Mahabharata — Adi Parva, Shloka 8
गान्धारीपुत्रोत्पत्तिः — The Birth of Gāndhārī’s Hundred Sons (and Yuyutsu); Omens and Counsel on Succession
कतमेन पथा याता दस्यवो द्विजसत्तम | तेन गच्छामहे ब्रह्मन् यथा शीघ्रतरं वयम्
katamena pathā yātā dasyavo dvijasattama | tena gacchāmahe brahman yathā śīghrataraṃ vayam janamejaya ||
“இருபிறப்புச் சிறந்தவரே! கொள்ளையர்கள் எந்த வழியாகச் சென்றனர்? பிராமணரே, நாங்கள் அதே வழியே செல்வோம்; மேலும் விரைவாகச் செல்லும்படியாக.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds a dharmic dilemma: society’s need for protection and justice presses upon an ascetic, raising questions about how truthfulness, compassion, and the duty to prevent harm should be balanced when asked to aid a pursuit.
Pursuers chasing thieves reach a hermitage and ask a Brāhmaṇa/ṛṣi which route the bandits took, so they can follow quickly; Vaiśampāyana narrates this to King Janamejaya.