Section XXX

"The Pitris said, 'In this connection is cited this old history. Having heard it, you should act according to it, O foremost of all regenerate persons. There was a royal sage of the name Alarka endued with the austerest of penances. He was conversant with all duties, 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 achieved an exceedingly difficult feat, he set his mind on that which is subtle. While sitting at the root of a tree, his thoughts, O you of great intelligence, abandoning all those great feats, turned towards that which is subtle.'

"Alarka said, 'My mind has become strong. Having conquered the mind, one’s conquest becomes permanent. Though surrounded by foes, I shall (henceforth) shoot my arrows at other objects. Since in consequence of its unsteadiness, it sets all mortals to accomplish acts, I shall shoot very sharp-pointed shafts at the mind.'

"The mind said, 'These arrows, O Alarka, will never pierce me through. They will pierce only your own vital parts, Your vital parts being pierced, you shalt die. Do you look out for other arrows with which to destroy me.' Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.

"Alarka said, ’smelling very many perfumes, the nose hankers after them only. Hence I shall shoot whetted arrows at the nose.'

"The nose said, 'These arrows will never cross through me, O Alarka. They will pierce only your own vital parts, and your vital parts being pierced, you shalt die. Do you look for other arrows with which to destroy me.'

Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.

"Alarka said, This one (viz., the tongue), enjoying savoury tastes, hankers after them only. Hence I shall shoot whetted shafts at the tongue.'

"The tongue said, 'These arrows, O Alarka, will not cross through me. They will only pierce your own vital parts and your vital parts being pierced, you shalt die. Do you look for other arrows with which to destroy me.' Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.

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

"The skin said, 'These arrows will not, O Alarka, cross through me. They will pierce your own vital parts only, and your vital parts being pierced, you shalt die. Do you look for other arrows with which to destroy me.' Hearing these words and reflecting on them, he said as follows.

"Alarka said, 'Hearing diverse sounds, (the ear) hankers after them only. Hence, I shall shoot whetted shafts at the ear.'

"The ear said, 'These arrows will not, O Alarka, cross through me. They will pierce your own vital parts only, and your vital parts being pierced, you shalt die. Do you then look for other arrows with which to destroy me.' Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.

"Alarka said, ’seeing many colours, the eye hankers after them only. Hence, I shall destroy the eye with sharp-pointed arrows.'

"The eye said. 'These arrows will not, O Alarka, cross through me at all. They will pierce your own vital parts only, and your vital parts being pierced, you shalt die. Do you then look for other arrows with which to destroy me!' Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.

"Alarka said, 'This (viz., the understanding) forms many determinations with the aid of ratiocination. Hence, I shall shoot whetted arrows at the understanding.'

"The understanding said, 'These arrows will not, O Alarka, cross through me at all. They will pierce your vital parts only, and your vital parts being pierced, you shalt die. Do you then look for other arrows with which to destroy me!'

"The Brahmana continued, 'Then Alarka, employing himself, even there, on penances difficult to perform and exceedingly austere, failed to obtain, by the high power (of his penances) arrows for casting at these seven. Endued with puissance, he then, with mind well concentrated, began to reflect. Then O best of regenerate ones, Alarka, that foremost of intelligent men, having reflected for a long time, failed to obtain anything better than Yoga. Setting his mind on one object, he remained perfectly still, engaged in Yoga.^[1] Endued with energy, he quickly slew all the senses with one arrow, having entered by Yoga into his soul and thereby attained to the highest success. Filled with wonder, that royal sage then sang this verse: Alas, it is a pity that we should have accomplished all acts that are external! Alas, that we should have, endued with the thirst for enjoyment, courted (the pleasures of) sovereignty before now! I have learnt this afterwards. There is no happiness that is higher than Yoga.—Do you know this, O Rama. Cease to slay the Kshatriyas. Do you practise the austerest of penances. You will then attain to what is good.—Thus addressed by his grandsires, Jamadagni’s son practised the austerest penances, and having practised them, that highly blessed one attained to that success which is difficult to reach.'"

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The vocative, 'O foremost of regenerate ones' applies to Jamadagni’s son. The narration is that of the Pitris. All the copies, however, represent this as the Brahmana’s speech to his wife. Indeed, the Brahmana is only reciting to his wife the speech of the Pitris to Rama. The Yoga here spoken of is, as Nilakantha explains the Raja-Yoga. Previously, Alarka had been bent upon Hatha-Yoga which frequently ends in the destruction of the person practising it.