Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
विकृत उवाच धारयामीत्यनेनोक्तं ददानीति तथा मया । नायं मे धारयत्यद्य गच्छतां यत्र वाउछति,विकृत बोला--राजन्! विरूपने अभी आपसे कहा है कि मैं ऋण धारण करता हूँ; परंतु मैंने उस समय “दान” कह करके वह वस्तु इसे दी थी; इसलिये इसके ऊपर मेरा कोई ऋण नहीं है। अब यह जहाँ जाना चाहे, जा सकता है
Vikṛta uvāca: dhārayāmīty anenoktaṃ dadānīti tathā mayā | nāyaṃ me dhārayaty adya gacchatāṃ yatra vā icchati ||
বিকৃত ক’লে—ৰাজন! সি কৈছিল, ‘মই ইয়াক ঋণৰূপে ধাৰণ কৰিছোঁ’; কিন্তু মই ‘দান’ বুলি কৈহে দিছিলোঁ। সেয়ে তাৰ ওপৰত মোৰ কোনো ঋণবন্ধন নাই। এতিয়া সি য’লৈ ইচ্ছা কৰে ত’লৈ যাব পাৰে।
विकृत उवाच
Moral obligation depends on intention and the terms of an exchange: if something is given as dāna (a gift), it should not be treated as a binding debt. Clear speech and honest intent prevent exploitation and uphold dharma.
Vikṛta responds to a dispute about whether an item was taken as a loan or received as a gift. He asserts that although the other party called it a debt, he himself gave it explicitly as a gift; therefore he claims no right to demand repayment and releases the person to go freely.