The Bhagavadgîtâ, with the Sanatsugâtîya and the Anugîtâ — SBE Vol. 8 (trans. K. T. Telang, 1882)
The translator’s English as printed (K. T. Telang). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
The Pitṛis said:
O best of victors! you ought not to destroy these kinsmen of Kshatriyâs. It is not proper for you, being a Brâhmaṇa, to slaughter these kings.
CHAPTER XV.
The Pitṛis said:
On this*, too, they relate an ancient story; hearing that (story), O best of the twice-born! you should | act accordingly. There was (once) a royal sage, named Alarka, whose penance was very great, who understood duty, who was veracious, high-souled,* and very firm in his vows. Having with his bow conquered this world as far as the ocean, —having performed very difficult deeds*—he turned his mind to subtle* (subjects). While he was sitting at the foot of a tree, O you of great intelligence! his thoughts, abandoning (those) great deeds, turned to subtle (questions),
Alarka said:
My mind is become (too) strong*; that conquest is constant in which the mind is conquered, (Though) surrounded by enemies, I shall direct my arrows elsewhere*. As by its unsteadiness, it wishes * to make all mortals perform action, I will cast very sharp-edged arrows at the mind.
* The impropriety or sinfulness of slaughter,
* Such as the subjugation of enemies and so forth. The Brahman, says Nîlakaṇṭha, 3 a I.e. too strong to be under control. 5 That is to say, elsewhere than towards the external foes with whom he was waging war. ° The text is unsatisfactory here, I adopt Nîlakaṇṭha’s reading.
The Pitṛis said:
O best of victors! You should not destroy these kinsmen of Kshatriyâs. It is not fitting for you, as a Brâhmaṇa, to slaughter these kings.
CHAPTER XV.
The Pitṛis said:
On this*, too, they relate an ancient story; and hearing it, O best of the twice-born, you should act accordingly. There was once a royal sage named Alarka, whose penance was very great, who understood duty, was truthful, high-souled*, and very firm in his vows. Having with his bow conquered this world as far as the ocean—having performed very difficult deeds*—he turned his mind to subtle* subjects. While he sat at the foot of a tree, O you of great intelligence, his thoughts left those great deeds behind and turned to subtle questions.
Alarka said:
My mind has grown too strong; the only true and lasting conquest is the conquest of the mind. Though surrounded by enemies, I will aim my arrows elsewhere. Since by its restlessness the mind seeks to drive all mortals into action, I will loose my sharpest arrows against it.
* The impropriety or sinfulness of slaughter,
* Such as the subjugation of enemies and so forth. The Brahman, says Nîlakaṇṭha, 3 a I.e. too strong to be under control. 5 That is to say, elsewhere than towards the external foes with whom he was waging war. ° The text is unsatisfactory here; I adopt Nîlakaṇṭha's reading.