Shloka 19
Saṃsāra-Gahana Allegory: The Brāhmaṇa in the Forest and Well (संसारगहन-आख्यान)
न चास्य तृष्णा विरता पिबमानस्य संकटे
na cāsya tṛṣṇā viratā pibamānasya saṅkaṭe
And even while he keeps drinking in distress, his craving does not subside. The line underscores how desire, once indulged, tends to persist—especially in times of crisis—rather than bringing relief or contentment.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Craving (tṛṣṇā) is not satisfied by indulgence; even in hardship, continuing to 'drink' (pibamāna) only sustains desire. Ethically, the verse warns that self-control and discernment—not repeated gratification—are needed to end suffering rooted in attachment.
Vidura is speaking in the Strī Parva context of post-war grief and moral reckoning, offering reflective counsel on human failings. This line functions as a pointed observation about how people, under pressure or loss, may cling to compulsions or desires that do not truly alleviate their distress.