What does the cryptic crossword clue "2 with article on line dealing with 17 and 3 (5)" mean?

The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). PEN (synonym="writer") + A (synonym="article") + L (synonym="line") = PENAL The answer is PENAL.

2 with article on line dealing with 17 and 3 (5)

Guardian Cryptic #29571 | 25 Down | 2024-12-20 flower