Shloka 5
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
अलर्क उवाच मनसो मे बल॑ जात॑ मनो जित्वा ध्रुवो जय: । अन्यत्र बाणान् धास्यामि शत्रुभि: परिवारित:,अलर्क कहने लगे--मुझे मनसे ही बल प्राप्त हुआ है, अतः वही सबसे प्रबल है। मनको जीत लेनेपर ही मुझे स्थायी विजय प्राप्त हो सकती है। मैं इन्द्रियरूपी शत्रुओंसे घिरा हुआ हूँ, इसलिये बाहरके शत्रुओंपर हमला न करके इन भीतरी शत्रुओंको ही अपने बाणोंका निशाना बनाऊँगा
alarka uvāca: manaso me balaṁ jātaṁ, mano jitvā dhruvo jayaḥ | anyatra bāṇān dhāsyāmi śatrubhiḥ parivāritaḥ ||
Alarka said: “From the mind I have gained my strength; therefore the mind is the most powerful. Only by conquering the mind can I attain a lasting victory. I am surrounded by enemies in the form of the senses; so, instead of directing my arrows at outer foes, I shall aim them at these inner enemies.”
अलर्क उवाच
Educational Q&A
True and lasting victory is achieved by conquering the mind; the senses, when uncontrolled, function like inner enemies, so ethical effort should be directed first toward inner discipline rather than outward hostility.
Alarka declares a shift in his battle strategy from external conflict to inner conquest: he recognizes that he is besieged by the sense-faculties and resolves to ‘aim his arrows’—his effort and resolve—against these internal adversaries.