Mahabharata 3.2.20 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 20
ब्राह्मणानुयात्रा—शौनकोपदेशः
Brāhmaṇas Follow into Exile and Śaunaka’s Instruction
श्रूयतां चाभिधास्यामि जनकेन यथा पुरा । आत्मव्यवस्थानकरा गीता: श्लोका महात्मना
śrūyatāṃ cābhidhāsyāmi janakena yathā purā | ātmavyavasthānakarā gītāḥ ślokā mahātmanā ||
ऐका, मी सांगतो—पूर्वी महात्मा राजा जनकांनी अंतःकरण स्थिर करणारे जे श्लोक गायिले होते; त्यांचेच मी वर्णन करीन.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces teachings attributed to King Janaka: verses meant to stabilize the inner self (ātma-vyavasthāna)—cultivating steadiness, self-governance, and ethical clarity as the basis for right action.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, asks the listeners to pay attention and announces that he will recount ancient verses once sung by King Janaka—setting up a didactic passage within the Vana Parva.
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