Shloka 34
Draupadī’s Exhortation on Rājadharma and Daṇḍa (द्रौपद्याः राजधर्मोपदेशः)
कुरुते मूढ एवं हि य: श्रेयो नाधिगच्छति । धूपैरठ्जनयोगैश्व नस्यकर्मभिरेव च
kurute mūḍha evaṁ hi yaḥ śreyo nādhigacchati | dhūpair añjanayogaiś ca nasyakarmabhir eva ca ||
For a person who is deluded acts in this way and therefore fails to attain what is truly beneficial. He busies himself with fumigations, applications of collyrium, and nasal therapies—external measures—yet does not reach the higher good that should be sought.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A deluded person mistakes external or merely remedial acts for the pursuit of the highest good (śreyaḥ). Without right understanding and proper aim, such actions do not lead to true welfare.
Vaiśampāyana continues a didactic passage in the Śānti Parva, characterizing the misguided seeker: instead of pursuing the higher good, he relies on outward treatments (fumigation, collyrium, nasal procedures) and thus fails to attain śreyaḥ.