Shloka 4
धनान्यपत्यं दाराक्ष रत्नानि विविधानि च । पन्थानं पावकं हित्वा जनको मौढ्यमास्थित:
dhanāny apatyaṃ dārāś ca ratnāni vividhāni ca | panthānaṃ pāvakaṃ hitvā janako mauḍhyam āsthitaḥ ||
ധനം, സന്താനം, ഭാര്യ, നാനാവിധ രത്നങ്ങൾ—ഇവയെല്ലാം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച്, ശുദ്ധിയിലേക്കുള്ള പാവനപഥവും വിട്ട്, ജനകൻ മോഹത്തിലേക്ക് വീണു.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that mere abandonment of possessions and relationships is not automatically virtuous; if one abandons the ‘purifying path’ of right discipline and discernment, renunciation can degenerate into delusion rather than liberation.
Arjuna cites Janaka as an example, stating that Janaka gave up wealth, family ties, and valuables, yet—by forsaking the proper purifying course of conduct—ended up in a state of folly. The remark functions as a caution within the ethical discussions of the Śānti Parva.