Shloka 24
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
अलर्क उवाच इयं निष्ठा बहुविधा प्रज्ञया त्वध्यवस्यति । तस्माद् बुद्धि प्रति शरान् प्रतिमोक्ष्याम्पहं शितान्,अलर्कने कहा--यह बुद्धि अपनी ज्ञानशक्तिसे अनेक प्रकारका निश्चय करती है, अतः इस बुद्धिपर ही अपने तीक्ष्ण सायकोंका प्रहार करूँगा
alarka uvāca | iyaṁ niṣṭhā bahuvidhā prajñayā tv adhyavasyati | tasmād buddhiṁ prati śarān pratimokṣyāmy ahaṁ śitān ||
Alarka said: “This faculty of understanding, through discernment, settles upon many kinds of fixed conclusions. Therefore I shall loose my sharp arrows against Buddhi—the intellect itself.”
अलर्क उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that buddhi (intellect) can form many kinds of firm conclusions; therefore, ethical effort should focus on disciplining and correcting the decision-making faculty itself, not merely reacting to external outcomes.
Alarka speaks in martial imagery, declaring that since the intellect determines diverse resolves, he will ‘shoot’ sharp arrows at buddhi—symbolizing a deliberate attack on the root of confusion or misdirected determination.