Shloka 20
जनक-राज्ञः मौण्ड्य-परिव्रज्या-विवादः
Janaka’s Renunciation Questioned; Discourse on Dāna and Detachment
यस्त्वयं सर्वमुत्सृज्य धानामुष्टेरनुग्रह: । यदानेन सम॑ सर्व किमिदं हृवसीयसे,“यदि सब कुछ छोड़कर भी आप मुदट्ठीभर जौके लिये दूसरोंकी कृपा चाहते हैं तो राज्य आदि अन्य सब वस्तुएँ भी तो इसीके समान हैं। फिर उस राज्यके त्यागकी क्या विशेषता रही?
yastvayaṁ sarvam utsṛjya dhānāmuṣṭer anugrahaḥ | yadānena samaṁ sarvaṁ kim idaṁ hṛvasīyase ||
Арджуна сказал: «Если, оставив всё, ты всё же ищешь милости другого даже ради горсти зерна, то царство и всякое иное имущество столь же зависимы. В чём же особая величина отречения от царства — почему ты скорбишь о нём?»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse challenges superficial renunciation: if one still depends on others’ favor even for basic sustenance, then giving up a kingdom is not inherently superior. True detachment is measured by freedom from craving and dependence, not merely by the scale of what is abandoned.
Arjuna addresses a renunciant figure and questions the logic of grieving after relinquishing royal power. He argues that both great wealth (a kingdom) and small needs (a handful of grain) can involve dependence; therefore lamenting the loss of kingship suggests incomplete inner renunciation.