Shloka 26
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
ब्राह्मण उवाच ततोअलर्कस्तपो घोर तत्रैवास्थाय दुष्करम् | नाध्यगच्छत् परं शक््त्या बाणमेतेषु सप्तसु,ब्राह्मणने कहा--देवि! तदनन्तर अलर्कने उसी पेड़के नीचे बैठकर घोर तपस्या की, किंतु उससे मन-बुद्धिसहित पाँचों इन्द्रियोंको मारनेयोग्य किसी उत्तम बाणका पता न चला
brāhmaṇa uvāca tato 'larkas tapo ghoraṁ tatraivāsthāya duṣkaram | nādhyagacchat paraṁ śaktyā bāṇam eteṣu saptasu ||
Sang Brahmana berkata: “Wahai Dewi, selepas itu Alarka tetap di situ juga, duduk di bawah pohon itu, lalu menjalani tapa yang dahsyat dan sukar. Namun, walau dengan segenap dayanya, dia tidak menemukan dalam tujuh anak panah itu satu pun anak panah tertinggi yang mampu menundukkan minda dan Buddhi, beserta lima pancaindera.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even intense effort and power may fail to yield an external means (a weapon) for mastering the inner faculties; the verse underscores the ethical idea that true victory lies in conquering mind and senses, which is not easily achieved through outward instruments.
After earlier events, Alarka stays in the same place and performs severe austerities, seeking an unsurpassed arrow among a set of seven; despite his effort, he cannot find a weapon fit to subdue mind, intellect, and the five senses.