Shloka 63
Saṃsāra-Gahana Allegory: The Brāhmaṇa in the Forest and Well (संसारगहन-आख्यान)
वीक्षमाणो दिश: सर्वा: शरणं क्व भवेदिति । वह उस वनका अनुसरण करता इधर-उधर दौड़ता तथा सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें ढूँढ़ता फिरता था कि कहीं मुझे शरण मिले
vīkṣamāṇo diśaḥ sarvāḥ śaraṇaṃ kva bhaved iti |
Looking in every direction, he kept wondering, “Where might there be refuge?” In his distress he ran about here and there, following the forest paths and searching all around for some place of shelter—an image of a mind shaken by fear and seeking protection when worldly supports have collapsed.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
When calamity strikes, a person instinctively seeks śaraṇa (refuge). The verse highlights the fragility of worldly security and invites ethical reflection on where true protection lies—whether in righteous conduct, wise counsel, or dependable guardianship—especially amid the moral wreckage following war.
Vidura describes someone in panic scanning all directions and running about, searching for a place of safety. The scene conveys disorientation and desperation, fitting the Strīparva atmosphere of grief and upheaval after the Kurukṣetra war.