Shloka 9
Aśvatthāmā’s Buddhi-Doctrine and Nocturnal Incursion Resolve (अश्वत्थाम्नः बुद्धिविचारः सौप्तिकसंकल्पश्च)
यथा हि वैद्य: कुशलो ज्ञात्वा व्याधिं यथाविधि । भैषज्यं कुरुते योगात् प्रशमार्थमिति प्रभो
yathā hi vaidyaḥ kuśalo jñātvā vyādhiṁ yathāvidhi | bhaiṣajyaṁ kurute yogāt praśamārtham iti prabho ||
Ô seigneur ! De même qu’un médecin habile, après avoir reconnu la maladie selon la méthode prescrite, administre le remède approprié avec juste mesure pour l’apaiser, ainsi l’homme qui veut mener une œuvre à son accomplissement réfléchit avec discernement et s’abrite dans une résolution arrêtée ; mais d’autres se mettent à blâmer cette décision.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sound action depends on proper diagnosis and appropriate means: like a physician who first understands the disease and then applies the suitable remedy for relief, a wise person deliberates and adopts a firm, reasoned resolve; nevertheless, such well-considered decisions may still attract criticism from others.
In Sañjaya’s narration, an analogy is introduced to frame human decision-making: the verse compares strategic or practical resolve to medical treatment—emphasizing method, discernment, and purpose—while noting that onlookers may disparage the chosen course even when it is grounded in reason.