Shloka 14

अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory

Mahābhārata 14.30

Devanagari script

तच्छुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमत्रवीत्‌,यह सुनकर अलर्क कुछ देरतक सोचते-विचारते रहे, फिर (त्वचापर कुपित होकर) बोले

Transliteration

tac chrutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanam abravīt

Translation

听到这番话，阿拉尔迦沉思良久；继而权衡再三，开口说道——他的话语既承载着方才所闻的道义之重，也夹带着随之升起的怒意。

Word by Word

• तत्: that (speech/statement)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विचिन्त्य: having reflected/considered
• विचिन्त्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चिन्त्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• अथ: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• ततः: thereafter/from that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• अवीत्: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

अलर्क उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Alarka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical restraint in speech: one should first listen and reflect (vicintya) before responding, especially when anger arises, because words carry moral consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Alarka hears something significant, pauses to think it over, and then begins his reply—signaling a transition from receiving counsel or provocation to delivering his own considered (and possibly anger-tinged) response.