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,राजाने कहा--ब्रह्मन! मैंने जो जपका फल माँगा है, उन सबकी पूर्ति हो गयी। आपका भला हो, कल्याण हो। मैं चला जाऊँगा; किंतु यह तो बता दीजिये कि उसका फल क्या है?
rājovāca kṛtaṃ sarveṇa bhadraṃ te japyaṃ yad yācitaṃ mayā | svasti te 'stu gamiṣyāmi kiñca tasya phalaṃ vada ||
Der König sprach: „Alles ist vollbracht; was ich dich nach der Frucht jener heiligen Rezitation fragte, ist erfüllt. Heil und Wohlergehen seien dir. Nun will ich gehen — doch sage mir: Was ist die Frucht dieser Übung?“
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.