The Naming of Alarka

When a fourth son was born and the king was about to name him, he saw her smiling faintly, and he asked her, curious: Each time a name is given, you laugh. Tell me why. Vikrānta, Subāhu, Śatrumardana: I think these are good names, fit for men of the warrior class and full of the pride of courage. If they are not good, my lady, if you have something in mind, then you name this fourth son of mine.

Madālasā said: I must do as you command, great king. I will name this fourth son of yours. He will be Alarka. Knowing dharma, he will be famous in the world, and this youngest son of yours will be wise.

The king laughed, for to him the name Alarka made no sense, and he said: What is this name you have given my son, lovely one? It makes no sense. What does it mean, Madālasā?

She answered: A name is a convention, great king, made for the dealings of the world. Hear now, king, how meaningless the names you made are too. The wise say that the person, the Self, pervades everything, and they teach that krānti means going, from one place to another. The one who is everywhere goes nowhere, since the lord of the body pervades all. So I hold the name Vikrānta to be meaningless. The name Subāhu, strong-armed, that you gave your second son is meaningless too, O king, since the Self has no form. And the name you gave the third, Śatrumardana, the crusher of enemies, I think also has no sense, and hear why. When there is one Self in all bodies, O king, who here is its enemy, and who its friend? Elements are crushed by elements; how can the formless be crushed? Anger and the rest are apart from it, so the notion means nothing. If an unreal name is devised for the sake of worldly dealings, why do you think the name Alarka has no meaning?

The king, a man of great understanding, said to his truthful wife: So be it.