Shloka 23
Aśmagīta: Janaka’s Inquiry on Loss, Kāla, and the Limits of Control (अश्मगीता)
कुले जन्म तथा वीर्यमारोग्यं रूपमेव च । सौभाग्यमुपभोगश्व भवितव्येन लभ्यते,उत्तम कुलमें जन्म, बल-पराक्रम, आरोग्य, रूप, सौभाग्य और उपभोग-सामग्री--ये सब होनहारके अनुसार ही प्राप्त होते हैं
kule janma tathā vīryam ārogyaṁ rūpam eva ca | saubhāgyam upabhogaś ca bhavitavyena labhyate ||
Vua Janaka nói: Sinh trong dòng dõi cao quý, sức mạnh và dũng mãnh, thân thể an khang, dung mạo, phúc vận, và những phương tiện để hưởng thụ—tất cả đều đạt được tùy theo điều đã định sẵn.
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Janaka teaches that social status, bodily advantages, and worldly enjoyments arise according to bhavitavya (what is destined). Therefore one should avoid pride and envy, and focus on dharma—right conduct—rather than measuring oneself by external fortune.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on righteous living and inner steadiness, Janaka speaks as a teacher-king, emphasizing that many worldly endowments are not fully under personal control but come by destiny, guiding the listener toward humility and ethical effort.