MithilAyAM tu daghdhAyAm

[Ashok Aklujkar]

The association of the remark with Janaka and Mithilaa is rather widespread.
Mithilaa is known primarily as an ideal city, not as the richest city (and
Janaka as a philosopher king). The reference to burning is hypothetical
('even if Mithilaa is ablaze, even if Mithilaa were to burn ...'). Note the
present tense in the reading dahyati.


On 09/05/24 3:03 PM, "Allen W Thrasher" <athr at LOC.GOV> wrote:
 
> I had always thought that there was an ancient story of some specific king of
> Mithila walking away from his burning city, but apparently not, Mithila was
> just taken as the greatest and richest city.