Shloka 23
कालेन निर्मितस्तात को ममार्थो5स्ति जीवत: । एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं फाल्गुन: प्रत्यभाषत
kālena nirmitas tāta ko mamārtho 'sti jīvataḥ | evaṃ bruvantaṃ rājānaṃ phālgunaḥ pratyabhāṣata ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“孩子啊，既然万事皆为时间所造、为时间所制，我尚活着，又还有何用？”国王如此绝望地说着，法尔古那（阿周那）便答复了他。
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.