Shloka 51
Śakra–Namuci-saṃvāda: Śoka-nivāraṇa and Daiva-vicāra
Indra and Namuci on grief, composure, and inevitability
इदममृतपदं निशम्य राजा स्वयमिह पज्चशिखेन भाष्यमाणम् | निखिलमभिसमीक्ष्य निनश्षितार्थ: परमसुखी विजहार वीतशोक:ः,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! स्वयं आचार्य पंचशिखके बताये हुए इस अमृतमय ज्ञानोपदेशको सुनकर राजा जनक एक निश्चित सिद्धान्तपर पहुँच गये और सारी बातोंपर विचार करके शोकरहित हो बड़े सुखसे रहने लगे; फिर तो उनकी स्थिति ही कुछ और हो गयी। एक बार उन मिथिलानरेश राजा जनकने मिथिला-नगरीको आगसे जलती देखकर स्वयं यह उदगार प्रकट किया था कि इस नगरके जलनेसे मेरा कुछ भी नहीं जलता है
idam amṛtapadaṃ niśamya rājā svayam iha pañcaśikhena bhāṣyamāṇam | nikhilam abhisamīkṣya niścitārthaḥ paramasukhī vijahāra vītaśokaḥ ||
Bhishma said: O King, having personally heard here this deathless teaching as it was expounded by the teacher Panchashikha, King Janaka examined the matter in its entirety, arrived at a settled conviction, and—free from grief—lived in the highest ease. His inner state became altogether different. On one occasion, when the ruler of Mithila, King Janaka, saw the city of Mithila burning in a fire, he uttered the famous declaration that even if the city burns, nothing of his truly is burned—signifying his non-attachment and inner freedom.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the transformative power of liberating knowledge: by hearing Panchashikha’s ‘deathless’ instruction and reflecting on it fully, Janaka becomes niścitārtha (firmly established in understanding) and vītaśoka (free from grief). The implied ethical teaching is inner non-attachment—possessions and external loss need not disturb one who knows the Self and has relinquished possessiveness.
Bhishma recounts how King Janaka listened directly to Panchashikha’s exposition, contemplated it comprehensively, and thereafter lived in profound happiness without sorrow. As an illustrative episode, Janaka sees Mithila burning and declares that nothing of his is truly burned—showing his realized detachment even while remaining a king.