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
asaktaḥ saktavad gacchan niḥsaṅgo muktabandhanaḥ | samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca sa vai mukto mahīpate ||
Ô roi, celui qui, intérieurement, demeure sans attache et pourtant chemine parmi les devoirs comme s’il y était engagé; qui reste sans agrippement et a tranché tous les liens; et dont le regard est égal envers l’ennemi comme envers l’ami—celui-là est véritablement libéré en tout temps.
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.