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 ||
ذہن نے کہا: “اے الَرک! یہ تیر کسی طرح مجھ سے آگے نہیں گزر سکتے۔ بلکہ یہ تمہارے ہی مَرم (نقاطِ حیات) کو چھید دیں گے؛ جب مَرم چھد جائیں گے تو تم مر جاؤ گے۔”
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.