Shloka 17
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
वैशम्पायन उवाच अहो गूढतम: प्रश्नस्त्वया पृष्टो जनेश्वर । नातप्ततपसा होष नावेदविदुषा तथा
vaiśampāyana uvāca: aho gūḍhatamaḥ praśnas tvayā pṛṣṭo janeśvara | nātaptatapasā hoṣa nāvedaviduṣā tathā ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Ah! Wahai tuan manusia, soalan yang engkau ajukan ini amatlah tersembunyi dan mendalam. Perkara demikian tidak dapat ditangkap oleh orang yang belum menempuh tapa (austerity), dan demikian juga oleh orang yang tidak benar-benar arif akan Veda.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses that the deepest ethical and spiritual questions (gūḍhatama praśna) require inner discipline (tapas) and authoritative understanding (Vedic learning). Profound dharma is not merely intellectual; it is realized through purification, practice, and right instruction.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Vaiśampāyana responds to a ruler’s inquiry by acknowledging its exceptional depth and indicating that such knowledge is accessible only to those prepared by austerity and true learning—signaling that an elevated teaching is about to follow.