Shloka 7
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
मन उवाच नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथंचन । तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि
manā uvāca neme bāṇās tariṣyanti mām alarka kathaṃcana | tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi ||
ਮਨ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਅਲਰਕ! ਇਹ ਤੀਰ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰ ਸਕਣਗੇ। ਉਲਟ ਇਹ ਤੇਰੇ ਹੀ ਮਰਮ-ਸਥਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵਿੰਨ੍ਹਣਗੇ; ਮਰਮ ਭੇਦ ਹੋਇਆ ਤਾਂ ਤੂੰ ਮਰ ਜਾਵੇਂਗਾ।
मन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames violence as self-returning: an attack launched in delusion rebounds upon the attacker’s own vulnerable points. Ethically, it warns that aggression and lack of self-mastery lead to self-destruction.
The personified Mind addresses Alarka, declaring that the arrows aimed outward will not harm the Mind; instead, they will pierce Alarka’s own vital spots, resulting in his death—an admonition that the intended strike will turn back upon the aggressor.