Shloka 6
गान्धारीपुत्रोत्पत्तिः — The Birth of Gāndhārī’s Hundred Sons (and Yuyutsu); Omens and Counsel on Succession
निधाय च भयाल्लीनास्तत्रैवानागते बले | तेषु लीनेष्वथो शीघ्र ततस्तद् रक्षिणां बलम्
nidhāya ca bhayāl līnāstatraivānāgate bale | teṣu līneṣvatho śīghraṃ tatastad rakṣiṇāṃ balam, janamejaya! |
Vaiśampāyana said: Out of fear, the thieves deposited the stolen goods at the very hermitage and hid there, before the king’s protective force could arrive. When they had thus concealed themselves, the troop of guards quickly reached that place, O Janamejaya. Seeing those great sages engaged in austerities there, the pursuers questioned them: “O best of twice-born, tell us—by which path did the thieves flee? We will seize that very route and chase them swiftly.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The scene sets up a classic dharma-conflict: truthfulness and cooperation with justice (helping guards catch thieves) can collide with the duty to avoid causing harm and to protect those who have taken refuge. By placing the sages between pursuers and fugitives, the narrative prepares an ethical inquiry into how a righteous person should speak and act when speech itself may lead to violence.
Thieves, frightened of capture, stash the stolen property at a hermitage and hide nearby before the guards arrive. The guards reach the hermitage quickly and, seeing the sages there, ask them to indicate the route by which the thieves escaped so the pursuit can continue at speed.