Shloka 18
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
अलर्क उवाच श्रुत्वा तु विविधान् शब्दांस्तानेव प्रतिगृध्यति । तस्माच्छोत्रं प्रति शरान् प्रतिमुड्चाम्पहं शितान्,अलर्क बोले--यह श्रोत्र बारंबार नाना प्रकारके शब्दोंको सुनकर उन्हींकी अभिलाषा करता है, इसलिये मैं इन तीखे बाणोंको श्रोत्र-इन्द्रियके ऊपर चलाऊँगा
alarka uvāca śrutvā tu vividhān śabdāṁs tān eva pratigṛdhyati | tasmāc chrotraṁ prati śarān pratimuñcāmy ahaṁ śitān ||
Alarka berkata: “Telinga, setelah mendengar beraneka ragam bunyi, terus mendambakan bunyi-bunyi itu lagi. Karena itu akan kulepaskan anak-anak panah tajam ini ke arah daya pendengaran.”
अलर्क उवाच
Educational Q&A
Attachment begins at the level of the senses: repeated hearing of pleasing or varied sounds strengthens craving. The verse frames ethical self-mastery as restraining the sense-faculty itself, symbolically treating sense-indulgence as an enemy to be checked.
Alarka reflects on how the ear becomes addicted to diverse sounds and declares his intent to ‘shoot’ sharp arrows at the organ of hearing—an intense, symbolic act expressing determination to conquer sensory desire through severe discipline.