JANAKA 345 JANAMEJAYA I the King was transferred to them they could be set discussion with Sage Paficasikha about the means to free. One early morning Janaka had, with a pure avoid death. (Santi Parva, Chapter 319). heart, chanted "Rama, Rama" and that good act was (13) There was once a Janaka King called Dharma- exchanged for the freedom of the sinners. dhvaja, and Sulabha, an erudite woman in Mithila After their release had been effected, Janaka asked wanted to test the King. By her yogic powers she Kala : "You say that only sinners come here. What sin assumed the form of a very beautiful woman and visited have I committed that I should come here ?" Kala's Janaka's palace. She was offered a seat by the King, reply to the question was as follows : "Oh ! King, and seated on the stool she took her soul into the no one else in the whole world has so much punya as body of Janaka, and the soul entered into a dicussion you have got. But, a small sin you have committed. on philosophic subjects with Janaka. Sulabha was thus Once you prevented a cow from eating grass, and, convinced about the unique scholarship of the King therefore, you had to come up to the gates ofhell. Now, and left the palace ashamed about her attempt to for. So that sin has been atoned you may go to svarga." test the King. (Santi Parva, Chapter 320) . saluted Kala and in the divine vimana to the son of Janaka went ( 14) Suka, Vyasa not being fully satisfied by Heaven. (Padma Purana, Chapters 30 and 31). the study of Bhagavata once visited Janaka at the Slta a 9) Artificial Janaka. While was captive in Lanka instance of his (Suka's) father, and Janaka did so Ravana, to bring her round, deputed a very clever easily clear the doubts of Suka, which even Vyasa had magician called Marutta to her, disguised as Janaka, not been able to successfully tackle. (Devi Bhagavata, her father. And Marutta, in the capacity of her father 1st Skandha). consoled her and advised her to yield to the wishes of (15) Kingjanaka did not eat flesh. (Anusasana Parva, Ravana. But Slta did not yield, and the artificial Janaka Chapter 115, Verse 65). assumed his original form of Marutta and went away. (16) Dharma, once in the guise of a brahmin imparted (Kaiiiba Ramayana, Sundara Kanda). many pieces of advice to Janaka. (Asvamcdha Parva, 10) Other information about Janaka. (1) Bhimasena Chapter 32) . defeated one Janaka, who was King of Mithila during The above facts prove that the Janaka kings, as a rule, the time of the Pandavas. (Sabha Parva, Chapter 30, were great scholars and philosophers. 1 1 Verse 13). ) Synonyms of Janaka. Aindradyumni, Daivarati, (2) King Janaka was a personification or incarna- DharmadhvajX Karala, Karalajanaka; Maithila, tion of all good qualities. (Vana Parva, Chapter 207, Mithiladhipa, Mithilesvara, Vaideha etc. Verse 37) . JANAKI I. A Ksatriya king who was the rebirth of father in (3) Janaka, the of Slta, his old age renounc- an asura named Candravinasana. It is staled in Maha- ed his kingdom and became a recluse. (Santi Parva. bharata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 4, Stanza 20, that the Chapter 18, Verse 4). Pandavas had sent to him a letter of invitation to take (4) Once the sage called A:;maka imparted some part in the battle of Bharata. to II. Slta. pieces ofadvice Janaka. (See under A^makopakhyana) . JANAKI See under 5 Once in a war between and a One of the fourteen worlds. This world is ( ) Janaka king called JANALOKA. Pratardana, the army of Janaka, in the presence of the situated three crores of yojanas (leagues) away from army of Pratardana stood aghast, and Janaka incited Dhruvapada (the region of Dhruva Pole star) according to them fight by showing heaven and hell to them. to Visnu Purana, Arhsa II, Chapter 7) . (Sand Parva, Chapter 99, Verse 4). JANAMEJAYA I. A famous King of the Solar dynasty (6) Once in a war with a King called Ksemadarsi 1) Genealogy. Descended from Visnu thus: Brahma- - - - when victory for Janaka was found to be an impossibi- Atri Candra Budha Pururavas-Ayus-Nahusa-Yayati- - - - lity he, as advised by Sage Kalakavrksaka gave his Puru Janamejaya Pracinvan Pravira-Namasyu-Vlta- daughter to Ksemadarsi in marriage. (Sand Parva, bhaya-Sundu-Bahuvidha-Samyati-Rahovadi-Raudrasva- Chapter 106, Verse 2). Matinara - Santurodha - Dusyanta - Bharata-Suhotra- 7 Once a Suhota - Gala - Garda - Suketu - ( ) Mandavya great sage put many questions Brhatksetra-Hasti-Aja- about Trsna (desire) to Janaka and he, the great midha-Rsa-Samvarana-Kuru-Jahnu-Suratha-Viduratria- - - - philosopher answered the questions quite satisfactorily Sarvabhauma-Jayatsena Ravyaya Bhavuka Cakrod- - (Sand Parva, Chapter 276). dhata - Devatithi Rksa-Bhima-Pratica-Santanu-Vyasa- (8) On another occasion Janaka had a talk with Sage Pandu-Arjuna-Abhimanyu-Pariksit-Janamejaya. and accession to throne. Parasara about the attainment of prosperity and wel- 2) Birth, marriage Janamejaya was the son of Parlksit his wife Madravatl. fare. (Sand Parva, Chapter 296). by Vapu- of of Kasiwas 9 There was a called Karala stama, daughter Suvarnavarman, King ( ) King Janaka among Janamejaya's wife. Two sons, Satanlka and Saiiku- the Janaka Kings. Once Vasistha gave some good karna were born to them. Janamejaya had three advice to Karala Janaka. (Santi Parva, Chapters 302- brothers called Srutasena, Ugrasena and Bhimasena. 308). 2nd Skandha Adi (Devi Bhagavata, ; Parva, Chapters (10) Once a advised a called Vasu- Sage Janaka King 3 and 95). man on subjects relating to Dharma. (Santi Parva 3) Death of his father. Janamejaya's father, Parlksit 309). Chapter ruled the country in a very distinguished manner for Vasuman son of Devarata (11) Janaka, put many ques- sixty years. While once hunting in the forest Parlksit tions to and were answered to Yajnavalkya they the became very tired and thirsty. While searching for full satisfaction of the King. (Santi Parva, Chapters water he came across a Sage named Samlka and asked 310-318). him for some water. Samlka being engaged in medita- The called had once a the (12) Janaka King Janadeva tion did not hear King's request. But, the.