Upanishads · Mahā 2.22
॥
Devanāgarī
जिज्ञासार्थं शुकस्यासावास्तामेवेत्यवज्ञया उक्त्वा बभूव जनकस्तूष्णीं सप्त दिनान्यथ
Transliteration (IAST)
jijñāsārthaṃ śukasyāsāvāstāmevetyavajñayā uktvā babhūva janakastūṣṇīṃ sapta dinānyatha
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
जिज्ञासा-अर्थम् शुकस्य असौjijñāsā-artham śukasya asaufor the sake of probing Śuka, he; in order to test Śuka, he
आस्ताम् एव इति अवज्ञयाāstām eva iti avajñayā“let him just stand” — with disdain; “let him stand there” — slightingly
उक्त्वा बभूव जनकः तूष्णीम्uktvā babhūva janakaḥ tūṣṇīmhaving said, Janaka fell silent; having spoken, Janaka became mute
सप्त दिनानि अथsapta dināni athathen for seven days; and so for seven days
Translation
Wishing to test Śuka, Janaka tossed off with disdain: “Let him stand” — and was silent for seven days.
Version
9870e20c1c19 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The trial begins, and its first part is humiliation.
The word avajñā means precisely disdain, the look from above. The king is not busy, not away, not ill: he said “let him stand” — and fell silent for a week.
Why? Because one can teach only him who is able to receive; and the ability to receive is tested not by conversation.
Note the design of the whole test: it will be threefold and go by increase. Seven days at the gate — disdain. Seven days in the courtyard — half-recognition. Seven days in the chambers with delicacies and beauties — temptation. Three weeks, three ways of knocking a man off his stand.
The first way strikes at pride. Śuka, the son of Vyāsa, knowing from birth, is told to stand at the gate like a petitioner.