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Shloka 2

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

विदुर उवाच अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि नमस्कृत्वा स्वयम्भुवे | यथा संसारगहनं वदन्ति परमर्षय:

vidura uvāca | atra te vartayiṣyāmi namaskṛtvā svayambhuve | yathā saṃsāragahanaṃ vadanti paramarṣayaḥ ||

Vidura said: Here I shall relate it to you, after bowing to the Self-born Creator—just as the supreme seers describe the dense and bewildering thicket of worldly existence. The statement frames his forthcoming counsel as reverent, tradition-grounded instruction meant to illuminate the moral and existential confusion that entangles human life.

विदुरःVidura
विदुरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootविदुर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, 3rd, Singular
अत्रhere
अत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्र
तेto you
ते:
Sampradana
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
Form—, Dative, Singular
वर्तयिष्यामिI shall relate/tell
वर्तयिष्यामि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवृत् (वर्तयति)
FormSimple Future, 1st, Singular
नमस्कृत्वाhaving saluted
नमस्कृत्वा:
Karana
TypeVerb
Rootनमस् + कृ
Formक्त्वा (absolutive), Active
स्वयम्भुवेto the Self-born (Brahmā)
स्वयम्भुवे:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वयम्भू
FormMasculine, Dative, Singular
यथाas/how
यथा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
संसारगहनम्the dense thicket of worldly existence
संसारगहनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसंसारगहन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वदन्तिthey say
वदन्ति:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवद्
FormPresent, 3rd, Plural
परमर्षयःthe great sages
परमर्षयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपरमर्षि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
S
Svayambhū (Brahmā)
P
Paramarṣis (supreme sages)

Educational Q&A

Vidura signals that his guidance will address the confusing, entangling nature of saṃsāra and will be aligned with the testimony of the highest sages, grounded in humility and reverence to the Creator.

Vidura begins a didactic passage: he prepares to explain a profound topic, first offering homage to Svayambhū (Brahmā) and then invoking the authority of the paramarṣis as the source of the account he is about to present.