Shloka 53
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
सो5हमेवंगतो मुक्तो जातास्थस्त्वयि भिक्षुकि । अयशथार्थ हि ते वर्ण वक्ष्यामि शूणु तन्मम
so’ham evaṁgato mukto jātāsthastvayi bhikṣuki | ayathārthaṁ hi te varṇaṁ vakṣyāmi śṛṇu tanmama saṁnyāsinī ||
Janaka said: “Thus situated, I am liberated; yet, O mendicant nun, I have developed a firm regard for you on seeing the power of your yoga. Still, I do not consider this form and beauty of yours to be truly suited to the discipline of renunciation. Therefore I shall speak to you what I deem accurate—listen to my words, O saṁnyāsinī.”
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Janaka distinguishes inner liberation and respect for spiritual attainment from uncritical approval of outward appearance. He suggests that renunciation requires congruence between one’s external mode of life and the discipline of detachment, and he insists on speaking what he considers truthful and ethically appropriate.
King Janaka addresses a female mendicant/renunciant. Though impressed by her yogic influence and feeling reverence toward her, he questions whether her outward form and beauty align with the ideals of saṁnyāsa, and he prepares to explain his view to her.