Shloka 26
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
ब्राह्मण उवाच ततोअलर्कस्तपो घोर तत्रैवास्थाय दुष्करम् | नाध्यगच्छत् परं शक््त्या बाणमेतेषु सप्तसु
brāhmaṇa uvāca tato 'larkas tapo ghoraṁ tatraivāsthāya duṣkaram | nādhyagacchat paraṁ śaktyā bāṇam eteṣu saptasu ||
婆罗门说道：“女神啊，其后阿拉尔迦仍在原处，就在那树下端坐，行极其严酷难行的苦行。然而纵使竭尽其力，在那七支箭中，他也未能寻得一支至上的箭，足以降伏心与理智，并连同五根一并制伏。”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even intense effort and power may fail to yield an external means (a weapon) for mastering the inner faculties; the verse underscores the ethical idea that true victory lies in conquering mind and senses, which is not easily achieved through outward instruments.
After earlier events, Alarka stays in the same place and performs severe austerities, seeking an unsurpassed arrow among a set of seven; despite his effort, he cannot find a weapon fit to subdue mind, intellect, and the five senses.