Shloka 39
Adhyaya 37 — Alarka’s Crisis and the Teaching on Non-Attachment (Madālasa’s Instruction Recalled)
राज्यस्य वाञ्छां सुरुतेऽग्रजोऽस्य देहस्य चेत् पञ्चमयः स राशिः ।
गुणप्रवृत्त्या मम किन्नु तत्र तत्स्थः स चाहञ्च शरीरतोऽन्यः ॥
rājyasya vāñchāṃ surute ’grajo ’sya dehasya cet pañcamayaḥ sa rāśiḥ | guṇa-pravṛttyā mama kinnu tatra tat-sthaḥ sa cāhaṃ ca śarīrato ’nyaḥ ||
If the prior component of this body—the aggregate made of five (pañcamaya)—produces the desire for kingship, what is that to me, being merely an activity of the guṇas? That aggregate stands there, and I too, as witness, am other than the body.
{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "dharma", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
Ambition and craving are movements of prakṛti (guṇas), not the true Self. Recognizing this curbs greed and supports righteous governance/behavior.
A reflective teaching embedded in narrative; not part of the five purāṇic markers.
Desire for ‘kingdom’ symbolizes sovereignty of ego. The verse relocates such impulses to guṇa-dynamics, enabling the aspirant to abide as the unattached witness.