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 ||
प्रभो! जैसे कुशल वैद्य विधिपूर्वक रोग को जानकर, शमन के लिए यथायोग्य औषध देता है, वैसे ही मनुष्य कार्य-सिद्धि के हेतु अपनी प्रज्ञा से विचार कर किसी निश्चयात्मक बुद्धि का आश्रय लेते हैं।
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.