Shloka 17
Samayakaraṇa
Determination of Proper Times / Formalizing the Condition
अथवा व्याहृतैर्वाक्यैः किमेभिः प्रत्ययाक्षरैः । दतो ह्येष मया हस्तो दक्षिणः पुण्यलांछनः ॥ १७ ॥
athavā vyāhṛtairvākyaiḥ kimebhiḥ pratyayākṣaraiḥ | dato hyeṣa mayā hasto dakṣiṇaḥ puṇyalāṃchanaḥ || 17 ||
Atau, apakah perlunya ucapan yang panjang lebar atau kata-kata pengesahan? Kerana aku telah pun menghulurkan tangan kananku—bertanda keberkatan—sebagai ikrar.
Narrator (dialogue-context not explicit from the single verse; likely a character giving assurance/promise within the Tirtha-Mahatmya narrative)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It elevates dharmic commitment: a sincere pledge (pratigyā) is validated not by many words but by a decisive, truthful act—here symbolized by offering the right hand as an assurance.
While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports a core bhakti ethic: integrity and steadfastness. Devotion is strengthened when one’s promises and conduct align, not merely one’s speech.
It reflects dharma-nīti and samskāra-style social convention: a pledge is ‘confirmed’ (pratyaya) through recognized verbal formulas and auspicious bodily signs—an applied cultural-ritual principle rather than a technical Vedanga lesson.