परिज्ञातस्वभावं तं शुकं स जनको नृपः । आनीतं मुदितात्मानमवलोक्य ननाम ह ॥ २७ ॥
parijñātasvabhāvaṁ taṁ śukaṁ sa janakō nṛpaḥ | ānītaṁ muditātmānamavalōkya nanāma ha || 27 ||
Translation
King Janaka, having come to know Śuka's nature, saw him brought in, his mind content, and bowed to him.
Word by word
- parijñāta
- having come to know
- svabhāvaṁ
- nature
- taṁ
- his
- śukaṁ
- Śuka
- sa
- the
- janakō
- (janakaḥ) Janaka
- nṛpaḥ
- King
- ānītaṁ
- brought in
- mudita
- content
- ātmānam
- his mind
- avalōkya
- saw
- nanāma
- bowed to him
- ha
- indeed
Meaning
The test is over. Janaka now knows Śuka's nature (parijñāta-svabhāva): the commentary, the firmness of his inquiry and his dispassion, which held until the very end. Śuka is brought before the king, still content, and the king bows to him (nanāma). The roles are not what one might expect. The king who is to teach bows to the young seeker who has come to learn. Janaka honours not a status but a quality; the one who has passed the test deserves reverence, whoever he is.