Shloka 183
Saṃsāra-Gahana Allegory: The Brāhmaṇa in the Forest and Well (संसारगहन-आख्यान)
आलम्बमान: स पुमान् धारां पिबति सर्वदा । उस समय उस मधुकी अनेक धाराएँ वहाँ झर रही थीं और वह लटका हुआ पुरुष निरन्तर उस मधुधाराको पी रहा था
ālambamānaḥ sa pumān dhārāṃ pibati sarvadā |
Vidura berkata: “Sambil berpaut, lelaki itu sentiasa meminum aliran itu.” Dalam bingkai alegori, dia tergantung dalam bahaya namun tetap tenggelam mengecap manisnya aliran, memperlihatkan bagaimana seseorang—walau di tengah ketidakpastian dan ancaman yang mendekat—boleh ketagih pada nikmat yang sementara dan melupakan tuntutan kewaspadaan serta dharma.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when life is precarious, a person may cling to momentary sweetness and ignore looming danger; the verse warns against attachment to transient pleasures and urges steadiness, discernment, and self-restraint in line with dharma.
Vidura describes an allegorical scene: a man hangs suspended and keeps drinking a flowing stream (understood in context as a honey-like flow). The image highlights how fascination with pleasure can persist even in a situation of clear risk.