Upanishads · Mahā 2.29
॥
Devanāgarī
निःशेषितजगत्कार्यः प्राप्ताखिलमनोरथः किमीप्सितं तवेत्याह कृतस्वागत आह तम्
Transliteration (IAST)
niḥśeṣitajagatkāryaḥ prāptākhilamanorathaḥ kimīpsitaṃ tavetyāha kṛtasvāgata āha tam
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
निःशेषित-जगत्-कार्यःniḥśeṣita-jagat-kāryaḥhaving exhausted the world's business; done with all the affairs of the world
प्राप्त-अखिल-मनोरथःprāpta-akhila-manorathaḥhaving attained every wish; with every longing fulfilled
किम् ईप्सितम् तव इति आहkim īpsitam tava iti āha“what dost thou desire?” — he said; “what is thy pleasure?” — he spoke
कृत-स्वागतः आह तम्kṛta-svāgataḥ āha tamhaving given welcome, he said to him; having received him kindly, he addressed him
Translation
“Thou hast finished with all the world's business, all thy longings are fulfilled. What then dost thou desire?” — said Janaka, having given him welcome.
Version
04d53de60ccd · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The king's question is no courtesy but an exact diagnosis.
He says: the business is finished, the wishes fulfilled. What then dost thou want?
This is Śuka's situation, named by another's lips. He has not one unresolved task and not one unsatisfied desire — and still he stands three weeks at another's gate.
The question is awkward precisely because it is honest. It gives no shelter behind “I seek the truth”: the truth Śuka has.
Note the order of acts too: first kṛta-svāgata — “having given welcome”, that is, having rendered all that is due a guest — and only then the question. The three weeks of disdain are over, and the treatment has become impeccable.