Shloka 6
Droṇācārya’s Assessment of the Pāṇḍavas: Nīti, Kāla, and Intelligence (विराटपर्व, अध्याय २६)
सर्वे कालस्य वेत्तार: कृच्छरूपधरा: स्थिता: । प्रविशेयुर्जितक्रोधास्तावदेव पुनर्वनम्
sarve kālasya vettāraḥ kṛcchrarūpadharāḥ sthitāḥ | praviśeyur jitakrodhās tāvad eva punar vanam ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: Mereka semua mengetahui batas waktu yang telah ditetapkan. Karena itu mereka tentu bersembunyi dengan menyamar dalam rupa yang sukar dikenali. Maka bersegeralah mencari dan menemukan mereka, agar—dengan menahan amarah—mereka kembali masuk ke hutan untuk masa yang sama, yakni dua belas tahun.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined self-restraint and strategic patience: those who know the lawful term of time endure hardship in disguise and keep anger under control, while rulers seek stability by preventing premature conflict.
The speaker reasons that the exiled heroes, aware of the exact time-limit, are likely hiding nearby in an unrecognizable guise; therefore the listeners are urged to search quickly so that the heroes will be forced to return to the forest for the remaining term, ensuring the kingdom’s continued security.