Shloka 2
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
अलर्कों नाम राजर्षिरभवत् सुमहातपा: । धर्मज्ञ: सत्यवादी च महात्मा सुदृढव्रत:,पहलेकी बात है, अलर्क नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक राजर्षि थे, जो बड़े ही तपस्वी, धर्मज्ञ, सत्यवादी, महात्मा और दृढ़प्रतिज्ञ थे
alarko nāma rājarṣir abhavat sumahātapāḥ | dharmajñaḥ satyavādī ca mahātmā sudṛḍhavrataḥ ||
The Ocean said: “In former times there lived a royal sage named Alarka—an ascetic of great austerity, a knower of dharma, a speaker of truth, a noble-souled man, and one steadfast in his vows.”
समुद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal: true greatness in a ruler is measured by dharma-knowledge, truthfulness, disciplined vows, and ascetic self-control—qualities that make kingship morally legitimate and spiritually elevated.
The Ocean begins a didactic recollection, introducing Alarka as a paradigmatic royal sage. This functions as the opening of an exemplum—setting up a story meant to illustrate dharmic conduct through Alarka’s character.