Shloka 6
स्वराष्ट्रे परराष्ट्रे च ज्ञातव्यं बलमात्मन: । उदय: पाण्डवानां च प्राप्ते काले न संशय:,“अतः इस समय जब कि महात्मा पाण्डव छटद्ववेष धारण करके (अर्थात् वेष बदलकर) गुप्तरूपसे छिपे हुए हैं और अज्ञातवासकी जो नियत अवधि थी, वह प्राय: समाप्त हो चली है, स्वराष्ट्र और परराष्ट्रमें अपनी कितनी शक्ति है--इसे समझ लेना चाहिये। इसमें संदेह नहीं कि उपयुक्त समय आते ही पाण्डव प्रकट हो जायँगे
svarāṣṭre pararāṣṭre ca jñātavyaṃ balam ātmanaḥ | udayaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca prāpte kāle na saṃśayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “One should assess one’s own strength—both within one’s own realm and in relation to other realms. And there is no doubt that, when the proper time arrives, the Pāṇḍavas will rise and reveal themselves.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes rājanīti (statecraft): a ruler should realistically evaluate their own power both internally (within their kingdom) and externally (against other kingdoms), and also recognize the inevitability of events unfolding at the right time—here, the Pāṇḍavas’ eventual re-emergence.
In the Virāṭa Parva context, the Pāṇḍavas are living incognito during their final period of exile. The speaker underscores that the time is nearing when they will reveal themselves, so it is prudent for the concerned parties to assess their strength and preparedness in relation to allies and rivals.