Shloka 86
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
सत्यं ब्रवीम्यहमिदं न मे धारयते भवान् । अनृतं वदसीह त्वमृणं ते धारयाम्यहम्,दूसरा बोला--मैं सच कहता हूँ कि तुमपर मेरा कोई ऋण नहीं है। पहलेने कहा--तुम झूठ बोलते हो। मुझपर तुम्हारा ऋण है
satyaṃ bravīmy aham idaṃ na me dhārayate bhavān | anṛtaṃ vadasīha tvam ṛṇaṃ te dhārayāmy aham ||
অন্যজনে ক’লে—মই এই সত্য কওঁ: তোমাৰ ওপৰত মোৰ কোনো ঋণ নাই; তোমাৰ ওপৰত মোৰ কোনো দাবী নাই। প্ৰথমজনে ক’লে—তুমি ইয়াত অসত্য কৈছা; তোমাৰ ঋণ মোৰ ওপৰত আছে, মই তাক বহন কৰিছোঁ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that truth (satya) and obligation (ṛṇa) are ethical realities tested through speech: merely declaring “no debt” does not settle dharma if an obligation truly exists; conversely, falsely asserting a debt is also adharma. Right speech must align with the actual moral account between persons.
Bhishma reports a pointed dialogue between two parties: one insists he owes nothing and speaks it as truth; the other accuses him of lying and asserts that a debt remains. The scene dramatizes a dispute over whether a claim/obligation is valid and whether denial itself becomes falsehood.