Shloka 31
अलर्कोपाख्यानम् — Indriya-Nigraha and Yogic Victory
Mahābhārata 14.30
भोगतृष्णासमायुक्ति: पूर्व राज्यमुपासितम् । इति पश्चान्मया ज्ञातं योगान्नास्ति परं सुखम्
bhogatṛṣṇāsamāyuktiḥ pūrvaṁ rājyam upāsitam | iti paścān mayā jñātaṁ yogān nāsti paraṁ sukham ||
婆罗门说道：“为享乐之渴所系，我从前一心奉事王权。直到后来我才明白：瑜伽之上，更无更高的安乐。”在叙事框架中，这被作为归于王者圣贤阿拉尔迦（Alarka）的一曲省思之歌，悔叹自己久逐外在权势与欲乐，迟迟方知禅修之道才是通向恒久安宁的上乘途径。
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Craving for pleasures binds one to outward pursuits like power and status; meditative discipline (yoga) yields a higher, more stable happiness than sensory enjoyment or political sovereignty.
A reflective utterance is presented through the Brahmin’s speech: the royal sage Alarka looks back with astonishment and regret at his former absorption in kingship driven by desire, and proclaims that he realized only later that yoga is the supreme source of happiness.