Shloka 17
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
यष्टिं च वैणवीं तस्मै ददौ वृत्रनिषूदन: । इष्टप्रदानमुद्दिश्य शिष्टानां प्रतिपालिनीम्,ऐसा कहकर वृत्रासुरका नाश करनेवाले इन्द्रने राजाको प्रेमोपहारस्वरूप बाँसकी एक छड़ी दी, जो शिष्ट पुरुषोंकी रक्षा करनेवाली थी
yaṣṭiṁ ca vaiṇavīṁ tasmai dadau vṛtranisūdanaḥ | iṣṭapradānam uddiśya śiṣṭānāṁ pratipālinīm ||
ଏହିପରି କହି ବୃତ୍ରନିଷୂଦନ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ନେହ-ଉପହାରରୂପେ ବାଁଶର ଏକ ଯଷ୍ଟି ଦେଲେ—ଇଷ୍ଟପ୍ରଦାନର ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟରେ, ଶିଷ୍ଟ ସଜ୍ଜନଙ୍କୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରୁଥିବା ଚିହ୍ନରୂପେ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority is portrayed as protective rather than merely coercive: the staff symbolizes governance that safeguards śiṣṭas (the righteous and disciplined) and supports dharma through measured power and benevolent intent.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Indra (famed for killing Vṛtra) presents a bamboo staff to the recipient as an affectionate gift/boon, described as an instrument or emblem meant for the protection of virtuous people.