Shloka 31
पृथक्छास्त्रविद: सर्वे सर्वे मन्त्रविशारदा: । संधिविग्रहकालज्ञा मन्त्राय समुपाविशन्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | pṛthakchāstravidaḥ sarve sarve mantraviśāradāḥ | saṃdhivigrahakālajñā mantrāya samupāviśan |
Vaiśampāyana dit : Tous, chacun pour soi, étaient instruits dans les divers śāstra ; tous étaient experts en délibération ; et tous connaissaient les temps justes de l’alliance et de la rupture. Forts de ce discernement, ils s’assirent ensemble pour tenir conseil, s’étant retirés à une distance plus sûre et se préparant à commencer, dès le lendemain, leur exil incognito.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent leadership: true counsel requires learning, strategic competence, and a sense of timing—knowing when to seek alliance (saṃdhi) and when to accept conflict (vigraha). Ethical governance is shown as disciplined deliberation rather than impulsive action.
The group withdraws to a distance and sits together to consult. They are preparing for the next phase—beginning their period of living incognito—and therefore deliberate carefully, drawing on their knowledge of śāstra and political strategy.