Shloka 173

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

Devanagari script

स्वादनीयानि भूतानां यैर्बालो विप्रकृष्यते । भरतश्रेष्ठ) समस्त प्राणियोंको स्वादिष्ट प्रतीत होनेवाले उस मधुको, जिसपर बालक आदृष्ट हो जाते हैं, वे मक्खियाँ बारंबार पीना चाहती थीं

Transliteration

svādanīyāni bhūtānāṃ yair bālo viprakṛṣyate |

Translation

Vidura observes that certain pleasures appear sweet to living beings and irresistibly draw the immature mind away. In ethical terms, he warns that what tastes delightful can become a lure that distracts one from discernment and self-control, leading to repeated attachment and harm.

Word by Word

• स्वादनीयानि: tasty, to-be-tasted (pleasant to taste)
• स्वादनीयानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वादनीय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• भूतानाम्: of beings/creatures
• भूतानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• यैः: by which/with which
• यैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बालः: a child
• बालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विप्रकृष्यते: is drawn/attracted (is pulled toward)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + प्र + कृश्
• Form: Present, 3, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

Speaker

विदुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vidura
• bāla (the immature/child)
• bhūta (living beings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Pleasures that seem sweet can entice the immature mind and pull it away from discrimination; therefore one should cultivate restraint and clear judgment rather than repeatedly chasing what merely tastes good.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vidura is offering reflective counsel, using a general observation about how ‘sweet’ objects attract beings—especially the immature—to illustrate the danger of being lured by sensory allurements.