Shloka 14
जनक–ब्राह्मणसंवादः
Viṣaya, Mamatva, and Self-Mastery
कां वै बुद्धि समाश्रित्य सर्वो वै विषयस्तव । नावैषि विषयं येन सर्वो वा विषयस्तव
kāṃ vai buddhiṃ samāśritya sarvo vai viṣayas tava | nāvaiṣi viṣayaṃ yena sarvo vā viṣayas tava ||
ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ କହିଲେ—କେଉଁ ବୁଦ୍ଧିର ଆଶ୍ରୟ ନେଇ ଆପଣ ସମସ୍ତ ସ୍ଥାନକୁ ନିଜ ଅଧିକାରଭୂମି ଭାବନ୍ତି? ଏବଂ କେଉଁ ବୁଦ୍ଧିରେ ଆପଣ କେଉଁଠି ମଧ୍ୟ ‘ଏହା ମୋର ରାଜ୍ୟ’ ବୋଲି ମାନନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ—ଯାହାର ଗଭୀର ଅର୍ଥରେ ସମଗ୍ର ପୃଥିବୀ ହିଁ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଦେଶ ହୋଇଯାଏ?
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse probes the paradox of true mastery: through right discernment (buddhi), one may act in the world without possessiveness. Such a person can treat all places as ‘mine’ in the sense of equal concern and responsibility, yet ‘not mine’ in the sense of non-attachment—making the whole earth a single homeland rather than a set of competing possessions.
A Brāhmaṇa addresses another interlocutor with a pointed question about the mental principle behind their stance toward territory and ownership. The inquiry frames a discussion on how perception and discernment shape one’s relationship to power, land, and identity—whether as possessive rule or as detached, universal belonging.