Shloka 3

Śrī–Indra–Bali Saṃvāda: The Departure and Fourfold Placement of Lakṣmī

Devanagari script

जनको जनदेवस्तु मिथिलायां जनाधिप: । ऑर्ध्वदेहिकधर्माणामासीद्‌ युक्तो विचिन्तने,प्राचीन कालकी बात है, मिथिलामें जनकवंशी राजा जनदेव राज्य करते थे। वे सदा देह-त्यागके पश्चात्‌ आत्माके अस्तित्वरूप धर्मोंके ही चिन्तनमें लगे रहते थे

Transliteration

janako janadevas tu mithilāyāṁ janādhipaḥ | ūrdhvadehikadharmāṇām āsīd yukto vicintane ||

Translation

Bhīṣma sprach: „In alter Zeit herrschte in Mithilā ein König aus Janakas Geschlecht namens Janadeva, ein Herrscher unter den Menschen. Unablässig war er dem Nachsinnen über jene Dharmas zugewandt, die das Jenseits des Leibes betreffen — Pflichten und Wahrheiten, die mit dem Fortbestehen des Ātman nach dem Tod verbunden sind.“

Word by Word

जनकःJanaka

जनदेवःJanadeva (name of the king)

तुbut/indeed

मिथिलायाम्in Mithilā

जनाधिपःlord of the people, king

और्ध्वदेहिकधर्माणाम्of the post-death rites/duties (funerary dharmas)

आसीत्was

युक्तःengaged, devoted

विचिन्तनेin reflection/contemplation

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Janaka (dynastic reference)

Janadeva

Mithila

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even while ruling, a king can be devoted to higher dharma—contemplating the soul and the principles connected with life beyond the body—showing that ethical governance and spiritual inquiry can coexist.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma introduces an old account: in Mithila, King Janadeva of the Janaka line is described as continually absorbed in reflecting on ūrdhvadehika-dharmas, setting the stage for a teaching about dharma and spiritual understanding.