Shloka 20
जनक-राज्ञः मौण्ड्य-परिव्रज्या-विवादः
Janaka’s Renunciation Questioned; Discourse on Dāna and Detachment
यस्त्वयं सर्वमुत्सृज्य धानामुष्टेरनुग्रह: । यदानेन सम॑ सर्व किमिदं हृवसीयसे
yastvayaṁ sarvam utsṛjya dhānāmuṣṭer anugrahaḥ | yadānena samaṁ sarvaṁ kim idaṁ hṛvasīyase ||
Arjuna dijo: «Si, tras renunciar a todo, aún buscas el favor ajeno aunque sea por un simple puñado de grano, entonces el reino y todas las demás posesiones dependen del mismo modo. ¿Qué grandeza especial hay, pues, en renunciar al reino? ¿Por qué te afliges por ello?»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse challenges superficial renunciation: if one still depends on others’ favor even for basic sustenance, then giving up a kingdom is not inherently superior. True detachment is measured by freedom from craving and dependence, not merely by the scale of what is abandoned.
Arjuna addresses a renunciant figure and questions the logic of grieving after relinquishing royal power. He argues that both great wealth (a kingdom) and small needs (a handful of grain) can involve dependence; therefore lamenting the loss of kingship suggests incomplete inner renunciation.