Shloka 16

जनक-राज्ञः मौण्ड्य-परिव्रज्या-विवादः

Janaka’s Renunciation Questioned; Discourse on Dāna and Detachment

Devanagari script

स्रजो गन्धानलंकारान्‌ वासांसि विविधानि च । किमर्थमभिसंत्यज्य परिव्रजसि निष्क्रिय:

Transliteration

srajo gandhān alaṅkārān vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca | kimartham abhisantyajya parivrajasi niṣkriyaḥ ||

Translation

阿周那说道：“抛下花鬘、香料、饰物与种种衣裳——你为何舍弃这些，离家出走，竟以无所作为之身而四处游行？”

Word by Word

• स्रजः: garlands
• स्रजः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• गन्धान्: fragrances/perfumes
• गन्धान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अलंकारान्: ornaments
• अलंकारान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलंकार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वासांसि: garments/clothes
• वासांसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• विविधानि: various
• विविधानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अर्थम्: purpose/reason
• अर्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिसंत्यज्य: having completely abandoned
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-सम्-त्यज्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• परिव्रजसि: you wander/renounce (go forth as a mendicant)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-व्रज्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Parasmaipada, Second, Singular

• निष्क्रियः: inactive/without action
• निष्क्रियः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्क्रिय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• garlands (srajaḥ)
• perfumes/fragrances (gandhāḥ)
• ornaments (alaṅkārāḥ)
• garments (vāsāṃsi)
• household life (implied by renunciation)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical tension central to Śānti Parva: renunciation is not merely abandoning luxury, but must be justified in relation to dharma and purposeful conduct. Arjuna challenges ‘inaction’ (niṣkriyatā) and asks what principled reason warrants leaving household responsibilities.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna addresses someone who is giving up signs of worldly life—garlands, perfumes, ornaments, and fine clothing—and choosing the life of a wandering renunciant. He questions the motive: why abandon the home and become inactive?