tato rājā janakaḥ prītaḥ sudarśanāṃ cakre sabhāṃ tāṃ yathā nṛpa ।
“Then King Janaka, being pleased, constructed that assembly hall, Sudarshana, like a king.”
Structure
tato rājā janakaḥ prītaḥ sudarśanāṃ cakre sabhāṃ tāṃ yathā nṛpa
tato (then) rājā (king) janakaḥ (Janaka) prītaḥ (pleased) cakre (made) sudarśanāṃ (beautiful) sabhāṃ (assembly hall) tāṃ (that) yathā (like) nṛpa (a king)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tato | tato | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | king |
| janakaḥ | janakaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Janaka, a proper noun (name of a king) |
| prītaḥ | prītaḥ | verb | √prī · past participle · third | being pleased or delighted |
| sudarśanāṃ | sudarśanāṃ | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | a beautiful or auspicious assembly |
| cakre | cakre | verb | √kṛ · preterite · third | he made or created |
| sabhāṃ | sabhāṃ | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | an assembly |
| tāṃ | tāṃ | pronoun | accusative · singular · feminine | that (assembly) |
| yathā | yathā | indeclinable | — | as, in the manner that |
| nṛpa | nṛpa | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | a king |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, describing King Janaka's construction of the Sudarshana assembly hall, can be seen as an allegory for the individual Self (jiva) recognizing its true nature as Brahman. Shankara's commentary on the Taittiriya Upanishad (2.1.1) emphasizes the importance of understanding the identity of the individual self with the ultimate reality, Brahman. In the context of this verse, King Janaka's pleasure and action symbolize the jiva's innate tendency towards Self-realization. The construction of the assembly hall represents the process of Self-inquiry, culminating in the direct experience of the non-dual Brahman. As Shankara notes in his Brahmasutra Bhashya (1.1.1), the ultimate goal is to realize the identity of the individual self with Brahman, transcending the limitations of the empirical world. This verse thus points to the brahman-ātman identity, encouraging the seeker to look beyond the external world and discover the ultimate reality within.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): This verse highlights the devotional aspect of King Janaka's relationship with the divine. According to Ramanuja's Sri Bhashya (1.1.1), the jiva's innate longing for liberation is rooted in its dependence on God (Īśvara). King Janaka's pleasure and action in constructing the Sudarshana assembly hall symbolize the devotee's joyful surrender to the divine will. The assembly hall represents the sacred space where the devotee communes with God, experiencing the loving relationship between the jiva and Īśvara. Madhva's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (7.1) emphasizes the importance of bhakti (devotion) in attaining spiritual liberation. In this context, King Janaka's actions exemplify the ideal of a devotee-king, who dedicates his efforts to creating a sacred space for the community to worship and experience the divine presence. This verse thus illustrates the Vaiṣṇava ideal of selfless devotion and loving surrender to God.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a universal message of selfless action and creativity. As Swami Vivekananda notes in his lecture 'The Powers of the Mind' (Complete Works, Vol. 4), the individual has the power to create and shape their own reality. King Janaka's construction of the Sudarshana assembly hall represents the human capacity for self-expression and creativity, unencumbered by personal biases or motivations. S. Radhakrishnan, in his book 'The Hindu View of Life' (1927), emphasizes the importance of integrating spiritual values into daily life. This verse illustrates the ideal of loka-sangraha (working for the welfare of all), where the individual's actions contribute to the greater good. In contemporary life, this verse encourages us to approach our work and creative pursuits with a sense of detachment, selflessness, and devotion to the greater good, recognizing that our individual efforts can contribute to the well-being of the community and the world at large.