Shloka 14
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 25: Kaurava Deliberation and the Search Directive (अन्वेषण-आदेशः)
वर्त्मन्यन्वेष्यमाणा वै रथिनां रथिसत्तम । नहि विद्यो गतिं तेषां वासं हि नरसत्तम
vartmany anveṣyamāṇā vai rathināṁ rathisattama | na hi vidyo gatiṁ teṣāṁ vāsaṁ hi narasattama ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó melhor dos guerreiros de carro, ó primeiro entre os homens! Nós os procuramos ao longo das rotas tomadas pelos condutores de carros; contudo, não conseguimos apurar para onde foram nem onde estão habitando.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the limits of human knowledge and control: even diligent investigation along expected routes may fail, reminding leaders and warriors to act with humility and patience when facts are uncertain.
The speaker reports that despite searching the usual paths used by chariot-warriors, they cannot determine where the sought persons have gone or where they are staying, heightening suspense about their location.