Shloka 25
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
ततः कदाचिदुपाध्याय आयोदो धौम्य: शिष्यानपृच्छत् क्व आरुणि: पाज्चाल्यो गत इति,फिर कुछ कालके पश्चात् उपाध्याय आयोदधौम्यने अपने शिष्योंसे पूछा --'पांचालनिवासी आरुणि कहाँ चला गया?”
tataḥ kadācid upādhyāya āyodo dhaumyaḥ śiṣyān apṛcchat—kva āruṇiḥ pāñcālyo gata iti
Then, after some time, the preceptor Ayoda Dhaumya asked his disciples, “Where has Aruṇi, the Pāñcāla youth, gone?”
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethic of disciplined studentship: a teacher remains attentive to a disciple’s conduct and whereabouts, and the student’s life in the gurukula is measured by accountability and faithful performance of assigned duties.
After some time has passed, the teacher Dhaumya turns to the other students and asks where Aruṇi of Pāñcāla has gone, indicating that Aruṇi is absent and prompting the next events of the Aruṇi episode.