Shloka 5
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
अलर्क उवाच मनसो मे बल॑ जात॑ मनो जित्वा ध्रुवो जय: । अन्यत्र बाणान् धास्यामि शत्रुभि: परिवारित:
alarka uvāca: manaso me balaṁ jātaṁ, mano jitvā dhruvo jayaḥ | anyatra bāṇān dhāsyāmi śatrubhiḥ parivāritaḥ ||
ଅଲର୍କ କହିଲେ—ମୋର ବଳ ମନରୁ ଜନ୍ମିଛି; ତେଣୁ ମନ ହିଁ ସର୍ବାଧିକ ପ୍ରବଳ। ମନକୁ ଜୟ କଲେ ମାତ୍ର ମୋର ବିଜୟ ଧ୍ରୁବ ହେବ। ମୁଁ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟରୂପ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଘେରାଯାଇଛି; ତେଣୁ ବାହ୍ୟ ଶତ୍ରୁଙ୍କୁ ନୁହେଁ, ଏହି ଅନ୍ତଃଶତ୍ରୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୋ ବାଣର ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ କରିବି।
अलर्क उवाच
Educational Q&A
True and lasting victory is achieved by conquering the mind; the senses, when uncontrolled, function like inner enemies, so ethical effort should be directed first toward inner discipline rather than outward hostility.
Alarka declares a shift in his battle strategy from external conflict to inner conquest: he recognizes that he is besieged by the sense-faculties and resolves to ‘aim his arrows’—his effort and resolve—against these internal adversaries.