Shloka 4

जनक–ब्राह्मणसंवादः

Viṣaya, Mamatva, and Self-Mastery

Devanagari script

सोअन्यस्य विषये राज्ञो वस्तुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो | वचस्ते कर्तुमिच्छामि यथाशास्त्रं महीपते

Transliteration

so 'nyasya viṣaye rājño vastum icchāmy ahaṃ vibho | vacas te kartum icchāmi yathāśāstraṃ mahīpate ||

Translation

ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ କହିଲେ—“ହେ ପରାକ୍ରମଶାଳୀ ପ୍ରଭୁ! ଏହା ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଅନ୍ୟ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ରାଜ୍ୟରେ ବସିବାକୁ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରୁଛି; ତଥାପି, ହେ ପୃଥିବୀପାଳ, ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରାନୁସାରେ ଆପଣଙ୍କ ଆଜ୍ଞା ପାଳନ କରିବାକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଇଚ୍ଛା କରୁଛି।”

Word by Word

• सः: I (he/this person) / that one (as subject)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अन्यस्य: of another
• अन्यस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• विषये: in the domain/territory
• विषये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वस्तुम्: to dwell/live
• वस्तुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Parasmaipada (usage as infinitive)

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• विभो: O mighty one / O lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वचः: word(s)/command
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ते: your
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• कर्तुम्: to do/fulfil
• कर्तुम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive), Parasmaipada (usage as infinitive)

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यथा: according to/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• शास्त्रम्: the scripture/rule
• शास्त्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महीपते: O lord of the earth (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपतिः
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्राह्मण (a brāhmaṇa speaker)
• राजा/महीपति (a king addressed)
• अन्य राजा (another king, unnamed)
• विषय/राज्य (a kingdom/territory)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic discernment: even when choosing to leave a ruler’s domain, one should act in a way consistent with śāstra and with due regard for legitimate authority—balancing personal decision with lawful, ethical compliance.

What is happening in the narrative?

A brāhmaṇa addresses a king respectfully, stating his intention to reside in another king’s territory, while also affirming that he wishes to fulfill the king’s instruction in a manner sanctioned by the śāstras.