Shloka 29

Aśmagīta: Janaka’s Inquiry on Loss, Kāla, and the Limits of Control (अश्मगीता)

Devanagari script

जिनके पास कुछ नहीं है, ऐसे दरिद्र भी दीर्घजीवी देखे जाते हैं और धनवान्‌ कुलमें उत्पन्न हुए मनुष्य भी कीट-पतंगोंके समान नष्ट होते रहते हैं ।।

Transliteration

janaka uvāca | yeṣāṁ kiñcid api nāsti te 'pi daridrā dīrghajīvinaḥ dṛśyante, śrīmat-kule jātaś ca naro 'pi kīṭa-pataṅgavat praṇaśyati | prāyeṇa śrīmatāṁ loke bhoktuṁ śaktir na vidyate; kāṣṭhāny api hi jīryante daridrāṇāṁ ca sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

ଜନକ କହିଲେ—ଯାହାଙ୍କ ପାଖରେ କିଛି ନାହିଁ, ସେହି ଦରିଦ୍ରମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଦୀର୍ଘଜୀବୀ ଦେଖାଯାନ୍ତି; ଧନୀ କୁଳରେ ଜନ୍ମିତ ମନୁଷ୍ୟମାନେ କୀଟ-ପତଙ୍ଗ ପରି ନଶିଯାଆନ୍ତି। ଏହି ଜଗତରେ ପ୍ରାୟଃ ଧନବାନଙ୍କର ଭୋଗ କରିବା ଓ ପଚାଇବାର ଶକ୍ତି ନଥାଏ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଦରିଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ପେଟରେ କାଠ ମଧ୍ୟ ସର୍ବଥା ପଚିଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• प्रायेण: generally, for the most part
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राय
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• श्रीमताम्: of the wealthy
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमन्त्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भोक्तुम्: to eat, to enjoy
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज्
• Form: Infinitive (tumun)

• शक्तिः: power, capacity
• शक्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: Avyaya (negation)

• विद्यते: exists, is found
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: Present tense, 3rd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• काष्ठानि: pieces of wood
• काष्ठानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural

• अपि: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि
• Form: Avyaya

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि
• Form: Avyaya

• जीर्यन्ते: are digested/decay
• Type: Verb
• Root: जॄ
• Form: Present tense, 3rd person, Plural, Ātmanepada

• दरिद्राणाम्: of the poor
• Type: Noun
• Root: दरिद्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya (conjunction)

• सर्वशः: entirely, in every way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशस्
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

Speaker

जनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• the poor (daridrāḥ)
• the wealthy (śrīmataḥ)
• insects/moths (kīṭa-pataṅgāḥ)
• wood (kāṣṭha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

External wealth is not a reliable measure of well-being or longevity. The verse highlights the irony that the rich may lack the capacity to enjoy what they have, while the poor often develop endurance; it encourages detachment from prosperity as a false guarantee of happiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Janaka is speaking in a reflective, didactic context within Śānti Parva, using everyday observations about rich and poor to make a moral point about the limits of material prosperity and the unpredictability of life.