Shloka 56

Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)

Devanagari script

भिषजो भैषजं कर्तु कस्मादिच्छन्ति रोगिण: । यदि कालेन पच्यन्ते भेषजै: कि प्रयोजनम्‌,वैद्यलोग रोगियोंकी दवा करनेकी अभिलाषा क्‍यों करते हैं? यदि काल ही सबको पका रहा है तो दवाओंका क्या प्रयोजन है?

Transliteration

bhiṣajo bhaiṣajaṃ kartuṃ kasmād icchanti rogiṇaḥ | yadi kālena pacyante bheṣajaiḥ kiṃ prayojanam ||

Translation

Mengapa para tabib ingin memberikan obat kepada orang sakit? Jika Kala sendiri yang ‘mematangkan’ semua makhluk menuju akhir yang telah ditetapkan, apa guna obat-obatan?

Word by Word

भिषजःphysicians

भैषजम्medicine; remedy

कर्तुम्to make; to administer (as treatment)

कस्मात्from what (cause)? why?

इच्छन्तिdesire; wish

रोगिणःthe sick (persons)

यदिif

कालेनby time; by fate

पच्यन्तेare cooked; ripen; come to maturity (i.e., meet their end)

भेषजैःby medicines; with remedies

किम्what?

प्रयोजनम्purpose; use; point

Speaker

ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच

Characters & Entities

ब

ब्रह्मदत्त (Brahmadatta)

भ

भिषज्/वैद्य (physician)

र

रोगिन् (patient)

क

काल (Time/Destiny)

भ

भैषज/भेषज (medicine)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse questions whether human interventions (like medical treatment) have real efficacy if Time/destiny governs outcomes. It invites reflection on how dharmic action—skillful, compassionate effort—can still be meaningful even when ultimate mortality is unavoidable.

What is happening in the narrative?

Brahmadatta poses a pointed philosophical challenge: if all beings are inevitably carried toward their end by Time, why do physicians strive to cure? The statement functions as a debate prompt within Śānti Parva’s broader inquiry into causality, duty, and the value of purposeful action.