Shloka 76

Adhyaya 43 — Portents of Death (Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) and the Yogin’s Response; Alarka Renounces Kingship

Sanskrit

अलर्क उवाच

एवमीदृशकं वीर ! ममाप्यासीन् मनः पुरा ।

साम्प्रतं विपरीतार्थं शृणु चाप्यत्र कारणम् ॥

Transliteration

alarka uvāca evam īdṛśakaṃ vīra! mamāpy āsīn manaḥ purā / sāmprataṃ viparītārthaṃ śṛṇu cāpy atra kāraṇam

Translation

アラルカは言った。「勇士よ。わが心もかつてはまさにそのようであった。だが今は、反対の結論を——そしてその理由をも聞け。」

Word by Word

• alarkaḥ: Alarka
• alarkaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: alarka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• īdṛśakam: such (a thing)
• īdṛśakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īdṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘एवम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य-विशेषणभावः

• vīra: O hero
• vīra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• api: also
• api: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• sāmpratam: now
• sāmpratam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāmprata (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (now/at present)

• viparīta-artham: the opposite meaning/purpose
• viparīta-artham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—विपरीतः अर्थः

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (also)

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb: here/in this matter)

• kāraṇam: reason
• kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Alarka speaking to Kāśīrāja (with Subāhu present)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Turn from pravṛtti to nivṛtti
• Reasoned renunciation (not mere aversion)
• Didactic pivot

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Alarka validates the worldly viewpoint as a stage he has outgrown; renunciation is presented as an informed reversal based on insight, not ignorance of duty.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma-to-moksha teaching embedded in vaṃśānucarita narrative.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘opposite conclusion’ marks the inner turning (parāvṛtti) from external conquest to conquest of the mind—an Upaniṣadic motif expressed through royal drama.