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 ||
大王よ、巧みな医師が正しい作法に従って病を見定め、鎮めるために相応の薬をしかるべく施すように、人もまた事を成就せんとして自らの分別の力で思案し、確かな決意に身を寄せる。だが他の者どもは、その決意をそしり始めるのである。
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.