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 ||
جو شخص روزانہ کڑوا، کسیلا، لذیذ یا میٹھا—جیسا بھی ہو—مگر مفید غذا کھاتا ہے، وہ امرتوا (جاودانیّت) کے لائق ٹھہرتا ہے؛ کیونکہ وہی غذا اس کے لیے امرت کی مانند فائدہ بخش بن جاتی ہے۔
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.