Shloka 14
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
Devanagari script
तच्छुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमत्रवीत्,यह सुनकर अलर्क कुछ देरतक सोचते-विचारते रहे, फिर (त्वचापर कुपित होकर) बोले
Transliteration
tac chrutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanam abravīt
Translation
അത് കേട്ട് അലർക്കൻ കുറച്ചുനേരം ആലോചിച്ചു; പിന്നെ വിചാരിച്ച്—ഉള്ളിൽ ഉയർന്ന കോപത്തോടുകൂടി—അവൻ പറഞ്ഞു.
Word by Word
तत्that (speech/statement)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु
Formक्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विचिन्त्यhaving reflected/considered
विचिन्त्य:
Adhikarana
TypeVerb
Rootवि + चिन्त्
Formल्यप् (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)
अथthen/thereupon
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
ततःthereafter/from that
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
वचनम्speech/words
वचनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवचन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अत्रhere
अत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअत्र
अवीत्said/spoke
अवीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
अलर्क उवाच
Characters & Entities
A
AlarkaCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint in speech: one should first listen and reflect (vicintya) before responding, especially when anger arises, because words carry moral consequences.
Alarka hears something significant, pauses to think it over, and then begins his reply—signaling a transition from receiving counsel or provocation to delivering his own considered (and possibly anger-tinged) response.