Shloka 7
गान्धारीपुत्रोत्पत्तिः — The Birth of Gāndhārī’s Hundred Sons (and Yuyutsu); Omens and Counsel on Succession
आजगाम ततोड<पश्यंस्तमृषिं तस्करानुगा: । तमपृच्छंस्ततो राजंस्तथावृत्तं तपोधनम्
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: ājagāma tato ’paśyaṃs tam ṛṣiṃ taskarānugāḥ | tam apṛcchaṃs tato rājan tathāvṛttaṃ tapodhanam, Janamejaya |
Vaiśampāyana thưa: Rồi những kẻ truy đuổi bọn trộm đến nơi và trông thấy vị ẩn sĩ ấy. Bấy giờ, hỡi đức vua, hỡi Janamejaya, họ liền hỏi vị khổ hạnh giàu công đức ấy về sự việc đã xảy ra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up a classic dharma-conflict: society seeks justice by pursuing thieves, while a sage—committed to truth and non-harm—may be placed in a situation where speaking or withholding information has ethical consequences. It highlights how dharma can become subtle when duties collide.
Pursuers tracking thieves arrive at a hermitage and see a sage there. They question him about the thieves’ movements—specifically, which route the thieves took—so they can continue the chase quickly.