Shloka 13
जनक-राज्ञः मौण्ड्य-परिव्रज्या-विवादः
Janaka’s Renunciation Questioned; Discourse on Dāna and Detachment
'पृथ्वीनाथ! आप सम्पूर्ण देवताओं, अतिथियों और पितरोंसे परित्यक्त होकर अकर्मण्य हो घर छोड़ रहे हैं ।।
pṛthvīnātha! āpa sampūrṇa devatāoṃ, atithiyoṃ aura pitṛoṃ se parityakta hokara akarmaṇya ho ghara choṛa rahe haiṃ. yastvaṃ traividyavṛddhānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ sahasraśaḥ bhartā bhūtvā ca lokasya soḍḍhya tair bhatim icchasi, amī ca dharmakāmāstyāṃ kṣatriyāḥ paryupāsate tvadāśām abhikāṅkṣantaḥ kṛpaṇāḥ phalahetukāḥ.
Arjuna disse: “Ó senhor da terra! Estás abandonando teus deveres e deixando o lar, como se tivesses sido desamparado por todos os deuses, pelos hóspedes que dependem de tua hospitalidade e pelos ancestrais que contam com teus ritos. Tu, que por tanto tempo foste o sustentáculo de milhares de veneráveis brâmanes versados nos três Vedas, e que suportaste o peso do povo como seu protetor—como podes agora desejar retirar-te dessa responsabilidade? E estes kshatriyas, desejosos de dharma, permanecem sempre a teu serviço, fitando-te com grandes esperanças—pobres homens cujo serviço se mantém pela expectativa de seus justos frutos.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses rajadharma: a ruler’s moral identity is defined by sustaining social and sacred obligations—supporting Vedic learning, honoring guests, maintaining ancestral rites, and protecting dependents. Renunciation that abandons these responsibilities is portrayed as ethically problematic, because it harms those who rely on the king’s patronage and protection.
Arjuna addresses a king who is attempting to leave home and become inactive. He argues that such withdrawal amounts to forsaking gods, guests, and ancestors, and betrays the expectations of Brahmins and Kshatriyas who attend upon the king seeking rightful support and the fruits of service.