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Shloka 14

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

जरामृत्यू हि भूतानां खादितारी वृकाविव । बलिनां दुर्बलानां च हस्वानां महतामपि,बुढ़ापा और मृत्यु--ये दोनों दो भेड़ियोंके समान हैं, जो बलवान्‌ दुर्बल, छोटे और बड़े सभी प्राणियोंको खा जाते हैं

janaka uvāca |

jarāmṛtyū hi bhūtānāṁ khāditārī vṛkāv iva |

balināṁ durbalānāṁ ca hrasvānāṁ mahatām api ||

ความชราและความตาย เปรียบดังหมาป่าสองตัว ที่เขมือบสรรพชีวิตทั้งปวง—ทั้งผู้แข็งแรงและผู้อ่อนแอ ทั้งผู้น้อยและผู้ใหญ่

जरामृत्यूold age and death
जरामृत्यू:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजरा + मृत्यु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
भूतानाम्of living beings/creatures
भूतानाम्:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootभूत
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
खादितारीdevourers/eaters
खादितारी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootखादितृ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
वृकौtwo wolves
वृकौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवृक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
बलिनाम्of the strong
बलिनाम्:
Sampradana
TypeNoun
Rootबलिन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
दुर्बलानाम्of the weak
दुर्बलानाम्:
Sampradana
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्बल
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
ह्रस्वानाम्of the small/short
ह्रस्वानाम्:
Sampradana
TypeAdjective
Rootह्रस्व
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
महताम्of the great/large
महताम्:
Sampradana
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि

जनक उवाच

J
Janaka
O
old age (jarā)
D
death (mṛtyu)
W
wolves (vṛkau)
L
living beings (bhūtāni)

Educational Q&A

Old age and death spare no one—strength, weakness, greatness, or smallness do not protect a being from impermanence. Therefore one should cultivate dharma and inner detachment rather than rely on worldly advantages.

King Janaka speaks reflectively, using the image of two wolves to describe how old age and death consume all creatures alike, emphasizing a moral lesson about the inevitability of decline and the need for wise living.