Shloka 3
Droṇācārya’s Assessment of the Pāṇḍavas: Nīti, Kāla, and Intelligence (विराटपर्व, अध्याय २६)
अल्पावशिष्टं कालस्य गतभूयिष्ठमन्तत: । तेषामज्ञातचर्यायामस्मिन् वर्षे त्रयोदशे,“इस तेरहवें वर्षमें पाण्डवोंके अज्ञातवासका अधिकांश समय बीत चुका है और थोड़े ही दिन शेष हैं
alpāvaśiṣṭaṁ kālasya gatabhūyiṣṭham antataḥ | teṣām ajñātacaryāyām asmin varṣe trayodaśe ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: En este decimotercer año de su destierro en incógnito, la mayor parte del tiempo señalado ya ha transcurrido; al final queda apenas un poco. El ocultamiento de los Pāṇḍava se acerca a su término, y con ello se agudiza la tensión del dharma: mantener intacto su voto hasta el último instante.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharma as steadfast fidelity to a vow under pressure: when the end is near and risk is highest, restraint and careful conduct become the true test of integrity.
The narrator marks that the Pandavas’ thirteenth year of living incognito is almost complete—most time has passed and only a little remains—setting up imminent developments where their concealment may be challenged.