Shloka 20
जनक–ब्राह्मणसंवादः
Viṣaya, Mamatva, and Self-Mastery
नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि रूप॑ ज्योतिश्न चक्षुष: । तस्मान्मे निर्जितं ज्योतिर्वशे तिष्ठति नित्यदा
Janaka uvāca — nāham ātmārtham icchāmi rūpaṁ jyotiś ca cakṣuṣaḥ | tasmān me nirjitaṁ jyotir vaśe tiṣṭhati nityadā ||
ଜନକ କହିଲେ—ଚକ୍ଷୁର ବିଷୟ ରୂପ ଓ ପ୍ରକାଶକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୋ ନିଜ ସୁଖ ପାଇଁ ଅନୁଭବ କରିବାକୁ ମୁଁ ଚାହେଁ ନାହିଁ। ତେଣୁ ମୁଁ ତେଜ (ଜ୍ୟୋତି) କୁ ଜୟ କରିଛି; ସେ ସଦା ମୋ ବଶରେ ରହେ।
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Janaka teaches that ethical mastery begins with refusing to treat sense-objects (like sights) as instruments of personal pleasure. By renouncing self-centered enjoyment, one subdues the ‘radiance’ of the senses—i.e., their compelling power—and keeps them obedient to higher purpose (dharma).
In a didactic exchange within the Aśvamedhika Parva, King Janaka speaks as a model of the wise ruler: though living amid objects of enjoyment, he claims inner victory over sensory attraction, asserting that the power of sight and its objects no longer govern him.