Shloka 3
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
ससागरान्तां धनुषा विनिर्जित्य महीमिमाम् | कृत्वा सुदुष्करं कर्म मन: सूक्ष्मे समादधे
sasāgārāntāṁ dhanuṣā vinirjitya mahīm imām | kṛtvā suduṣkaraṁ karma manaḥ sūkṣme samādadhē ||
Habiendo conquistado esta tierra hasta el océano que la ciñe, por la fuerza de su arco, consumó una hazaña en extremo difícil de realizar. Después, su mente se aplicó al principio sutil: apartándose de la conquista exterior, se volvió a la indagación interior y al dominio de sí.
समुद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts external victory with inner discipline: after achieving the hardest worldly conquest, true excellence is shown by turning the mind toward subtle truth—self-control, discernment, and deeper understanding beyond mere power.
The Ocean (Samudra) describes a hero who conquered the whole earth up to the sea by martial strength, performed an extraordinary feat, and then redirected his attention inward, focusing his mind on subtle reality rather than further outward domination.