Shloka 103
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
अन्यान् बाणान् समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि । नासिका बोली--अलर्क! ये बाण मेरा कुछ नहीं बिगाड़ सकते। इनसे तो तुम्हारे ही मर्म विदीर्ण होंगे और मर्मस्थानोंका भेदन हो जानेपर तुम्हीं मरोगे; अतः तुम दूसरे प्रकारके बाणोंका अनुसंधान करो
anyān bāṇān samīkṣasva yais tvaṁ māṁ sūdayiṣyasi | nāsikā uvāca—alarka! ye bāṇā merā kucha nahīṁ bigāṛa sakate | inase to tumhāre hī marma vidīrṇa hoṅge aura marma-sthānoṁ kā bhedana ho jāne para tumhīṁ maroge; ataḥ tuma dūsare prakāra ke bāṇoṁ kā anusandhāna karo, jisase tuma mujhe māra sako ||
“当另察他箭——你自以为可用以杀我者。”随即鼻说道：“阿拉尔迦！此等箭对我毫无损害；反倒会撕裂你自身的要害。要害被穿，死的便是你。故当寻别样兵器，方能真正杀我。”
प्राण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Violence used without discernment rebounds upon the agent: weapons that cannot reach the true target end up striking one’s own ‘marmas’—one’s vulnerabilities. The verse warns that ethical action requires right means; otherwise the doer is harmed by the very attempt.
Prāṇa speaks, urging Alarka to find different arrows to kill him. The personified Nose replies that Alarka’s current arrows cannot harm her; instead they will pierce Alarka’s own vital points and cause his death, so he should seek another method if he truly intends to kill.