Shloka 17
इन्द्र-प्रायश्चित्तं, कृष्णाभिषेकः, गोविन्द-नामप्राप्तिः
ममांशः पुरुषव्याघ्र पृथायां पृथिवीतले अवतीर्णो ऽर्जुनो नाम स रक्ष्यो भवता सदा
mamāṃśaḥ puruṣavyāghra pṛthāyāṃ pṛthivītale avatīrṇo 'rjuno nāma sa rakṣyo bhavatā sadā
हे पुरुषव्याघ्र, पृथ्वीवर पृथा (कुंती) मध्ये माझाच एक अंश अर्जुन नावाने अवतरला आहे; म्हणून त्याचे रक्षण तू सदैव करावे।
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; the verse itself voices a divine injunction within the narrative)
FAQs
This verse presents Arjuna as an aṃśa (divine portion) of Vishnu, framing his role in history as dharma-protecting and divinely purposed rather than merely heroic.
Through genealogical narration, Parāśara shows that Vishnu’s sovereignty extends into royal lineages by the descent of His portions, ensuring the maintenance of order and righteous rule.
Vishnu is depicted as the Supreme guiding power who manifests (as aṃśa) within the world and directs protection of His instruments for sustaining dharma within the historical order.