Shloka 11

Devanagari script

वल्लीभिस्तृणछन्नाभिददढाभिरभिसंवृत: । उस वनके भीतर एक कुआँ था, जो घासोंसे ढकी हुई सुदृढ़ लताओंके द्वारा सब ओरसे आच्छादित हो गया था ।। पपात स द्विजस्तत्र निगूढठे सलिलाशये

Transliteration

vallībhis tṛṇacchannābhir dṛḍhābhir abhisamvṛtaḥ | papāta sa dvijas tatra nigūḍhe salilāśaye ||

Translation

Vidura said: Within that forest there was a well, hidden from view—covered over on all sides by firm creepers and concealed beneath grass. Into that concealed reservoir of water the brāhmaṇa fell. The image underscores how unseen dangers, masked by outward appearances, can suddenly ensnare the unwary, urging vigilance and discernment in conduct.

Word by Word

वल्लीभिःby/with creepers

तृणछन्नाभिःcovered with grass

दृढाभिःstrong, firm

अभिसंवृतःenclosed/covered all around

पपातfell

सःhe

द्विजःbrahmin (lit. twice-born)

तत्रthere

निगूढेhidden, concealed (in)

सलिलाशयेin the water-reservoir (pond/well)

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vidura

dvija (brāhmaṇa)

vana (forest)

kūpa/salilāśaya (well, water-reservoir)

vallī (creepers)

tṛṇa (grass)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Appearances can conceal danger; one should act with discernment (viveka) and vigilance, not being misled by what seems safe or ordinary.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura describes a forest well covered by grass and strong creepers; a brāhmaṇa unknowingly falls into this hidden water-pit, illustrating sudden entrapment by unseen hazards.