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ANUGITA
CHAPTER XV
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The Pitris said :
On this 1, 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 2,--he turned his mind to subtle 3 (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 4; that conquest is constant in which the mind is conquered. (Though) surrounded by enemies, I shall direct my arrows elsewhere 5. As by its unsteadiness, it wishes 6, to make all mortals perform action, I will cast very sharp-edged arrows at the mind.
The mind 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.
Footnotes :
1. The impropriety or sinfulness of slaughter.
2. Such as the subjugation of enemies and so forth.
3. The Brahman, says Nilakantha.
4. 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.
6. The text is unsatisfactory here. I adopt Nilakantha's reading.
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