Shloka 51
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 ||
রাজা বললেন—ব্রাহ্মণ! জপের ফল সম্বন্ধে আমি যা প্রার্থনা করেছিলাম, তা সম্পূর্ণ হয়েছে। তোমার মঙ্গল হোক, কল্যাণ হোক। আমি এখন প্রস্থান করছি; তবে বলো, সেই সাধনার ফল কী?
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.