Shloka 1

जनक–ब्राह्मणसंवादः

Viṣaya, Mamatva, and Self-Mastery

Devanagari script

ऑपन--+र< बक। है २ द्वात्रिशोड्थ्याय: ब्राह्मणरूपधारी धर्म और जनकका ममत्वत्यागविषयक संवाद ब्राह्मण उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्‌ । ब्राह्मणस्य च संवादं जनकस्य च भाविनि,ब्राह्मणने कहा--भामिनि! इसी प्रसंगमें एक ब्राह्मण और राजा जनकके संवादरूप प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया जाता है

Transliteration

brāhmaṇa uvāca | atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | brāhmaṇasya ca saṃvādaṃ janakasya ca bhāmini ||

Translation

The Brāhmaṇa said: “Beloved lady, in this very connection they also cite an ancient precedent—an old historical example—namely, a dialogue between a Brāhmaṇa and King Janaka.”

Word by Word

• {'brāhmaṇa uvāca': 'the Brāhmaṇa said', 'atra api': 'here also

• in this context as well', 'udāharanti': 'they cite

• they adduce as an example', 'imam': 'this', 'itihāsam': 'traditional account

• ancient narrative/precedent', 'purātanam': 'ancient

• of old', 'brāhmaṇasya': 'of the Brāhmaṇa', 'saṃvādam': 'dialogue

• conversation (often didactic)', 'janakasya': 'of Janaka (King Janaka of Videha)', 'ca': 'and', 'bhāmini': 'O fair/impassioned lady

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• King Janaka
• Bhāminī (addressed woman)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse introduces a didactic precedent: an ancient dialogue between a Brāhmaṇa and King Janaka, typically used to illuminate dharma through the theme of inner renunciation and freedom from possessiveness (mamatā-tyāga) even amid worldly duties.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker (a Brāhmaṇa) tells a woman addressed as “Bhāminī” that, to explain the present topic, an old illustrative story is cited—specifically, a conversation between a Brāhmaṇa and King Janaka that will serve as the example.