Shloka 11
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
Devanagari script
तच्छुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत्,नासिकाका यह कथन सुनकर अलर्क कुछ देर विचार करनेके पश्चात् (जिह्वाको लक्ष्य करके) कहने लगे
Transliteration
tac chrutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanam abravīt
Translation
മൂക്കിന്റെ ആ വാക്കുകൾ കേട്ട് അലർക്കൻ കുറച്ചുനേരം ആലോചിച്ച ശേഷം (നാവിനെ ലക്ഷ്യമാക്കി) പറഞ്ഞു.
Word by Word
तत्that (speech/statement)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विचिन्त्यhaving reflected/considered
विचिन्त्य:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootवि + चिन्त् (धातु)
Formक्त्वा/ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
अथthen/thereupon
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
ततःthereafter/from that (time)
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
वचनम्speech/words
वचनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवचन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अब्रवीत्said/spoke
अब्रवीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू (धातु)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
प्राण उवाच
Characters & Entities
A
AlarkaP
PrāṇaJ
Jihvā (tongue)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint: one should pause, reflect, and then speak. Thoughtful speech—guided by discernment—prevents harm and aligns conduct with dharma.
After hearing what was said, Alarka considers it briefly and then responds. The narration notes that he addresses the tongue, implying a dialogue about the senses and inner faculties and the need to govern them.