Shloka 56
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
न च कामसमायुक्ते युक्ते5प्यस्ति त्रिदण्डके । न रक्ष्यते त्वया चेदं न मुक्तस्यास्ति गोपना
na ca kāmasamāyukte yukte ’py asti tridaṇḍake | na rakṣyate tvayā cedaṃ na muktasyāsti gopanā ||
Janaka dit : «Si l’on est enlacé par le désir des sens, alors, même en se disant discipliné, porter le tridaṇḍa est impropre et vain. Par une telle conduite, tu ne sauvegardes pas la règle de la voie du renonçant. Et si cela a été fait pour dissimuler ton état véritable, sache que pour celui qui est réellement délivré, il n’est nul besoin de se cacher.»
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
External marks of renunciation (like the tridaṇḍa) are meaningless if one remains attached to sensual desire; true renunciation is measured by inner restraint and integrity. A genuinely liberated person has no need to hide their state through contrived appearances.
King Janaka admonishes a renunciant figure: if their conduct is driven by desire, their ascetic insignia is pointless and they are failing to uphold the sannyāsa discipline; and if the insignia is used to conceal identity or inner state, Janaka argues that a liberated person does not require such concealment.