Janaka and the Brahmin: No Territory of One's Own

Verse 1 (14.33.1)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । ब्राह्मणस्य च संवादं जनकस्य च भामिनि ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | brāhmaṇasya ca saṃvādaṃ janakasya ca bhāmini

The Brahmin said: On this subject, too, they recount an ancient tale, the dialogue between a Brahmin and Janaka, O lovely one.

Note on the text: Speaker: the Brahmin who tells the tale to his wife (भामिनि, verse 1). The page's opening heading reads ब्राह्मणि उवाच, which cannot be right: the CE has brāhmaṇa uvāca here, and the wife's reply is headed ब्राह्मण्युवाच on the next page; the input carried ब्राह्मणि through verses 1-12.

Verse 2 (14.33.2)

ब्राह्मणं जनको राजा सन्नं कस्मिंश्चिदागसि । विषये मे न वस्तव्यमिति शिष्ट्यर्थमब्रवीत् ॥

brāhmaṇaṃ janako rājā sannaṃ kasmiṃścidāgasi | viṣaye me na vastavyamiti śiṣṭyarthamabravīt

King Janaka, as a means of correction, said to a Brahmin who was downcast over some offence: "You must not live in my territory."

Note on the text: Speaker: as in verse 1 (the Brahmin narrating; the input had ब्राह्मणि).

Verse 3 (14.33.3)

इत्युक्तः प्रत्युवाचाथ ब्राह्मणो राजसत्तमम् । आचक्ष्व विषयं राजन्यावांस्तव वशे स्थितः ॥

ityuktaḥ pratyuvācātha brāhmaṇo rājasattamam | ācakṣva viṣayaṃ rājanyāvāṃstava vaśe sthitaḥ

Thus addressed, the Brahmin replied to that best of kings: "Tell me, O king, how far the territory extends that stands under your control.

Note on the text: Speaker: as in verse 1 (the Brahmin narrating; the input had ब्राह्मणि).

Verse 4 (14.33.4)

सोऽन्यस्य विषये राज्ञो वस्तुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो । वचस्ते कर्तुमिच्छामि यथाशास्त्रं महीपते ॥

so'nyasya viṣaye rājño vastumicchāmyahaṃ vibho | vacaste kartumicchāmi yathāśāstraṃ mahīpate

I wish to live in the territory of another king, O lord, and I wish to do your bidding as the scriptures direct, O protector of the earth."

Note on the text: Speaker: the guest Brahmin's own words (no heading is printed; the input had ब्राह्मणि).

Verse 5 (14.33.5)

इत्युक्तस्तु तदा राजा ब्राह्मणेन यशस्विना । मुहुरुष्णं विनिःश्वस्य न किञ्चित्प्रत्यभाषत ॥

ityuktastu tadā rājā brāhmaṇena yaśasvinā | muhuruṣṇaṃ viniḥśvasya na kiñcitpratyabhāṣata

Thus addressed by the illustrious Brahmin, the king sighed hot breaths again and again and made no reply at all.

Note on the text: Speaker: as in verse 1 (the Brahmin narrating; the input had ब्राह्मणि). Corrected विनिःस्वस्य → विनिःश्वस्य (misprint in Wikisource: स्व for श्व; CE niḥśvasya). Line 2 न किञ्चित्प्रत्यभाषत is a recension variant of CE na sa taṃ pratyabhāṣata, kept.

Verse 6 (14.33.6)

तमासीनं ध्यायमानं राजानममितौजसम् । कश्मलं सहसाऽगच्छद्भानुमन्तमिव ग्रहः ॥

tamāsīnaṃ dhyāyamānaṃ rājānamamitaujasam | kaśmalaṃ sahasā'gacchadbhānumantamiva grahaḥ

As that king of boundless might sat brooding, a faintness suddenly came over him, as an eclipsing planet comes upon the sun.

Note on the text: Speaker: as in verse 1 (the Brahmin narrating; the input had ब्राह्मणि).

Verse 7 (14.33.7)

समाश्वास्य ततो राजा विगते कश्मले तदा । ततो मुहूर्तादिव तं ब्राह्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥

samāśvāsya tato rājā vigate kaśmale tadā | tato muhūrtādiva taṃ brāhmaṇaṃ vākyamabravīt

Then the king recovered himself, and when the faintness had passed, after a short while he spoke these words to the Brahmin.

Note on the text: Speaker: as in verse 1 (the Brahmin narrating; the input had ब्राह्मणि). Corrected कश्यमे → कश्मले and मूहूर्तादिव → मुहूर्तादिव (misprints in Wikisource: य for ल, long ऊ for short उ; CE kaśmale, muhūrtād).

Verse 8 (14.33.8)

पितृपैतामहे राज्ये वश्ये जनपदे सति । विषयं नाधिगच्छामि विचिन्वन्पृथिवीमहम् ॥

pitṛpaitāmahe rājye vaśye janapade sati | viṣayaṃ nādhigacchāmi vicinvanpṛthivīmaham

Janaka said: Though the kingdom of my father and grandfather is mine and the country is under my sway, I searched this whole earth and found no territory of my own.

Note on the text: Speaker: Janaka's own words (no heading is printed before verse 15; the input had ब्राह्मणि).

Verse 9 (14.33.9)

नाध्यगच्छं यदा पृथ्व्यां मिथिला मार्गिता मया । नाध्यगच्छं यदा तस्यां स्वप्रजा मार्गिता मया ॥

nādhyagacchaṃ yadā pṛthvyāṃ mithilā mārgitā mayā | nādhyagacchaṃ yadā tasyāṃ svaprajā mārgitā mayā

When I found none on earth, I looked for it in Mithila; when I found none there, I looked for it among my own subjects.

Note on the text: Speaker: Janaka's own words (no heading is printed before verse 15; the input had ब्राह्मणि).

Verse 10 (14.33.10)

नाध्यगच्छं यदा तस्यां तदा मे कश्मलोऽभवत् । ततो मे कश्मलस्यान्ते मतिः पुनरुपस्थिता ॥

nādhyagacchaṃ yadā tasyāṃ tadā me kaśmalo'bhavat | tato me kaśmalasyānte matiḥ punarupasthitā

When I found none among them either, a faintness came over me; then, when the faintness ended, understanding returned to me.

Note on the text: Speaker: Janaka's own words (no heading is printed before verse 15; the input had ब्राह्मणि).

Verse 11 (14.33.11)

तदा न विषयं मन्ये सर्वो वा विषयो मम । आत्माऽपि चायं न मम सर्वा वा पृथिवी मम ॥

tadā na viṣayaṃ manye sarvo vā viṣayo mama | ātmā'pi cāyaṃ na mama sarvā vā pṛthivī mama

Then I thought: either no territory is mine, or the whole of it is mine. Even this self is not mine, or else the whole earth is mine.

Note on the text: Speaker: Janaka's own words (no heading is printed before verse 15; the input had ब्राह्मणि). Verses 11-12 are the CE's three-line verse 14.32.11, which the alignment left unmatched: verse 11 = 11a, 11c (with तदा for CE tayā, a recension variant); line 1 of verse 12 = the CE star line 14.32.11d*0070_01 (yathā mama tathānyeṣām iti manye dvijottama) and line 2 = 11e (uṣyatāṃ yāvad utsāho bhujyatāṃ yāvad iṣyate).

Verse 12 (14.33.12)

यथा मम तथाऽन्येषामिति मन्ये द्विजोत्तम । उष्यतां यावदुत्साहो भुज्यतां यावदिष्यते ॥

yathā mama tathā'nyeṣāmiti manye dvijottama | uṣyatāṃ yāvadutsāho bhujyatāṃ yāvadiṣyate

As it is for me, so it is for others; so I think, best of the twice-born. Stay as long as you wish, and enjoy as long as you desire."

Note on the text: Speaker: Janaka's own words (no heading is printed before verse 15; the input had ब्राह्मणि). Line 1 = CE star line 14.32.11d*0070_01, line 2 = CE 14.32.11e (see verse 11).

Verse 13 (14.33.13)

पितृपैतामहे राज्ये वश्ये जनपदे सति । ब्रूहि कां मतिमास्थाय ममत्वं वर्जितं त्वया ॥

pitṛpaitāmahe rājye vaśye janapade sati | brūhi kāṃ matimāsthāya mamatvaṃ varjitaṃ tvayā

The guest Brahmin said: While the kingdom of your father and grandfather is yours and the country is under your sway, tell me, relying on what understanding have you given up the sense of "mine"?

Verse 14 (14.33.14)

कां वै बुद्धिं समाश्रित्य सर्वो वै विषयस्तव । नावैषि विषयं येन सर्वो वा विषयस्तव ॥

kāṃ vai buddhiṃ samāśritya sarvo vai viṣayastava | nāvaiṣi viṣayaṃ yena sarvo vā viṣayastava

Resting on what understanding is the whole territory yours? Tell me that understanding, by which you recognise no territory as your own and yet all territory is yours.

Verse 15 (14.33.15)

अन्तवन्त इहारम्भा विदिताः सर्वकर्मसु । नाध्यगच्छमहं तस्मान्ममेदमिति यद्भवेत् ॥

antavanta ihārambhā viditāḥ sarvakarmasu | nādhyagacchamahaṃ tasmānmamedamiti yadbhavet

Janaka said: I have learned that all undertakings, in every kind of action, come to an end; therefore I found nothing of which I could say, "this is mine."

Verse 16 (14.33.16)

कस्येदमिति कस्य स्वमिति वेदवचस्तथा । नाध्यगच्छमहं बुद्ध्या ममेदमिति यद्भवेत् ॥

kasyedamiti kasya svamiti vedavacastathā | nādhyagacchamahaṃ buddhyā mamedamiti yadbhavet

"Whose is this? To whom does this belong?" So says the word of the Veda too. By my understanding I found nothing of which I could say, "this is mine."

Verse 17 (14.33.17)

एतां बुद्धिं समाश्रित्य ममत्वं वर्जितं मया । शृणु बुद्धिं च यां ज्ञात्वा सर्वत्र विषयो मम ॥

etāṃ buddhiṃ samāśritya mamatvaṃ varjitaṃ mayā | śṛṇu buddhiṃ ca yāṃ jñātvā sarvatra viṣayo mama

Relying on this understanding I have given up the sense of "mine." Now hear the understanding by knowing which the whole territory is mine.

Verse 18 (14.33.18)

नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि गन्धान्घ्राणगतानपि । तस्मान्मे निर्जिता भूमिर्वशे तिष्ठति नित्यदा ॥

nāhamātmārthamicchāmi gandhānghrāṇagatānapi | tasmānme nirjitā bhūmirvaśe tiṣṭhati nityadā

I do not want, for my own sake, even the scents that reach the nose; therefore the earth is conquered by me and stays always under my control.

Verse 19 (14.33.19)

नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि रसानास्येऽपि वर्ततः । आपो मे निर्जितास्तस्माद्वशे तिष्ठन्ति नित्यदा ॥

nāhamātmārthamicchāmi rasānāsye'pi vartataḥ | āpo me nirjitāstasmādvaśe tiṣṭhanti nityadā

I do not want, for my own sake, the flavours that are in the mouth; therefore the waters are conquered by me and stay always under my control.

Verse 20 (14.33.20)

नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि रूपं ज्योतिश्च चक्षुषः । तस्मान्मे निर्जितं ज्योतिर्वशे तिष्ठति नित्यदा ॥

nāhamātmārthamicchāmi rūpaṃ jyotiśca cakṣuṣaḥ | tasmānme nirjitaṃ jyotirvaśe tiṣṭhati nityadā

I do not want, for my own sake, form and the light of the eye; therefore light is conquered by me and stays always under my control.

Verse 21 (14.33.21)

नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि स्पर्शांस्त्वचि गताश्च ये । तस्मान्मे निर्जितो वायुर्वशे तिष्ठति नित्यदा ॥

nāhamātmārthamicchāmi sparśāṃstvaci gatāśca ye | tasmānme nirjito vāyurvaśe tiṣṭhati nityadā

I do not want, for my own sake, the touches that lie in the skin; therefore the wind is conquered by me and stays always under my control.

Verse 22 (14.33.22)

नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि शब्दाञ्श्रोत्रगतानपि । आकाशं मे जितं तस्माद्वशे तिष्ठति नित्यदा ॥

nāhamātmārthamicchāmi śabdāñśrotragatānapi | ākāśaṃ me jitaṃ tasmādvaśe tiṣṭhati nityadā

I do not want, for my own sake, even the sounds that reach the ear; therefore space is conquered by me and stays always under my control.

Verse 23 (14.33.23)

नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि मनो नित्यं मनोन्तरे । मनो मे निर्जितं तस्माद्वशे तिष्ठति नित्यदा ॥

nāhamātmārthamicchāmi mano nityaṃ manontare | mano me nirjitaṃ tasmādvaśe tiṣṭhati nityadā

I do not want, for my own sake, the mind that ever abides within; therefore the mind is conquered by me and stays always under my control.

Verse 24 (14.33.24)

देवेभ्यश्च पितृभ्यश्च भूतेभ्योऽतिथिभिः सह । इत्यर्थं सर्व एवेति समारम्भा भवन्ति वै ॥

devebhyaśca pitṛbhyaśca bhūtebhyo'tithibhiḥ saha | ityarthaṃ sarva eveti samārambhā bhavanti vai

For the gods, for the forefathers, for beings, and for guests: it is for these that all undertakings come about.

Verse 25 (14.33.25)

ततः प्रहस्य जनकं ब्राह्मणः पुनरब्रवीत् । त्वज्जिज्ञासार्थमद्येह विद्धि मां धर्ममागतम् ॥

tataḥ prahasya janakaṃ brāhmaṇaḥ punarabravīt | tvajjijñāsārthamadyeha viddhi māṃ dharmamāgatam

Then the Brahmin laughed and said to Janaka once more: "Know that I have come here as Dharma, to test you.

Note on the text: Speaker: line 1 is narration by the Brahmin telling the tale; line 2 is the guest Brahmin's own speech, so the verse is given to him (the page's heading for the preceding verses is जनक उवाच, carried over by the input).

Verse 26 (14.33.26)

त्वमस्य ब्रह्मनाभस्य दुर्वारस्यानिवर्तिनः । सत्वनेमिनिरुद्धस्य चक्रस्यैकः प्रवर्तकः ॥

tvamasya brahmanābhasya durvārasyānivartinaḥ | satvaneminiruddhasya cakrasyaikaḥ pravartakaḥ

You alone are the mover of this wheel, whose hub is Brahman, which is hard to check and never turns back, and which is held fast within its rim of sattva."

Note on the text: Speaker: whole-verse speech of the guest Brahmin (no heading printed; the input had जनक). Corrected ब्रह्मिनाभस्य → ब्रह्मनाभस्य (misprint in Wikisource: stray ि; CE brahmanābhasya). Line 1 दुर्वारस्य is a recension variant of CE buddhyārasya, kept.