Shloka 3

अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory

Mahābhārata 14.30

Devanagari script

ससागरान्तां धनुषा विनिर्जित्य महीमिमाम्‌ | कृत्वा सुदुष्करं कर्म मन: सूक्ष्मे समादधे

Transliteration

sasāgārāntāṁ dhanuṣā vinirjitya mahīm imām | kṛtvā suduṣkaraṁ karma manaḥ sūkṣme samādadhē ||

Translation

他凭借弓力征服了这片大地，直至环绕四方的海洋，完成了一桩极其难行的伟业。此后，他的心志转向幽微之理——由外在的征伐回归内在的探求与自制。

Word by Word

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

• सागर-अन्ताम्: ending with the ocean, ocean-bounded
• सागर-अन्ताम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सागरान्त (सागर + अन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• धनुषा: with (his) bow
• धनुषा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विनिर्जित्य: having completely conquered
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-√जि
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• महीम्: the earth
• महीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• सुदुष्करम्: very difficult
• सुदुष्करम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदुष्कर (सु + दुष्कर)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: deed, act
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सूक्ष्मे: in the subtle (principle/thing)
• सूक्ष्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• समादधे: he fixed/placed (his mind), he applied
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√धा
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

समुद्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• समुद्र (the Ocean, speaker)
• धनुष् (bow)
• मही (earth)
• सागर (ocean/sea)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts external victory with inner discipline: after achieving the hardest worldly conquest, true excellence is shown by turning the mind toward subtle truth—self-control, discernment, and deeper understanding beyond mere power.

What is happening in the narrative?

The Ocean (Samudra) describes a hero who conquered the whole earth up to the sea by martial strength, performed an extraordinary feat, and then redirected his attention inward, focusing his mind on subtle reality rather than further outward domination.