानां मतिर्वाक्यं कर्म श्रद्धां तपांसि च | धारयन्ति महीं द्यां च शैक्यो वागमृतं तथा
brāhmaṇānāṁ matir vākyaṁ karma śraddhāṁ tapāṁsi ca | dhārayanti mahīṁ dyāṁ ca śaikyo vāg-amṛtaṁ tathā ||
ब्राह्मणांची बुद्धी, सत्यवाणी, धर्मकर्म, श्रद्धा आणि तप—हे पृथ्वी व स्वर्गालाही धारण करतात. त्याचप्रमाणे शाक्य (बुद्ध) अमृतासारख्या वाणीने जग धारण करतो.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that society and cosmic order are sustained by inner and outer virtues—clear understanding (mati), truthful and beneficial speech (vākya), righteous conduct (karma), faith (śraddhā), and disciplined austerity (tapas). It also highlights the ethical power of ‘nectar-like’ speech to uphold and guide the world.
In the Shanti Parva’s reflective discourse on dharma and right living, Arjuna speaks in praise of the sustaining role of Brahminical virtues and, by comparison, credits the Śaikya with supporting the world through elevating, life-giving speech.