ब्राह्मण उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। ब्राह्मणस्य च संवादं जनकस्य च भाविनि॥
The Brahmana said Regarding it is cited the old discourse between a Brahmana and (king) Janaka.
ब्राह्मणं जनको राजा सन्नं कस्मिंश्चिदागसि। विषये मे न वस्तव्यमिति शिष्ट्यर्थमब्रवीत्॥
King Janaka (on a certain occasion), desirous of punishing him said to a Brahmana who had become guilty of some offence, You shall not live within my dominions.
इत्युक्तः प्रत्युवाचाथ ब्राह्मणो राजसत्तमम्। यावांस्तव वशे स्थितः॥
Thus addressed, the Brahmana replied to that best of kings, saying. Tell me, O king, what the limits are of the territories subject to you.
आचक्ष्व विषयं राजन् सोऽन्यस्य विषये राज्ञो वस्तुमिच्छाम्यहं विभो। वचस्ते कर्तुमिच्छामि यथाशास्त्रं महीपते॥
I wish, O lord, to live within the dominions of another king. Indeed, I wish to obey your command, O king, according to the scriptures.
इत्युक्तस्तु तदा राजा ब्राह्मणेन यशस्विना। मुहुरुष्णं विनिःश्वस्य न किंचित् प्रत्यभाषत॥
Thus addressed by that celebrated Brahmana, the king, hearing repeated and hou sighs, said not a word in reply.
तमासीनं ध्यायमानं राजानममितौजसम्। कश्मलं सहसागच्छद् भानुमन्तमिव ग्रहः॥
Like the planet (Rahu) possessing the Sun, a cloudedness of understanding suddenly overwhelmed that king of incomparable energy as he sat plunged in thought.
समाश्वास्य ततो राजा विगते कश्मले तदा। ततो मुहूर्तादिव तं ब्राह्मणं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
When that cloudedness of understanding departed and the king became comforted, he spoke after a short time these words to that Brahmana.
जनक उवाच पितृपैतामहे राज्ये वश्य जनपदे सति। विषयं नाधिगच्छामि विचिन्वन् पृथिवीमहम्॥
Although a (large) inhabited dominion is subject 10 me within this ancestral kingdom of mine, yield fail to find my dominion, searching through the whole Earth.
नाधिगच्छं यदा पृथ्व्यां मिथिला मार्गिता मया। नाध्यगच्छं यदा तस्यां स्वप्रजा मार्गिता मया॥
When I could not find it on the Earth. I then Searched Mithila (for it). When I could not find it in Mithila, 1 then searched for it among my own children.
नाध्यगच्छं तदा तस्यां तदा मे कश्मलोऽभवत्। ततो मे कश्मलस्यान्ते मतिः पुनरुपस्थिता॥
When I could not find it even there, a cloudedness of understanding came over me. After that cloudedness of understanding departed, intelligence came back to me.
तदा न विषयं मन्ये सर्वो वा विषयो मम। आत्मायि चायं न मम सर्वा वा पृथिवी मम॥
Then I though that I have no dominion, or that everything is my dominion. This body is not mine, or the whole Earth is minc.
यथा मम तथान्येषामिति मन्ये द्विजोत्तम। उष्यतां यावदुत्साहो भुज्यतां यावदुष्यते॥
At the same time, O best of twice bon persons, I think that that is as much mine as it is of others. Do you, therefore, live (here) as long as your choice leads you, and do you enjoy as long as you please.
व्राह्मण उवाच पितृपैतामहे राज्ये वश्ये जनपदे सति। ब्रूहि कां मतिमास्थाय ममत्वं वर्जितं त्वया॥
When there is a large inhabited tract in your ancestral kingdom, tell me, depending upon what understanding, has the idea of mineness been got rid of by you.
कां वै बुद्धिं समाश्रित्य सर्वो वै विषयस्तव। नावैषि विषयं येन सर्वो वा विषयस्तव॥
What also is that understanding depending upon which you have come to the conclusion that everything forms your dominion? What. indeed, is the notion through which you have no dominion, or everything is your dominion?
जनक उवाच अन्तवन्त इहावस्था विदिताः सर्वकर्मसु। नाध्यगच्छमहं तस्मान्ममेदमिति यद् भवेत्॥
Janaka said All conditions here, in all affairs, I understand, are liable to come to an end. Hence, I could not find that which should be called mine.
कस्येदमिति कस्य स्वमिति बेदवचस्तथा। नाध्यगच्छमहं बुद्ध्या ममेदपिति यद् भवेत्॥
(Considering) whose is this, I thought of the Vedic text about anybody's property. I could not therefore, find, through my understanding, what should be (called) mine.
एतां बुद्धिं समाश्रित्य ममत्वं वर्जितं मया। शृणु बुद्धिं च यां ज्ञात्वा सर्वत्र विषयो मम॥
Depending upon this notion. I got rid of the idea of mineness. Hear now what that notion is depending upon which I arrived at the conclusion that I have dominion everywhere.
नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि गन्धान् ध्राणगतानपि। तस्मान्मे निर्जिता भूमिर्वशे तिष्ठन्ति नित्यदा॥
I do not wish for my own self those smells which are even in my nose. Therefore, the earth, subjugated by me, is always under me.
नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि रसानास्येऽपि वर्ततः। आपो मे निर्जितास्तस्माद् वशे तिष्ठन्ति नित्यदा।।१९
I do not wish for my own self those tastes which exist in contact with even my tongue. Therefore, water, subjugated by me, is always under me.
नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि रूपं ज्योतिश्च चक्षुषः। तस्मान्मे निर्जितं ज्योतिर्वशे तिष्ठन्ति नित्यदा॥
I do not wish for my own self the colour or light which belongs to my eye. Therefore, light subjugated by me, is always under me.
नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि स्पर्शास्त्वचि गताश्च ये। तस्मान्मे निर्जितो वायुर्वशे तिष्ठन्ति नित्यदा॥
I do not wish for my own self those scrisations of touch which are in contact with even my skin. Therefore, the wind, subjugated by me, is always under me.
नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि शब्दाश्रोत्रगतानपि। तस्मान्मे निर्जिताः शब्दे वशे तिष्ठन्ति नित्यदा॥
I do not wish for own self those sounds, which are in contact with even my car. Therefore, sounds, subjugated by me, are always under me.
नाहमात्मार्थमिच्छामि मनो नित्यं मनोऽन्तरे। मनो मे निर्जितं तस्माद् वशे तिष्ठन्ति नित्यदा॥
I do not wish for my own self the mind that is always in my mind. Therefore the mind, subjugated by me, is under me.
देवेभ्यश्च पितृभ्यश्च भूतेभ्योऽतिथिभिः सह। इत्यर्थे सर्व एवेति समारम्भा भवन्ति वै॥
All these acts of mine are for the sake of the celestials, the departed manes, the Bhuttas, together with guests.
ततः प्रहस्य जनकं ब्राह्मणः पुनरब्रवीत्। तवज्जिज्ञासार्थमोह विद्धि मां धर्ममागतम्॥
The Brahmana then, smiling, once more said to Janaka, Know that I am Dharma, who come here today for examining you.
त्वमस्य ब्रह्मलाभस्य दुर्वारस्यानिवर्तिनः। सत्त्वनेमिनिरुद्धस्य चक्रस्यैकः प्रवर्तकः॥
You are indeed the one person for setting this wheel in motion, this wheel that has the quality of Goodness for its circumference, Brahma for its nave, and the understanding for its spokes, and which never turns back!