Shloka 13
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 25: Kaurava Deliberation and the Search Directive (अन्वेषण-आदेशः)
नरेन्द्र बहुशो<न्विष्टा नैव विद्यश्न॒ पाण्डवान् । अत्यन्तं वा विनष्टास्ते भद्रं तुभ्यं नर्षभ
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Narendra bahuśo ’nviṣṭā naiva vidmaḥ sma Pāṇḍavān; atyantaṃ vā vinaṣṭās te, bhadraṃ tubhyaṃ nṛṣabha.
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: “O hari, paulit-ulit naming hinanap ang mga Pāṇḍava, ngunit wala kaming natagpuang anumang bakas. Maaaring sila’y lubusang napuksa. Nawa’y sumaiyo ang kagalingan, o toro sa hanay ng mga tao.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of truthful reporting in governance: messengers or advisers must convey uncertainty honestly (“we do not know”), while also offering respectful goodwill to the ruler. It also underscores how quickly political stability can be shaken by the disappearance of key figures.
A report is being delivered to a king: despite repeated searches, no information about the Pāṇḍavas has been found, and the speaker suggests the grim possibility that they may have perished. The statement is framed with courtly honorifics and a blessing for the king’s welfare.