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.
Alarka said:
Seeing numerous colours, the eye hankers after them only. Therefore I will destroy the eye with sharp arrows.
The eye said:
These arrows, O Alarka! will not penetrate through me at all They will only pierce your own vital part, and your vital part being pierced, you will die. Look out for other arrows by which you may destroy me.
Hearing that, he then said after consideration :—
Alarka said:
This (understanding) forms various determinations by its operation. Therefore I will cast sharp arrows at the understanding.
The understanding said:
These arrows, O Alarka! will not penetrate through me at all. They will only pierce your own vital part, and your vital part being pierced, you will die. Look out for other arrows by which you may destroy me.
The Brâhmaṇa¹ said:
Then Alarka even there employed himself in a fearful penance, difficult to perform; but he did not obtain any arrows for these seven by his devotions. Then that king deliberated with a mind very intent on one (subject), and.after deliberating for a long time, O best of the twice-born! Alarka, the best of talented (men), could not arrive at anything better than concentration of mind¹. Then directing his mind to one point², he became steady, and applied himself to concentration of mind. And (then) the brave man forthwith destroyed the senses with one arrow; and entering the self by means of concentration of mind, he reached the highest perfection. And the royal sage, amazed, then uttered this verse, ‘O! Alas! that we should have engaged in all external (matters); that being possessed of a desire for enjoyments, we should have devoted ourselves before now to sovereignty! I have now subsequently learnt that there is no higher happiness than concentration of mind.” Do you understand this too, O Rama! and do not kill Kshatriyas. Perform a fearful* penance, thence you will obtain the highest good. Thus spoken to by (his) grandfathers, the noble son of Gamadagni engaged himself in fearful penance, and attained that perfection which is difficult to reach.
1 Sic in our copies. It should be the Pitṛis, seeing that they are relating Alarka’s story to Parasurâma.
2 Meditation, or pondering, according to Nîlakaṇṭha. ,
Alarka said:
Seeing so many colours, the eye craves nothing but them. Therefore I will destroy the eye with sharp arrows.
The eye said:
These arrows, O Alarka, will not pierce me at all. They will only strike your own vital part, and once your vital part is struck, you will die. Find other arrows with which you may destroy me.
Hearing that, he thought it over and then said:—
Alarka said:
This understanding takes on various determinations through its activity. Therefore I will shoot sharp arrows at the understanding.
The understanding said:
These arrows, O Alarka, will not pierce me at all. They will only strike your own vital part, and once your vital part is struck, you will die. Look for other arrows that can destroy me.
The Brâhmaṇa¹ said:
Then Alarka, even there, undertook a fearful penance, hard to perform; yet through his devotions he obtained no arrows for these seven. The king then deliberated with a mind wholly fixed on one thing, and after deliberating for a long time, O best of the twice-born, Alarka, best of gifted men, could arrive at nothing better than concentration of mind¹. He then directed his mind to a single point², became steady, and gave himself over to concentration of mind. The brave man forthwith destroyed the senses with one arrow, and entering the self by means of concentration of mind, he reached the highest perfection. The royal sage, filled with wonder, then uttered this verse: "Alas, that we should have busied ourselves with all outward things; that, possessed by desire for enjoyments, we should have devoted ourselves until now to sovereignty! I have only now learnt that there is no higher happiness than concentration of mind." Understand this too, O Rama, and do not kill Kshatriyas. Perform a fearful penance; through it you will obtain the highest good. Thus addressed by his grandfathers, the noble son of Jamadagni gave himself to fearful penance and attained that perfection which is hard to reach.
1 So in our copies. It should be the Pitṛis, seeing that they are the ones relating Alarka's story to Parasurâma.
2 Meditation, or pondering, according to Nîlakaṇṭha.