Shloka 19
जनक–ब्राह्मणसंवादः
Viṣaya, Mamatva, and Self-Mastery
नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि रसानास्ये5पि वर्ततः । आपो मे निर्जितास्तस्माद् वशे तिष्ठन्ति नित्यदा,मुखमें पड़े हुए रसोंका भी मैं अपनी तृप्तिके लिये नहीं आस्वादन करना चाहता, इसलिये जलतत्त्वपर भी मैं विजय पा चुका हूँ और वह सदा मेरे अधीन रहता है
janaka uvāca | nāham ātmārtham icchāmi rasān āsye 'pi vartataḥ | āpo me nirjitās tasmād vaśe tiṣṭhanti nityadā ||
Janaka said: “I do not seek tastes for my own gratification, even when flavors are present in my mouth. Therefore I have conquered the principle of water as well, and it remains forever under my control.”
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
True mastery is not merely avoiding temptations externally but remaining unattached even when sense-objects are immediately available. Janaka presents ethical self-governance: refusing to indulge tastes for personal pleasure, he symbolizes conquest over the water-element associated with taste and bodily craving.
Janaka is speaking as a teacher-king, describing his inner discipline. He states that even with flavors already in his mouth he does not pursue enjoyment for himself, and he frames this restraint as having ‘conquered’ the water principle, which therefore stays under his control.