Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
राजोवाच कृतं सर्वेण भद्रं ते जप्यं यद् याचितं मया । स्वस्ति ते5स्तु गमिष्यामि किड्च तस्य फलं वद
rājovāca kṛtaṃ sarveṇa bhadraṃ te japyaṃ yad yācitaṃ mayā | svasti te 'stu gamiṣyāmi kiñca tasya phalaṃ vada ||
ৰাজাই ক’লে—ব্ৰাহ্মণ! জপৰ ফল সম্পৰ্কে মই যি প্ৰাৰ্থনা কৰিছিলোঁ, সেয়া সকলো সম্পূৰ্ণ হ’ল। তোমাৰ মঙ্গল হওক, কুশল হওক। মই এতিয়া প্ৰস্থান কৰোঁ; কিন্তু কোৱা, সেই সাধনাৰ ফল কি?
ब्राह्मण उवाच
The verse highlights the dharmic concern for understanding not only the performance of a religious act (japa) but also its ethical and spiritual outcome (phala). It frames practice as meaningful when its purpose and result are clearly understood.
The king addresses a Brahmin, expressing that his request concerning a sacred recitation has been satisfied, offers blessings, and prepares to leave—yet he asks the Brahmin to state explicitly what fruit or benefit that recitation yields.