Shloka 41
Aśmagīta: Janaka’s Inquiry on Loss, Kāla, and the Limits of Control (अश्मगीता)
अतः विवेकी पुरुषको अपने मनमें यह विचार करना चाहिये कि “मैं कहाँ हूँ, कहाँ जाऊँगा, कौन हूँ, यहाँ किसलिये आया हूँ और किसलिये किसका शोक करूँ?” ।।
ataḥ vivekī puruṣako 'pane manameṃ evaṃ vicāra karanā cāhiye— “ahaṃ kutra asmi, kutra gamiṣyāmi, ko 'ham, iha kasmāt āgataḥ asmi, ca kasmāt kasya śokaṃ kuryām?” || anitye priyasaṃvāse saṃsāre cakravad-gatau | pathi saṅgatam evaitad bhrātā mātā pitā sakhā ||
因此，有明辨之人当于心中思惟：“我在何处？将往何处？我是谁？我为何来到此间？又为谁、因何而悲？”因为此世如轮回转，所爱之人的相聚无常；在此，兄弟、母亲、父亲与朋友，都如途中相逢的旅伴。
जनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Janaka teaches viveka (discriminative wisdom): reflect on identity, purpose, and destiny, and recognize that worldly relationships are impermanent. Since loved ones are like fellow travelers met on a journey, excessive attachment leads to grief; understanding impermanence supports equanimity and dharmic living.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Janaka speaks as a teacher-king offering counsel on sorrow and attachment. He frames family and friendship as temporary associations within saṃsāra, urging reflective inquiry to loosen grief and cultivate steadiness of mind.