Shloka 80
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
यस्तु तिक्तं कषायं वा स्वादु वा मधुरं हितम् । आहारं कुरुते नित्यं सो5मृतत्वाय कल्पते
yas tu tiktaṁ kaṣāyaṁ vā svādu vā madhuraṁ hitam | āhāraṁ kurute nityaṁ so 'mṛtatvāya kalpate ||
यस्तु तिक्तं कषायं वा स्वादु वा मधुरं हितम् । आहारं कुरुते नित्यं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते ॥
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
Choose what is wholesome (hita) rather than what merely pleases the tongue; steady discipline in right nourishment supports higher well-being and is said to lead toward 'amṛtatva' (deathlessness/immortality).
In the peace-instruction context of the Śānti Parva, Brahmadatta delivers a didactic statement: he classifies tastes (bitter, astringent, pleasant, sweet) and asserts that regular intake of beneficial food—regardless of taste—yields nectar-like results and prepares one for the highest goal.