Doctor

वैद्यराज नमस्तुभ्यम् यमराज सहोदर: |
यमस्तु हरति प्राणान् वैद्य: प्राणान् धनानि च ||

Vaidyaraaja namastubhyam yamaraaja sahodara-ha
Yamastu harati praaNaan vaidya-ha praaNaan dhanaani cha

Meaning: Salutations to you, O Doctor (vaidya-raaj), the brother (sahodar) of Yamraaj (God of death). Yamaraj only takes life (praaNa), whereas the doctor takes life as well as money (dhana)!

Ha ha! I guess, our Rishis had a pretty good sense of humour. This shloka points out the long-standing wisdom of our sages as well as the sorry situation of the medical field—then and now. The doctor—once a noble profession, has turned into a business, and a very profitable one. This profession has the maximum opportunity to understand the wonderful mysteries of life and its Creator; but the same is used for such mundane purposes that the only feeling that comes to my mind is pity, or may be sympathy.

Anyways, next time you meet a doctor, do share this shloka, and have a hearty laugh. Who knows... he might have come for you !!!!