Shloka 196
Saṃsāra-Gahana Allegory: The Brāhmaṇa in the Forest and Well (संसारगहन-आख्यान)
अभीष्सति तदा नित्यमतृप्त: स पुन: पुनः । यद्यपि वह संकटमें था तो भी उस मधुको पीते-पीते उसकी तृष्णा शान्त नहीं होती थी। वह सदा अतृप्त रहकर ही बारंबार उसे पीनेकी इच्छा रखता था
abhīṣṣati tadā nityam atṛptaḥ sa punaḥ punaḥ | yadyapi sa saṅkaṭe 'bhavat tathāpi sa madhu-kaṃ pītvā pītvā tasya tṛṣṇā na śāmyati sma | sa sadā atṛpta eva bhūtvā bāraṃbāraṃ tat pātum icchati sma ||
Vidura berkata: “Ketika itu, walaupun dia dalam kesusahan, dia tetap menginginkannya lagi dan lagi. Sekalipun dia berulang kali meminum madu itu, dahaganya tidak juga reda. Sentiasa tidak puas, dia terus berhasrat untuk meminumnya berkali-kali.” Ayat ini menegaskan amaran etika bahawa memanjakan kenikmatan indera—walau memudaratkan—melahirkan ketagihan yang bertambah, bukan kepuasan.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sense-pleasures do not end craving; repeated indulgence often intensifies desire. Dharma therefore recommends restraint and discernment, especially when one is already in danger or suffering.
Vidura describes a person who, despite being in a perilous situation, keeps drinking honey. The sweetness fails to satisfy; instead, he remains perpetually thirsty and continues to seek more—an image for compulsive attachment.