Shloka 9
Droṇācārya’s Assessment of the Pāṇḍavas: Nīti, Kāla, and Intelligence (विराटपर्व, अध्याय २६)
चरन्तु देशान् संवीता: स्फीताञज्जनपदाकुलान् । तत्र गोष्ठीषु रम्यासु सिद्धप्रत्रजितेषु च
carantu deśān saṃvītāḥ sphītāñ janapadākulān | tatra goṣṭhīṣu ramyāsu siddhapratrājiteṣu ca ||
Biarlah mereka, dengan penyamaran, menjelajahi negeri-negeri yang dipenuhi permukiman makmur. Di sana, dalam pertemuan-pertemuan yang menyenangkan serta di tempat-tempat yang didatangi para pertapa dan pengembara suci yang telah sempurna, hendaklah mereka bertanya dengan cermat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Act with restraint and discernment: when seeking critical information, proceed discreetly, avoid provoking harm, and inquire respectfully in credible social and spiritual settings.
The speaker describes a plan of covert movement through prosperous, populated regions, with agents (or seekers) visiting assemblies and ascetic circles to ask questions and locate what they seek without revealing their identity.