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Shloka 9

Saṃsāra-Gahana Allegory: The Brāhmaṇa in the Forest and Well (संसारगहन-आख्यान)

बाहुभ्यां सम्परिक्षिप्तं स्त्रिया परमघोरया । इतनेहीमें उसने देखा कि वह भयानक वन चारों ओरसे जालसे घिरा हुआ है और एक बड़ी भयानक स्त्रीने अपनी दोनों भुजाओंसे उसको आवेष्टित कर रखा है ।। पञठ्चशीर्षधरैनागि: शैलैरिव समुन्नतैः

bāhubhyāṃ samparikṣiptaṃ striyā paramaghorayā | pañcaśīrṣadharaiḥ nāgaiḥ śailair iva samunnataiḥ ||

તેણે જોયું કે તે ભયાનક વન સર્વ તરફથી જાળ સમાન ઘેરાયેલું છે અને એક પરમ ભયંકર સ્ત્રીએ પોતાની બંને ભુજાઓથી તેને કસીને આવેષ્ટિત કરી રાખ્યો છે। તેની આસપાસ પાંચ ફણાવાળા નાગ પર્વતોની જેમ ઊંચા ઊભા હતા॥

बाहुभ्याम्with (her) two arms
बाहुभ्याम्:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबाहु
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Dual
सम्परिक्षिप्तम्completely encircled/embraced
सम्परिक्षिप्तम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्-परि-क्षिप्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
स्त्रियाby a woman
स्त्रिया:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootस्त्री
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
परमघोरयाby an extremely terrible (woman)
परमघोरया:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootपरमघोरा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
पञ्चशीर्षधरैःby those bearing five heads
पञ्चशीर्षधरैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootपञ्च-शीर्ष-धर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
नागैःby serpents
नागैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
शैलैःby mountains
शैलैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशैल
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
समुन्नतैःlofty, towering
समुन्नतैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootसम्-उद्-नत
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
A
a terrifying woman (symbolic figure)
F
forest (vana)
S
serpents/nāgas with five hoods

Educational Q&A

The verse uses stark imagery—entrapment by a terrifying woman and towering five-hooded serpents—to suggest how overpowering attachment and delusion can bind a person, surrounding him with dangers that feel inescapable. Ethically, it warns against being seized by forces that cloud judgment and lead to suffering.

Vidura describes a vision-like scene: a dreadful forest enclosed like a net, where a fearsome woman physically encircles someone with her arms, while five-hooded serpents loom like mountains. The description functions as an ominous tableau, intensifying the sense of peril and confinement.