Book 2 · Mumukṣu मुमुक्षु · chapter 1 · 1 chapter
Shuka, son of the sage Vyasa; his father Vyasa; and King Janaka of Videha, narrated by Vishvamitra to Rama.
Vishvamitra tells Rama the story of Shuka, son of Vyasa, to show him that his own mind needs only a little clearing. Shuka, reflecting alone on worldly life, reached the same discernment that had arisen in Rama. He understood the highest truth by his own reasoning, but his mind stayed restless and never settled into certainty, though it did turn away from ordinary pleasures. One day he asked his father Vyasa how the show of worldly life arises and ends. Vyasa explained it fully, but Shuka, feeling he already knew it, paid the words little attention. Sensing this, Vyasa admitted he did not truly know the answer himself and sent Shuka to King Janaka. Shuka traveled to Videha. Janaka tested him, making him wait seven days at the gate, seven in the courtyard, and seven in the inner chambers surrounded by pleasures and feasts, none of which shook him. Recognizing Shuka's true nature, Janaka then bowed to him and answered his question, describing the world as arising from thought and dissolving when thought dissolves. Hearing this confirmed by Janaka, Shuka fell silent, resting in that truth. Free of doubt, sorrow, and fear, he went to a peak of Mount Meru, remained absorbed in meditation for ten thousand years, and finally merged completely, like a drop of water into the ocean.
स्वयं प्राप्ते परे वस्तुन्यविश्रान्तमनाः स्थितः | इदं वस्त्विति विश्वासं नासावात्मन्युपाययौ || ११ ||
Even though he himself had reached the highest reality, his mind stayed restless; within himself he never came to the certainty, 'This is it.'
यद्यपि उसने स्वयं परम तत्त्व को पा लिया था, फिर भी उसका मन अशांत ही रहा; उसे भीतर यह विश्वास नहीं हुआ कि 'यही वह वस्तु है।'
जिज्ञासार्थं शुकस्यासावास्तामेवेत्यवज्ञया उक्त्वा बभूव जनकस्तूष्णीं सप्त दिनान्यथ || २१ ||
To test Shuka, Janaka said, as if dismissing him, 'Just let him wait there,' and then Janaka remained silent for seven days.
शुक की परीक्षा लेने के लिए जनक ने उपेक्षा से कह दिया, 'उसे वहीं ठहरने दो,' और फिर जनक सात दिनों तक चुप रहे।
व्यपगतकलनाकलङ्कशुद्धः स्वयममलात्मनि पावने पदेऽसौ | सलिलकण इवाम्बुधौ महात्मा विगलितवासनमेकतां जगाम || ४५ ||
Every last trace of mental movement now gone, that great soul, all his inner tendencies dissolved, merged of his own accord into the one, spotless, sacred state - like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
मन की हलचल का आखिरी निशान भी मिट जाने पर, वह महात्मा अपने भीतर की सारी वासनाएँ गला कर, अपने आप ही उस निर्मल, पवित्र परम अवस्था में लीन हो गया - जैसे पानी की एक बूँद समुद्र में मिल जाती है।
The story occupies chapter 1 of Book 2. Each link opens that chapter complete — Sanskrit in Devanagari and IAST, with a plain English and Hindi translation of every verse. The number under each link is its verse count.