Shloka 16

जनक–सुलभा संवादः

Janaka–Sulabhā Dialogue on Mokṣa and Non-attachment

Devanagari script

षड्विंशो5हमिति प्राज्ञो गृहमाणो5जरामर: । केवलेन बलेनैव समतां यात्यसंशयम्‌

Transliteration

ṣaḍviṃśo ’ham iti prājño gṛhṇāno ’jarāmaraḥ | kevalena balenaiva samatāṃ yāty asaṃśayam ||

Translation

ବସିଷ୍ଠ କହିଲେ—“ମୁଁ ପଞ୍ଚବିଂଶତି ତତ୍ତ୍ୱରୁ ଭିନ୍ନ ଛବ୍ବିଶତମ; ଅଜର-ଅମର ଆତ୍ମା; ନିତ୍ୟ ଜ୍ଞାନସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଏବଂ ଜ୍ଞେୟ”—ଏହି ବିବେକକୁ ଦୃଢ଼ଭାବେ ଧରିଲେ, ଜୀବ କେବଳ ବିବେକ-ବଳରେ ହିଁ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଭାବ ପାଏ; ଏଥିରେ ସନ୍ଦେହ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• षड्विंशः: the twenty-sixth
• षड्विंशः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्विंश
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• इति: thus (quoting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• प्राज्ञः: the wise person
• प्राज्ञः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गृहमाणः: considering / apprehending / taking (as a notion)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह्
• Form: शानच् (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अजरामरः: undecaying and deathless
• अजरामरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजरामर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• केवलेन: by mere / solely by
• केवलेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• बलेन: by strength (power)
• बलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• एव: indeed / only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• समताम्: equanimity / sameness
• समताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: समता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• याति: attains / goes to
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• असंशयम्: without doubt
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असंशय

Speaker

वसिष्ठ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• वसिष्ठ (Vasiṣṭha)
• परमात्मा (Paramātman/Brahman)
• जीवात्मा (Jīvātman)
• पञ्चविंशति तत्त्वानि (the twenty-five tattvas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

By firm contemplative discernment—recognizing the Self as the twenty-sixth reality beyond the twenty-five tattvas (body-mind and cosmic principles)—the jīva realizes its identity with Brahman. Liberation is presented as the fruit of viveka (discriminative knowledge) held steadily, not as a product of external force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vasiṣṭha instructs through a concise contemplative formula: the seeker repeatedly grasps the insight “I am the immortal Self beyond the tattvas.” This sustained inner conviction culminates in samatā—oneness/equanimity identified here with Brahman-realization.