Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 198

MBh 9 198.1

पितर ऊचुः अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। श्रुत्वा च तत् तथा कार्यं भवता द्विजसत्तम॥

pitara ūcuḥ atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam| śrutvā ca tat tathā kāryaṃ bhavatā dvijasattama||

Regarding it is cited this old, history. Having heard it, you should act according to it, O foremost of all twice-born persons.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.2

अलर्को नाम राजर्षिरभवत् सुमहातपाः। धर्मज्ञः सत्यवादी च महात्मा सुदृढव्रतः॥ ससागरान्तां धनुषा विनिर्जित्य महीमिमाम्। कृत्वा सुदुष्करं कर्म मनः सूक्ष्मे समादधे॥

alarko nāma rājarṣirabhavat sumahātapāḥ| dharmajñaḥ satyavādī ca mahātmā sudṛḍhavrataḥ|| sasāgarāntāṃ dhanuṣā vinirjitya mahīmimām| kṛtvā suduṣkaraṃ karma manaḥ sūkṣme samādadhe||

There was a royal sage, named of Alarka gifted with the austerest of penances. He knew all duties, was truthful in speech, of high soul, and exceedingly firm in his vows. Having with his bow. conquered the whole earth extending to the seas, and thereby performed a highly difficult fear, he set his mind on that which is subtle.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.3

स्थितस्य वृक्षमूलेषु तस्य चिन्ता बभूव ह। उत्सृज्य सुमहत्कर्म सूक्ष्म प्रति महामते॥४॥

sthitasya vṛkṣamūleṣu tasya cintā babhūva ha| utsṛjya sumahatkarma sūkṣma prati mahāmate||4||

While sitting at the root of a tree, his thoughts, O you of great intelligence, abandoning all those great deeds, turned towards that which is subtle!

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.4

अलर्क उवाच मनसो मे बलं जातं मनो जित्वा ध्रुवो जयः। अन्यत्र बाणान् धास्यामि शत्रुभिः परिवारितः॥

alarka uvāca manaso me balaṃ jātaṃ mano jitvā dhruvo jayaḥ| anyatra bāṇān dhāsyāmi śatrubhiḥ parivāritaḥ||

Alarka said My mind has become strong. Having conquered the mind, One's conquest becomes permanent. Though surrounded by enemies, I shall (henceforth) discharge my arrows at other objects.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.5

यदिदं चापलात् कर्म सर्वान् मोश्चिकीर्षति। मन:प्रति सुतीक्ष्णाग्रानहं मोक्ष्यामि सायकान्॥

yadidaṃ cāpalāt karma sarvān mościkīrṣati| mana:prati sutīkṣṇāgrānahaṃ mokṣyāmi sāyakān||

Since on account of its unsteadiness, it sets all mortals to perform acts, I shall shoot very sharp-pointed arrows at the mind!

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.6

मन उवाच नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथंचन। तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि॥

mana uvāca neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathaṃcana| tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi||

The mind said These arrows, O Alarka, will never cut me through. They will pierce only your own vital parts. Your vital parts being picrced, you shall die.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.7

अन्यान् बाणान् समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि। तच्छुत्वाप्यविचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत्॥

anyān bāṇān samīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi| tacchutvāpyavicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt||

Do you look out for other arrows with which 10 kill me! Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.8

अलर्क उवाच आघ्राय सुबहून् गन्धां स्तानेव प्रतिगृध्यति। तस्माद् घ्राणं प्रति शरान् प्रतिमोक्ष्याम्यहं शितान्॥

alarka uvāca āghrāya subahūn gandhāṃ stāneva pratigṛdhyati| tasmād ghrāṇaṃ prati śarān pratimokṣyāmyahaṃ śitān||

Alarka said Smelling many perfumes, (the nose) desires after them only. Hence I shall throw my whcited arrows at the nose.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.9

घ्राण उवाच नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथंचन। तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि॥

ghrāṇa uvāca neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathaṃcana| tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi||

The nose said-These arrows will never pass through me, O Alarka! They will pierce only your own vital parts, and your vital parts being pierced, you shall dic.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.10

अन्यान् बाणान् समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि। तच्छुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत्॥

anyān bāṇān samīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi| tacchutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt||

Do you look for other arrows with which to destroy me! Hearing these words and thinking upon them, he said as follows.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.11

अलर्क उवाच इयं स्वादून् रसान् भुक्त्वा तानेव प्रतिगृध्यति। तस्माज्जिह्वां प्रति शरान् प्रतिमोक्ष्याम्यहं शितान्॥

alarka uvāca iyaṃ svādūn rasān bhuktvā tāneva pratigṛdhyati| tasmājjihvāṃ prati śarān pratimokṣyāmyahaṃ śitān||

Alarka said This one enjoying savoury tastes, hankers after them only. hence I shall discharge whetted arrows at the tongue.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.12

जिह्वोवाच नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथंचन। तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि॥

jihvovāca neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathaṃcana| tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi||

The tongue said These arrows, O Alarka, will not cut through me. They will only pierce your own vital parts and your vital parts being pierced, you shall dic.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.13

अन्यान् बाणान् समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि। तच्छुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत्॥

anyān bāṇān samīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi| tacchutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt||

Do you look for other arrows with which to kill me! Hearing these words and thinking upon them, he said as follows.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.14

अलर्क उवाच स्पृष्ट्वा त्वग्विविधान् स्पर्शी स्तानेव प्रतिगृध्यति। तस्मात् त्वचं पाटयिप्ये विविधैः कङ्कपत्रिभिः॥

alarka uvāca spṛṣṭvā tvagvividhān sparśī stāneva pratigṛdhyati| tasmāt tvacaṃ pāṭayipye vividhaiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ||

Alarka said The skin, touching various objects of touch, hankers after them only. Hence, I shall tear off the skin with various arrows equipt with the feathers of the Kanka.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.15

त्वगुवाच नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथंचन। तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि॥

tvaguvāca neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathaṃcana| tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi||

The skin said These arrows will not, O Alarka, pass through me. They will pierce your own vital parts only, and your vital parts being pierced, you shall die.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.16

अन्यान् बाणान् समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि। तच्छुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत्॥

anyān bāṇān samīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi| tacchutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt||

Do you look for other arrows with which to kill me! Hearing these words and thinking on them, he said as follows.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.17

अलर्क उवाच श्रुत्वा तु विविधाञ्शब्दांस्तानेव प्रतिगृध्यति। तस्माच्छ्रोत्रं प्रति शरान् प्रतिमुञ्चाम्यहं शितान्॥

alarka uvāca śrutvā tu vividhāñśabdāṃstāneva pratigṛdhyati| tasmācchrotraṃ prati śarān pratimuñcāmyahaṃ śitān||

Alarka said Hearing various sounds, (the ear) hankers after them only. Hence, I shall discharge wheticd shafts at the ear.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.18

श्रोत्रमुवाच नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथंचन। तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति ततो हास्यसि जीवितम्॥

śrotramuvāca neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathaṃcana| tavaiva marma bhetsyanti tato hāsyasi jīvitam||

The car said These arrows will not, O Alarka pass though ine. They will pierce your own vital parts only, and your vital parts being pierced, you shall die.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.19

अन्यान् बाणान् समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि। तच्छुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत्॥

anyān bāṇān samīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi| tacchutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt||

Do you then look for other arrows with which to kill me! Hearing these words and thinking upon them, he said as follows.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.20

अलर्क उवाच दृष्ट्वा रूपाणि बहुशस्तान्येव प्रतिगृध्यति। तस्माच्चक्षुर्हनिष्यामि निशितैः सायकैरहम्॥

alarka uvāca dṛṣṭvā rūpāṇi bahuśastānyeva pratigṛdhyati| tasmāccakṣurhaniṣyāmi niśitaiḥ sāyakairaham||

Alarka said Secing many colours, the eye longs for them only. Hence, I shall destroy the eye with sharp-pointed arrows.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.21

चक्षुरुवाच नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथंचन। तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि॥

cakṣuruvāca neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathaṃcana| tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi||

Thc eye said, These arrows will not, O Alarka, pass through me at all. They will pierce your own vital parts lonely, and your vital parts being cut, you shall die.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.22

अन्यान् बाणान् समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि। तच्छुत्वा स विचिन्त्याथ ततो वचनमब्रवीत्॥

anyān bāṇān samīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi| tacchutvā sa vicintyātha tato vacanamabravīt||

Do you then look for other arrows with which to kill me! Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.23

अलर्क उवाच इयं निष्ठा बहुविधा प्रज्ञया त्वध्यवस्यति। तस्माद् बुद्धिं प्रति शरान् प्रतिमोक्ष्याम्यहं शितान्।।२४

alarka uvāca iyaṃ niṣṭhā bahuvidhā prajñayā tvadhyavasyati| tasmād buddhiṃ prati śarān pratimokṣyāmyahaṃ śitān||24

Alarka said This forins many determinations with the help of ratiocination. Hence, I shall discharge whetted arrows at the understanding.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.24

बुद्धिरुवाच नेमे बाणास्तरिष्यन्ति मामलर्क कथंचन। तवैव मर्म भेत्स्यन्ति भिन्नमर्मा मरिष्यसि॥

buddhiruvāca neme bāṇāstariṣyanti māmalarka kathaṃcana| tavaiva marma bhetsyanti bhinnamarmā mariṣyasi||

These arrows will not, O Alarka, pass through me at all. They will pierce your vital parts only, and your vital parts being pierced, you shall die. Do you then look for other arrows with which to kill ine.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.25

ब्राह्मण उवाच अन्यान् बाणान् समीक्षस्व यैस्त्वं मां सूदयिष्यसि।। ततोऽलर्कस्तपो घोरं तत्रैवास्थाय दुष्करम्। नाध्यगच्छत् परं शक्त्या बाणमेतेषु सप्तसु॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca anyān bāṇān samīkṣasva yaistvaṃ māṃ sūdayiṣyasi|| tato'larkastapo ghoraṃ tatraivāsthāya duṣkaram| nādhyagacchat paraṃ śaktyā bāṇameteṣu saptasu||

The Brahmana said Then Alarka, engaging himself, even there, on penances difficult to perforin and greatly austere, failed to obtain, by the high power (of his penances) arrows for casting at these seven.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.26

सुसमाहितचेतास्तु स ततोऽचिन्तयत् प्रभुः। स विचिन्त्य चिरं कालमलर्को द्विजसत्तम॥ नाध्यगच्छत् परं श्रेयो योगान्मतिमतां वरः। स एकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा निश्चलो योगमास्थितः॥

susamāhitacetāstu sa tato'cintayat prabhuḥ| sa vicintya ciraṃ kālamalarko dvijasattama|| nādhyagacchat paraṃ śreyo yogānmatimatāṃ varaḥ| sa ekāgraṃ manaḥ kṛtvā niścalo yogamāsthitaḥ||

Gifted with power, he then, with mind well concentrated, began to reflect. Then, O best of twice-born ones, Alarka, that foremost of intelligent men, having thought for a long time, could not obtain anything better than Yoga. Setting his mind on one object he remained perfectly still, engaged in Yoga.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.27

इन्द्रियाणि जघानाशु बाणेनैकेन वीर्यवान्। योगेनात्मानमाविश्य सिद्धिं परमिकां गतः॥

indriyāṇi jaghānāśu bāṇenaikena vīryavān| yogenātmānamāviśya siddhiṃ paramikāṃ gataḥ||

Gifted with energy, he speedily killed all the senses with one arrow, having entered by Yoga into his soul and thereby acquired the highest success.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.28

विस्मितश्चापि राजर्षिरिमां गाथां जगाद ह। अहो कष्टं यदस्माभिः सर्वं बाह्यमनुष्ठितम्॥

vismitaścāpi rājarṣirimāṃ gāthāṃ jagāda ha| aho kaṣṭaṃ yadasmābhiḥ sarvaṃ bāhyamanuṣṭhitam||

Stricken with wonder, that royal sage then sang this verse : Alas it is a pity that we should have performed all acts that are external.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.29

भोगतृष्णासमायुक्तः पूर्वं राज्यमुपासितम्। इति पश्चान्मया ज्ञातं योगान्नास्ति परं सुखम्॥

bhogatṛṣṇāsamāyuktaḥ pūrvaṃ rājyamupāsitam| iti paścānmayā jñātaṃ yogānnāsti paraṃ sukham||

Alas, that we should have, gifted with the thirst for enjoyment, courted sovereignty before now! I have learnt this afterwards! There is no happiness that is higher than Yoga.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.30

इति त्वमनुजानीहि राम मा क्षत्रियान् जहि। तपो घोरमुपातिष्ठ ततः श्रेयोऽभिपत्स्यसे॥

iti tvamanujānīhi rāma mā kṣatriyān jahi| tapo ghoramupātiṣṭha tataḥ śreyo'bhipatsyase||

Do you know this, O Rama! Cease, to kill the Kshatriyas! Do you practise the austerest of penances! You will then attain to what is good.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 198.31

इत्युक्तः स तपो घोरं जामदग्न्यः पितामहैः। आस्थितः सुमहाभागो ययौ सिद्धिं च दुर्गमाम्॥

ityuktaḥ sa tapo ghoraṃ jāmadagnyaḥ pitāmahaiḥ| āsthitaḥ sumahābhāgo yayau siddhiṃ ca durgamām||

Thus addressed by his grandfathers, Jamadagni's son performed the austcrest penances, and having practised then, that highly blessed one acquired that success which is difficult to recall.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)