Shloka 30
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
विस्मितश्नापि राजर्षिरिमां गाथां जगाद ह । अहो कष्ट यदस्माभि: सर्व बाह्ममनुछितम्
vismitas tv api rājarṣir imāṁ gāthāṁ jagāda ha | aho kaṣṭaṁ yad asmābhiḥ sarvaṁ bāhyam anucitam ||
Kahit ang haring pantas, bagaman namangha, ay bumigkas ng taludtod na ito: “Ay, kay bigat ng kapalaran na ginugol ko ang sarili sa mga bagay na panlabas lamang at di nararapat—nakagapos sa uhaw sa paglalasa, sinamba ko lamang ang paghahari at kapangyarihan. Huli na nang maunawaan ko na wala nang higit na daan tungo sa tunay na ligaya kaysa sa disiplina ng pagninilay (dhyāna-yoga).”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes a life spent in outward, status-driven pursuits—especially attachment to pleasure and political power—and affirms that meditative discipline (dhyāna-yoga) is the श्रेष्ठ (highest) means to genuine happiness and inner freedom.
A royal sage, struck with realization, voices regret through a gāthā: he recognizes that his earlier devotion to external affairs and kingship was misguided, and he now acknowledges the superior value of inner practice—meditation and yoga—as the true path to well-being.