Rāja Janaka Pañcaśikha Saṃvāda

In the 319^th chapter of the Śāntiparva the ślokas from 4^th to 15^th deal with this Saṃvāda. It describes the sage of old age and the matters related to death.

Pañcaśikha was one of the foremost who was conversant with Vedas. Rāja Janaka had doubts about decrepitude and death. He wants to get over these two stages of life. He asked whether penance, religious practices or knowledge help him to overcome this. The peak of knowledge, Pañcaśikha replied that none can prevent and overcome these stages.^[1] Man can avoid rebirth, once born by following eternal path. Man who falls into the ocean of life will have to face the deadly and poisonous creatures, death and decrepitude. Man often forgets that he has an end or he will be weak with old age. He runs after women, wine and wealth. After the worldly journey he has nothing but the reward of death and decrepitude. But the man, who follows the eternal path, is able to face these stages as everything that comes in the journey of life.