☀️ 𝓓epicting 𝓣he 𝓓ivine ☀️

exemplar Janaka

''The classical period when India was full of life, activity, development, abounding vigour, defending herself successfully against the impact of the outer barbarian, was a period of frank and lavish enjoyment far more intellectual, artistic, perfect than anything Europe has ever been capable of, even at its best. 

In yet older literature we find the true spirit of India, a splendid capacity for bhoga and tyaga in their highest terms, the utter enjoyment of the householder, the utter renunciation of the sannyasin. 

To take the utmost joy of life, to be capable of the utmost renunciation of life, at one and the same time, in the same mind and body, to be master of both capacities and bound by neither,—this was the secret of India, the mighty discipline of which Janaka was the traditional exemplar.'' 

[Sri Aurobindo -  from his article in Karmayogin - A Weekly Review/12 Feb 1910]

''The liberated man has nothing to gain by action, but nothing also to gain by inaction, and it is not at all for any personal object that he has to make his choice. "Therefore without attachment perform ever the work that is to be done (done for the sake of the world, lokasamgraha, as is made clear immediately afterward); for by doing work without attachment man attains to the highest. 

For it was even by works that Janaka and the rest attained to perfection."

karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ,

lokasaṁgrahamevāpi saṁpaśyankartumarhasi [B.G.3:20]

[Sri Aurobindo - Essays on the Gita]

''Sannyasa has a formal garb and outer tokens; therefore men think they can easily recognise it; but the freedom of a Janaka does not proclaim itself and it wears the garb of the world; to its presence even Narada was blinded.''

[Sri Aurobindo - Thoughts and Aphorisms - Jnana]

Shuka-muni approaches the court of King Janaka