The event unfolded as Ashtavakra entered the court of King Janak. Everyone present laughed at the way he walked due to his deformity. Seeing them laugh, Ashtavakra laughed back, wondering how they could discuss matters pertaining to the soul when they were still stuck at the level of physical appearance. An embarrassed King Janak realised the folly committed by the so-called great minds in his court. The king had heard about Ashtavakra being a realised soul. He apologised and requested that Ashtavakra help him gain the ultimate knowledge.
Ashtavakra agreed, though with the condition that the king give him everyone that he possessed. Janak immediately agreed.
Ashtavakra asked the king to renounce his throne and sit with others. While everyone in the court was shocked, Janak accepted it without a question. Next, Ashtavakra asked the king to clear his mind of all planning for the future of the kingdom since it no longer belonged to him. The king immediately responded and realised his mind was devoid of any planning for the kingdom. By doing this, the material clasp loosened for the king.
Next, Ashtavakra asked the king to drop the awareness that the body belonged to him. Janak responded and found a strange lightness. The body that he felt was his until a moment ago now seemed distant. For the king, the physical grip unfastened.
The king’s readiness to follow instructions surprised and pleased Ashtavakra. He then asked the king to let go of all his thoughts, to which, again, the king responded immediately.
Finally, by clearing his mind of thoughts, the remaining holds were loosened. No longer were there any material, physical or mental clasps that bound him until then. Suddenly, his existence seemed boundless, as if he had become one with eternal nature.
Even as Janak became a realised soul, everyone in the court wondered if Ashtavakra would ask the king to leave the kingdom. However, Ashtavakra didn’t do that. Instead, he returned everything to King Janak and told him to rule the kingdom as a mere custodian and not as an owner. Like he had done with earlier instructions, the realised king did just that. Little wonder, even centuries later, he’s still known as a sage-king. May we, like King Janak, realise the futility of our tight grip on not only our material and physical possessions but even our thoughts and live a life like a mere custodian.