Shloka 49
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
ब्राह्मण उवाच परम॑ गृह्म॒तां तस्य फलं यज्जपितं मया । अर्ध त्वमविचारेण फल तस्य हाावाप्रुहि
brāhmaṇa uvāca | param gṛhṇatāṁ tasya phalaṁ yaj japitaṁ mayā | ardhaṁ tvam avicāreṇa phalaṁ tasya haivāpruṇu ||
The Brahmin said: “O King, accept the highest fruit of the sacred recitation I have performed. Without hesitation, take at least half of its merit as your own; indeed, if you wish to take the entire fruit of my japa, then take it fully according to your desire.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Spiritual merit is treated as ethically significant and transferable through intention and consent; the verse highlights generosity and the renunciant ideal—offering one’s own religious ‘fruit’ for another’s welfare, while leaving the choice to the recipient.
A Brahmin addresses a king and offers him the fruit of his performed japa, proposing that the king may take half without hesitation, or even the whole merit if he so desires—framing the exchange as a voluntary, dharmic gift.