Janaka’s Quest for Liberation; Pañcaśikha’s Sāṅkhya on Renunciation, Elements, Guṇas, and the Deathless State
सनंदन उवाच । अत्राप्युदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । यथा मोक्षमनुप्राप्तो जनको मिथिलाधिपः ॥ ४ ॥
sanaṃdana uvāca | atrāpyudāharaṃtīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | yathā mokṣamanuprāpto janako mithilādhipaḥ || 4 ||
Sanandana berkata: “Di sini juga aku akan memetik sebuah kisah purba sebagai teladan—bagaimana Janaka, pemerintah Mithilā, mencapai mokṣa.”
Sanandana
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It introduces Janaka’s life as an authoritative example (itihāsa) to show that moksha is attainable—even for a king—through right understanding and conduct.
This particular verse does not directly teach bhakti practices; it sets up an instructive narrative. In the Narada Purana’s moksha-dharma style, such examples later support devotion and knowledge by showing liberation is possible within worldly duties.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it functions as a narrative marker introducing an ancient exemplum for moksha instruction.