O companion, why do you stop the civil surgeon from coming? It is a matter of prestige, whether it results in a cure or not.

This couplet is classic Akbar Allahabadi, wrapped in his trademark wit and sharp social satire. The poet playfully chides his friend for stopping the British Civil Surgeon from visiting, arguing that having such an elite doctor call upon them is a matter of pure social prestige, regardless of whether any actual cure takes place. It highlights the human obsession with vanity and status symbols, where keeping up appearances becomes far more vital than genuine healing.