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 ।। यस्त्वं त्रैविद्यवृद्धानां ब्राह्मणानां सहस्रश: । भर्ता भूत्वा च लोकस्य सोड्द्य तैर्भतिमिच्छसि,अमी च धर्मकामास्त्यां क्षत्रिया: पर्युपासते । त्वदाशामभिकांक्षन्त: कृपणा: फलहेतुका: 'ये धर्मकी इच्छा रखनेवाले क्षत्रिय जो सदा आपकी सेवामें बैठे रहते हैं, आपसे बड़ी- बड़ी आशाएँ रखते हैं, इन बेचारोंको सेवाका फल चाहिये
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.
अर्जुन उवाच—पृथ्वीनाथ! देवताऽतिथिपितृभिः परित्यक्त इवाकर्मण्यः गृहं त्यजसि। यस्त्वं त्रैविद्यवृद्धानां ब्राह्मणानां सहस्रशो भर्ता भूत्वा लोकस्य च, अद्य तैर्भृतिमिच्छसि। अमी च धर्मकामास्ते क्षत्रियाः पर्युपासते, त्वदाशामभिकाङ्क्षन्तः कृपणाः फलहेतुकाः।
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.