Shloka 31
जनक-राज्ञः मौण्ड्य-परिव्रज्या-विवादः
Janaka’s Renunciation Questioned; Discourse on Dāna and Detachment
असक्त: सक्तवद् गच्छन् नि:संगो मुक्तबन्धन: । सम: शत्रौ च मित्रे च स वै मुक्तो महीपते,'पृथ्वीनाथ! जो आसक्तिरहित होकर आसक्तकी भाँति विचरता है, जो संगरहित एवं सब प्रकारके बन्धनोंको तोड़ चुका है तथा शत्रु और मित्रमें जिसका समान भाव है, वह सदा मुक्त ही है
asaktaḥ saktavad gacchan niḥsaṅgo muktabandhanaḥ | samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca sa vai mukto mahīpate ||
O king, one who is inwardly unattached yet moves among duties as though engaged; who remains free from clinging and has cut through every bond; and whose regard is even toward both enemy and friend—such a person is truly liberated at all times.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Liberation is defined by inner non-attachment and even-mindedness: one may continue to act in the world, but without clinging, without bondage, and without partiality between friend and foe.
The speaker addresses a king and characterizes the marks of a liberated person—someone who appears active in life yet remains inwardly free, unbound by attachments, and impartial in relationships.