Shloka 20

जनक–ब्राह्मणसंवादः

Viṣaya, Mamatva, and Self-Mastery

Devanagari script

नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि रूप॑ ज्योतिश्न चक्षुष: । तस्मान्मे निर्जितं ज्योतिर्वशे तिष्ठति नित्यदा,मैं नेत्रके विषयभूत रूप और ज्योतिका अपने सुखके लिये अनुभव नहीं करना चाहता, इसलिये मैंने तेजको जीत लिया है और वह सदा मेरे अधीन रहता है

Transliteration

Janaka uvāca — nāham ātmārtham icchāmi rūpaṁ jyotiś ca cakṣuṣaḥ | tasmān me nirjitaṁ jyotir vaśe tiṣṭhati nityadā ||

Translation

Janaka said: “I do not wish to experience form and light—the objects of the eye—for my own gratification. Therefore I have conquered the radiance (of the senses), and it remains always under my control.”

Word by Word

नnot

अहम्I

आत्मार्थम्for (my) own sake

इच्छामिI desire / wish

रूपम्form

ज्योतिःlight, radiance

चand

चक्षुषःof the eye

तस्मात्therefore, from that reason

मेof me / my

निर्जितम्conquered, subdued

ज्योतिःradiance / light

वशेin (my) control, under sway

तिष्ठतिstands, remains

नित्यदाalways, at all times

Speaker

जनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

Janaka

cakṣus (the eye)

rūpa (form)

jyotis/tejas (light, radiance)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Janaka teaches that ethical mastery begins with refusing to treat sense-objects (like sights) as instruments of personal pleasure. By renouncing self-centered enjoyment, one subdues the ‘radiance’ of the senses—i.e., their compelling power—and keeps them obedient to higher purpose (dharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

In a didactic exchange within the Aśvamedhika Parva, King Janaka speaks as a model of the wise ruler: though living amid objects of enjoyment, he claims inner victory over sensory attraction, asserting that the power of sight and its objects no longer govern him.