Shloka 26
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
ब्राह्मण उवाच ततोअलर्कस्तपो घोर तत्रैवास्थाय दुष्करम् | नाध्यगच्छत् परं शक््त्या बाणमेतेषु सप्तसु
brāhmaṇa uvāca tato 'larkas tapo ghoraṁ tatraivāsthāya duṣkaram | nādhyagacchat paraṁ śaktyā bāṇam eteṣu saptasu ||
O brâmane disse: “Ó Deusa, depois disso Alarka permaneceu ali mesmo, sentado sob aquela árvore, e empreendeu uma austeridade feroz e difícil. Contudo, mesmo com todo o seu poder, não encontrou entre aquelas sete nenhuma flecha suprema capaz de subjugar a mente e o intelecto, juntamente com os cinco sentidos.”
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.