Shloka 3
Aśmagīta: Janaka’s Inquiry on Loss, Kāla, and the Limits of Control (अश्मगीता)
अश्मानं ब्राद्माण्ं प्राज्ञ वेदेहो जनको नृपः । संशयं परिपप्रच्छ दुः:खशोकसमन्वित:,एक समयकी बात है, दुःख-शोकमें डूबे हुए विदेहगाज जनककने ज्ञानी ब्राह्मण अश्मासे अपने मनका संदेह इस प्रकार पूछा
aśmānaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ prājñaṃ videheha janako nṛpaḥ | saṃśayaṃ paripapraccha duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ ||
व्यास म्हणाले—एकदा दुःख-शोकाने व्याकुळ झालेला विदेहाचा राजा जनक, प्राज्ञ ब्राह्मण अश्माकडे गेला आणि मनातील संशय सविस्तर विचारू लागला.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical-spiritual learning as beginning with honest inquiry: even a powerful king, when struck by sorrow, turns to a wise brāhmaṇa and seeks resolution of doubt through disciplined questioning—implying that clarity in dharma and inner peace arises from humility and seeking true knowledge.
Vyāsa introduces an episode: King Janaka of Videha, distressed by grief, approaches the learned brāhmaṇa Aśman and asks him about a troubling doubt, setting up a dialogue meant to address suffering and right understanding.