Alarka Shoots Arrows at the Senses

Verse 1 (14.31.1)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । श्रुत्वा च तत्तथा कार्यं भवता द्विजसत्तम ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | śrutvā ca tattathā kāryaṃ bhavatā dvijasattama

The Forefathers said: On this subject, too, they recount an ancient tale, and having heard it you should act accordingly, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 2 (14.31.2)

अलर्को नाम राजर्षिरभवत्सुमहातपाः । धर्मज्ञः सत्यवादी च महात्मा सुदृढव्रतः ॥

alarko nāma rājarṣirabhavatsumahātapāḥ | dharmajñaḥ satyavādī ca mahātmā sudṛḍhavrataḥ

There was a royal sage named Alarka, of great austerity, who knew dharma, spoke the truth, was high-souled and firm in his vows.

Verse 3 (14.31.3)

स सागरान्तां धनुषा विनिर्जित्य महीमिमाम् । कृत्वा सुदुष्करं कर्म मनः सूक्ष्मे समादधे ॥

sa sāgarāntāṃ dhanuṣā vinirjitya mahīmimām | kṛtvā suduṣkaraṃ karma manaḥ sūkṣme samādadhe

Having conquered this whole earth, bounded by the sea, with his bow, and having done a most difficult deed, he set his mind upon the subtle.

Verse 4 (14.31.4)

स्थितस्य वृक्षमूलेऽथ तस्य चिन्ता बभूव ह । उत्सृज्य सुमहद्राज्यं सूक्ष्मं प्रति महामते ॥

sthitasya vṛkṣamūle'tha tasya cintā babhūva ha | utsṛjya sumahadrājyaṃ sūkṣmaṃ prati mahāmate

As he stood at the foot of a tree, a thought came to him: having given up his vast kingdom, he turned to the subtle, O wise one.

Note on the text: Corrected उत्सृय → उत्सृज्य (misprint in Wikisource: dropped ज्; CE utsṛjya).

Verse 5 (14.31.5)

मनसो मे बलं जातं मनो जित्वा ध्रुवो जयः । अन्यत्र बाणानस्यामि शत्रुभिः परिवारितः ॥

manaso me balaṃ jātaṃ mano jitvā dhruvo jayaḥ | anyatra bāṇānasyāmi śatrubhiḥ parivāritaḥ

Alarka said: Strength has come to me from the mind; once the mind is conquered, victory is certain. Elsewhere I shall shoot my arrows, when I am surrounded by foes.

Verse 6 (14.31.6)

यदिदं चापलात्कर्म सर्वान्मर्त्यांश्चिकीर्षति । मनः प्रति सुतीक्ष्णाग्रानहं मोक्ष्यामि सायकान् ॥

yadidaṃ cāpalātkarma sarvānmartyāṃścikīrṣati | manaḥ prati sutīkṣṇāgrānahaṃ mokṣyāmi sāyakān

This restlessness, which in its fickleness wants to make all mortals act, the mind: at the mind I shall loose my sharp-pointed arrows.

Verse 7 (14.31.7)

नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथञ्चन । तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि ॥

neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathañcana | tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi

The Mind said: These arrows will never get across to me, Alarka; they will pierce your own vital spot, and with your vitals broken you will die.

Verse 8 (14.31.8)

अन्यान्बाणान्समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि । तच्छ्रुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

anyānbāṇānsamīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi | tacchrutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt

Look for other arrows, with which you can destroy me. Hearing this, he thought it over and then spoke these words:

Note on the text: Corrected तत्छ्रुत्वा → तच्छ्रुत्वा (sandhi misprint in Wikisource; CE tac chrutvā, and verse 11 prints तच्छ्रुत्वा). Line 2 is the narrator's.

Verse 9 (14.31.9)

आघ्राय सुबहून्गन्धांस्तानेव प्रतिगृध्यति । तस्माद्ध्राणं प्रति शरान्प्रतिमोक्ष्याम्यहं शितान् ॥

āghrāya subahūngandhāṃstāneva pratigṛdhyati | tasmāddhrāṇaṃ prati śarānpratimokṣyāmyahaṃ śitān

Alarka said: Having smelled very many scents, it longs for those same ones again; therefore I shall loose sharp arrows at the nose.

Note on the text: Speaker: Alarka's own words (no heading is printed; the page's heading for the Mind is carried over, and the input had the Mind as speaker).

Verse 10 (14.31.10)

नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथञ्चन । तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि ॥

neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathañcana | tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi

The Nose said: These arrows will never get across to me, Alarka; they will pierce your own vital spot, and with your vitals broken you will die.

Verse 11 (14.31.11)

अन्यान्बाणान्समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि । तच्छ्रुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

anyānbāṇānsamīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi | tacchrutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt

Look for other arrows, with which you can destroy me. Hearing this, he thought it over and then spoke these words:

Note on the text: Corrected अन्यान्याणान् → अन्यान्बाणान् (misprint in Wikisource: याण for बाण; CE anyān bāṇān). Line 2 is the narrator's.

Verse 12 (14.31.12)

इयं स्वादून्रसान्भुक्त्वा तानेव प्रति गृध्यति । तस्माज्जिह्वां प्रति शरान्प्रतिमोक्ष्याम्यहं शितान् ॥

iyaṃ svādūnrasānbhuktvā tāneva prati gṛdhyati | tasmājjihvāṃ prati śarānpratimokṣyāmyahaṃ śitān

Alarka said: Having tasted sweet flavours, this one longs for those same ones again; therefore I shall loose sharp arrows at the tongue.

Note on the text: Speaker: Alarka's own words (no heading is printed; the page's heading for the Nose is carried over, and the input had the Nose as speaker).

Verse 13 (14.31.13)

नेमे वाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथञ्चन । तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति ततो हास्यसि जीवितम् ॥

neme vāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathañcana | tavaiva marma bhetsyanti tato hāsyasi jīvitam

The Tongue said: These arrows will never get across to me, Alarka; they will pierce your own vital spot, and then you will lose your life.

Verse 14 (14.31.14)

अन्यान्वाणान्समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि । तच्छ्रुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

anyānvāṇānsamīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi | tacchrutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt

Look for other arrows, with which you can destroy me. Hearing this, he thought it over and then spoke these words:

Verse 15 (14.31.15)

स्पृष्ट्वा त्वग्विविधान्स्पर्शांस्तानेव प्रतिगृध्यति । तस्मात्त्वचं पाटयिष्ये विविधैः कङ्कपत्रिभिः ॥

spṛṣṭvā tvagvividhānsparśāṃstāneva pratigṛdhyati | tasmāttvacaṃ pāṭayiṣye vividhaiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ

Alarka said: Having touched the many kinds of touch, the skin longs for those same ones again; therefore I shall tear the skin with many arrows fledged with heron feathers.

Note on the text: Speaker: Alarka's own words (no heading is printed; the page's heading for the Tongue is carried over, and the input had the Tongue as speaker).

Verse 16 (14.31.16)

नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथञ्चन । तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि ॥

neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathañcana | tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi

The Skin said: These arrows will never get across to me, Alarka; they will pierce your own vital spot, and with your vitals broken you will die.

Verse 17 (14.31.17)

अन्यान्बाणान्समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि । तच्छ्रुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

anyānbāṇānsamīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi | tacchrutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt

Look for other arrows, with which you can destroy me. Hearing this, he thought it over and then spoke these words:

Verse 18 (14.31.18)

श्रुत्वा तु विविधाञ्शब्दांस्तानेव प्रतिगृध्यति । तस्माच्छ्रोत्रं प्रति शरान्प्रति मुञ्चाम्यहं शितान् ॥

śrutvā tu vividhāñśabdāṃstāneva pratigṛdhyati | tasmācchrotraṃ prati śarānprati muñcāmyahaṃ śitān

Alarka said: Having heard the many kinds of sounds, it longs for those same ones again; therefore I shall loose sharp arrows at the ear.

Note on the text: Speaker: Alarka's own words (no heading is printed; the page's heading for the Skin is carried over, and the input had the Skin as speaker).

Verse 19 (14.31.19)

नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथञ्चन । तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति ततो हास्यसि जीवितम् ॥

neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathañcana | tavaiva marma bhetsyanti tato hāsyasi jīvitam

The Ear said: These arrows will never get across to me, Alarka; they will pierce your own vital spot, and then you will lose your life.

Note on the text: Corrected हास्यति → हास्यसि (misprint in Wikisource: the verb addresses Alarka, as in verse 13; CE hāsyasi).

Verse 20 (14.31.20)

अन्यान्बाणान्समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि । तच्छ्रुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

anyānbāṇānsamīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi | tacchrutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt

Look for other arrows, with which you can destroy me. Hearing this, he thought it over and then spoke these words:

Verse 21 (14.31.21)

दृष्ट्वा रूपाणि बहुशस्तान्येव प्रतिगृध्यति । तस्माच्चक्षुर्हनिष्यामि निशितैः सायकैरहम् ॥

dṛṣṭvā rūpāṇi bahuśastānyeva pratigṛdhyati | tasmāccakṣurhaniṣyāmi niśitaiḥ sāyakairaham

Alarka said: Having seen forms many times, it longs for those same ones again; therefore I shall strike the eye with sharp arrows.

Note on the text: Speaker: Alarka's own words (no heading is printed; the page's heading for the Ear is carried over, and the input had the Ear as speaker). Recension variant of CE 14.30.21 (dṛṣṭvā vai vividhān bhāvāṃs tān eva pratigṛdhyati / tasmāc cakṣuḥ prati śarān pratimokṣyāmy ahaṃ śitān), which the alignment left unmatched; kept as printed.

Verse 22 (14.31.22)

नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथञ्चन । तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि ॥

neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathañcana | tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi

The Eye said: These arrows will never get across to me, Alarka; they will pierce your own vital spot, and with your vitals broken you will die.

Verse 23 (14.31.23)

अन्यान्बाणान्समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि । तच्छ्रुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

anyānbāṇānsamīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi | tacchrutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt

Look for other arrows, with which you can destroy me. Hearing this, he thought it over and then spoke these words:

Note on the text: Corrected सूदयिष्यति → सूदयिष्यसि (misprint in Wikisource: the verb is second person, as in the parallel verses; CE sūdayiṣyasi). Line 2 is the narrator's.

Verse 24 (14.31.24)

इयं निष्ठा बहुविधा प्रज्ञया त्वध्यवस्यति । तस्माद्बुद्धिं प्रति शरान्प्रतिमोक्ष्याम्यहं शितान् ॥

iyaṃ niṣṭhā bahuvidhā prajñayā tvadhyavasyati | tasmādbuddhiṃ prati śarānpratimokṣyāmyahaṃ śitān

Alarka said: This resolve, of many kinds, is settled by discernment; therefore I shall loose sharp arrows at the intellect.

Note on the text: Speaker: Alarka's own words (no heading is printed; the page's heading for the Eye is carried over, and the input had the Eye as speaker). Corrected त्वद्यवस्यति → त्वध्यवस्यति (misprint in Wikisource: द्य for ध्य; CE tv adhyavasyati).

Verse 25 (14.31.25)

नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथञ्चन । तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि । अन्यान्बाणान्समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि ॥

neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathañcana | tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi | anyānbāṇānsamīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi

The Intellect said: These arrows will never get across to me, Alarka; they will pierce your own vital spot, and with your vitals broken you will die. Look for other arrows, with which you can destroy me.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 31-25a/b/c). Lines 1-2 = CE 14.30.25 (neme bāṇās tariṣyanti … mariṣyasi); line 3 = the CE star line 14.30.25d*0065_01 (anyān bāṇān samīkṣasva yais tvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi). The alignment found no match because of the extra line.

Verse 26 (14.31.26)

ततोऽलर्कस्तपो घोरं तत्रैवास्थाय दुष्करम् । नाध्यगच्छत्परं शक्त्या बाणमेतेषु सप्तसु ॥

tato'larkastapo ghoraṃ tatraivāsthāya duṣkaram | nādhyagacchatparaṃ śaktyā bāṇameteṣu saptasu

The Forefathers said: Then Alarka took up severe and most difficult austerity right there, but with that strength he found no better arrow against these seven.

Note on the text: Verses 26-27 follow the CE's three-line verses: verse 26 = CE 14.30.26a, 26c; line 1 of verse 27 = 14.30.26e, lines 2-3 of verse 27 = 14.30.27a, 27c. The alignment found no match for these.

Verse 27 (14.31.27)

सुसमाहितचेतास्तु स ततोऽचिन्तयत्प्रभुः । स विचिन्त्य चिरं कालमलर्को द्विजसत्तम । नाध्यगच्छत्परं श्रेयो योगान्मतिमतांवरः ॥

susamāhitacetāstu sa tato'cintayatprabhuḥ | sa vicintya ciraṃ kālamalarko dvijasattama | nādhyagacchatparaṃ śreyo yogānmatimatāṃvaraḥ

With a well-concentrated mind, that lord then reflected. After thinking for a long time, Alarka, O best of the twice-born, wisest of the wise, found nothing higher than yoga.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 31-27a/b/c): line 1 = CE 14.30.26e; lines 2-3 = CE 14.30.27a, 27c (see verse 26).

Verse 28 (14.31.28)

स एकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा निश्चलो योगमास्थितः । इन्द्रियाणि जघानाशु बाणेनैकेन वीर्यवान् ॥

sa ekāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā niścalo yogamāsthitaḥ | indriyāṇi jaghānāśu bāṇenaikena vīryavān

With his mind made one-pointed and unmoving, he settled into yoga, and that mighty man swiftly slew the senses with a single arrow.

Note on the text: Verses 28-29 follow the CE's three-line verse 14.30.28: verse 28 = 28a, 28c; line 1 of verse 29 = 28e. The alignment found no match for them.

Verse 29 (14.31.29)

योगेनात्मानमाविश्य सिद्धिं परमां गतः । विस्मितश्चापि राजर्षिरिमां गाथां जगाद ह ॥

yogenātmānamāviśya siddhiṃ paramāṃ gataḥ | vismitaścāpi rājarṣirimāṃ gāthāṃ jagāda ha

Having entered the self through yoga, he attained the highest perfection; and the astonished royal sage sang this verse:

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 14.30.28e (yogenātmānam āviśya saṃsiddhiṃ paramāṃ yayau); line 2 = CE 14.30.29a. Corrected परमिकां → परमां (misprint in Wikisource, not a word in this sense; CE paramāṃ), the rest of the line (गतः) kept.

Verse 30 (14.31.30)

अहो कष्टं यदस्माभिः सर्वं बाह्यमनुष्ठितम् । भोगतृष्णासमायुक्तैः पूर्वं राज्यमुपासितम् । इति पश्चान्मया ज्ञातं योगान्नास्ति परं सुखम् ॥

aho kaṣṭaṃ yadasmābhiḥ sarvaṃ bāhyamanuṣṭhitam | bhogatṛṣṇāsamāyuktaiḥ pūrvaṃ rājyamupāsitam | iti paścānmayā jñātaṃ yogānnāsti paraṃ sukham

"Alas, what a pity that we, filled with craving for enjoyment, spent our earlier days on kingship, all of it outward! Only now have I learned it: there is no happiness higher than yoga."

Note on the text: Speaker: Alarka's own verse (the gāthā announced in verse 29); no heading is printed and the input had पितर. Three-line verse, as on the page: line 1 = CE 14.30.29a (with the variant सर्वं बाह्यमनुष्ठितम् for CE pūrvaṃ rājyam anuṣṭhitam, kept), line 2 = the CE star line 14.30.29d*0066_01 (bhogatṛṣṇāsamāyuktaiḥ pūrvaṃ rājyam upāsitam), line 3 = CE 14.30.29e.

Verse 31 (14.31.31)

इति त्वमनुजानीहि राम मा क्षत्रियान्वधीः । तपो घोरमुपातिष्ठ ततः श्रेयोऽभिपत्स्यसे ॥

iti tvamanujānīhi rāma mā kṣatriyānvadhīḥ | tapo ghoramupātiṣṭha tataḥ śreyo'bhipatsyase

The Forefathers said: Understand it so, Rama, and do not slay the Kshatriyas. Take up severe austerity, and then you will attain the highest good.

Note on the text: Corrected तषो → तपो (misprint in Wikisource: ष for प; CE tapo). Line 1 is a recension variant (त्वमनुजानीहि for CE tvam api jānīhi), kept.

Verse 32 (14.31.32)

इत्युक्तः पितृभिः सोऽथ तपो घोरं समास्थितः । जामदग्न्यो महाभागे सिद्धिं च परमां गतः ॥

ityuktaḥ pitṛbhiḥ so'tha tapo ghoraṃ samāsthitaḥ | jāmadagnyo mahābhāge siddhiṃ ca paramāṃ gataḥ

The Brahmin said: Thus addressed by his forefathers, Jamadagni's son took up severe austerity and attained the highest perfection, O fortunate lady.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration by the Brahmin (the CE has brāhmaṇa uvāca at 14.30.31; no heading is printed on the page, and the input carried पितर over). Corrected सोथ → सोऽथ (missing avagraha in Wikisource). The verse is the two CE star lines 14.30.31d*0067_01-02 (ity uktaḥ pitṛbhiḥ so 'tha tapo ghoraṃ samāsthitaḥ / jāmadagnyo mahābhāgaḥ siddhiṃ ca paramāṃ gataḥ), a variant of CE 14.30.31 (unmatched by the alignment).