Shloka 8
जनक–ब्राह्मणसंवादः
Viṣaya, Mamatva, and Self-Mastery
जनक उवाच पितृपैतामहे राज्ये वश्ये जनपदे सति । विषयं नाधिगच्छामि विचिन्वन् पृथिवीमहम्,जनकने कहा--ब्रह्मन! यद्यपि बाप-दादोंके समयसे ही मिथिला-प्रान्तके राज्यपर मेरा अधिकार है, तथापि जब मैं विचारदृष्टिसे देखता हूँ तो सारी पृथ्वीमें खोजनेपर भी कहीं मुझे अपना देश नहीं दिखायी देता
janaka uvāca
pitṛpaitāmahe rājye vaśye janapade sati |
viṣayaṁ nādhigacchāmi vicinvan pṛthivīm aham ||
Janaka said: “O Brāhmaṇa, although I hold rightful authority over this kingdom and its obedient realm, inherited from my father and forefathers, yet when I examine matters with discerning reflection and search across the whole earth, I do not truly find any ‘country’ that I can call mine.”
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even legitimate political power and inherited sovereignty do not establish true ownership. Janaka points to an ethical and spiritual stance of non-possessiveness: one may govern responsibly, yet inwardly relinquish the notion ‘this is mine,’ seeing worldly domains as ultimately not the Self’s property.
King Janaka addresses a Brāhmaṇa and reflects on his ancestral rule over an obedient realm. Despite this external fact, he declares that upon careful inquiry he cannot find any land that is truly ‘his,’ indicating a reflective, renunciatory understanding while situated in kingship.