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Shloka 21

जनक–ब्राह्मणसंवादः

Viṣaya, Mamatva, and Self-Mastery

नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि स्पर्शास्त्वचि गताश्न ये । तस्मान्मे निर्जितो वायुर्वशे तिष्ठति नित्यदा,तथा मैं त्वचाके संसर्गसे प्राप्त हुए स्पर्शजनित सुखोंको अपने लिये नहीं चाहता, अतः मेरे द्वारा जीता हुआ वायु सदा मेरे वशमें रहता है

nāham ātmārtham icchāmi sparśās tvaci gatāś ca ye | tasmān me nirjito vāyur vaśe tiṣṭhati nityadā ||

ജനകൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ചർമ്മസ്പർശത്തിൽ നിന്നു ജനിക്കുന്ന സ്പർശസുഖങ്ങളെയും ഞാൻ എന്റെ വേണ്ടി ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നില്ല. അതിനാൽ വായുവിനെയും ഞാൻ ജയിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു; അത് നിത്യവും എന്റെ അധീനത്തിലാണ്.

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अहम्I
अहम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअहम्
Formcommon, nominative, singular
आत्मार्थम्for my own sake
आत्मार्थम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मार्थ
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
इच्छामिI desire
इच्छामि:
TypeVerb
Rootइष्
Formpresent indicative, 1st, singular, parasmaipada
स्पर्शाःtouches; contacts
स्पर्शाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootस्पर्श
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
त्वचिin/on the skin
त्वचि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootत्वच्
Formfeminine, locative, singular
गताःgone; having reached
गताः:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
Formक्त (past passive participle), masculine, nominative, plural
अश्नeat; consume
अश्न:
TypeVerb
Rootअश्
Formpresent (injunctive/imperative-like usage), 2nd, singular, parasmaipada
येwhich; those who/that
ये:
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
तस्मात्therefore; from that
तस्मात्:
Apadana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine/neuter, ablative, singular
मेof me; my
मे:
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Formgenitive, singular
निर्जितःconquered; subdued
निर्जितः:
TypeVerb
Rootनि√जि
Formक्त (past passive participle), masculine, nominative, singular
वायुःwind; vital air
वायुः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवायु
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
वशेunder control; in subjection
वशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवश
Formmasculine, locative, singular
तिष्ठतिstands; remains
तिष्ठति:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था
Formpresent indicative, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada
नित्यदाalways
नित्यदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्यदा

जनक उवाच

J
Janaka
V
vāyu (vital wind/breath)
T
tvac (skin)
S
sparśa (touch)

Educational Q&A

Janaka teaches mastery over sense-pleasures: he refuses to pursue tactile enjoyment for personal gratification, and links this detachment to inner discipline—keeping the vital breath (vāyu/prāṇa) under control. The ethical point is that freedom comes from restraint and non-indulgence, not from chasing sensory contact.

In this passage Janaka speaks as a moral exemplar, describing his own practice: he does not seek pleasures arising from touch, and as a result of this disciplined stance he claims to have subdued the ‘vāyu’ (vital wind/breath), which remains continually under his command—signaling yogic steadiness and self-mastery.