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Shloka 27

अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory

Mahābhārata 14.30

सुसमाहितचेतास्तु स ततो$चिन्तयत्‌ प्रभु: । स विचिन्त्य चिरं कालमलर्को द्विजसत्तम

susamāhitacetāstu sa tato 'cintayat prabhuḥ | sa vicintya ciraṃ kālam alarko dvijasattamaḥ ||

Với tâm ý hoàn toàn định tĩnh, bậc hùng mạnh ấy liền bắt đầu suy niệm. Sau khi trầm tư rất lâu, Alarka—bậc tối thượng trong hàng “nhị sinh”—đã đạt đến quyết định chín chắn của mình.

सुसमाहितचेताःhaving a well-composed mind
सुसमाहितचेताः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसुसमाहितचेतस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ततःthen/from there
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
अचिन्तयत्thought/pondered
अचिन्तयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootचिन्त्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular
प्रभुःthe lord/master
प्रभुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विचिन्त्यhaving reflected
विचिन्त्य:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + चिन्त्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)
चिरम्for a long time
चिरम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootचिर
कालम्time/period
कालम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकाल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अलर्कःAlarka (proper name)
अलर्कः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअलर्क
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
द्विजसत्तमःbest of the twice-born (excellent Brahmin)
द्विजसत्तमः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootद्विजसत्तम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

ब्राह्मण उवाच

A
Alarka
B
Brāhmaṇa (speaker)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the ethical necessity of inner composure (samādhāna of mind) and sustained deliberation before arriving at a decision—suggesting that right action (dharma) is grounded in calm reflection rather than impulse.

The brāhmaṇa narrator describes Alarka as settling his mind and thinking deeply for a long time; the scene marks a transition where careful contemplation precedes the next decisive step in the story.