Droṇācārya’s Assessment of the Pāṇḍavas: Nīti, Kāla, and Intelligence (विराटपर्व, अध्याय २६)
येषु नः प्रत्ययो राजंश्वारेषु मनुजाधिप । ते यान्तु दत्तदेया वै भूयस्तान् परिमार्गितुम्
yeṣu naḥ pratyayo rājan śvāreṣu manujādhipa | te yāntu dattadeyā vai bhūyas tān parimārgitum ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô roi, seigneur des hommes, que l’on dépêche de nouveau les agents secrets en qui nous avons la plus grande confiance, pleinement pourvus de toutes les ressources à leur accorder, afin de reprendre la recherche des Pāṇḍavas.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
A king’s duty includes prudent governance: relying on proven, trustworthy agents and equipping them adequately. Ethical statecraft here emphasizes discernment (whom to trust) and responsibility (providing means) in pursuing legitimate political aims.
The speaker advises the king to send out the most reliable spies again, properly supplied, to continue a renewed and thorough search for the Pāṇḍavas.