Shloka 23
कालेन निर्मितस्तात को ममार्थो5स्ति जीवत: । एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं फाल्गुन: प्रत्यभाषत
kālena nirmitas tāta ko mamārtho 'sti jīvataḥ | evaṃ bruvantaṃ rājānaṃ phālgunaḥ pratyabhāṣata ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Mahal kong anak, ano pang saysay ang natitira sa akin habang ako’y nabubuhay, kung ang lahat ay hinubog at pinaghaharian ng Panahon?” Habang nagsasalita ang hari sa ganitong kawalang-pag-asa, sumagot sa kanya si Phālguna (Arjuna).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral-psychological crisis: the king attributes events to Kāla (Time) and questions the value of striving while alive. It sets up the counterpoint—Arjuna’s response—inviting reflection on how dharma balances acceptance of time’s power with responsible action.
The narrator reports that the king, speaking in a despondent, fatalistic tone (“all is made by Time; what purpose is left for me?”), is answered by Phālguna (Arjuna), indicating a forthcoming counsel or corrective reply.