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 ||
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: “O pinakamainam sa mga mandirigmang karo, o pinakadakila sa mga tao! Hinanap namin sila sa mga landas na tinatahak ng mga karong pandigma; ngunit hindi namin matiyak kung saan sila nagtungo o saan sila naninirahan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
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.