Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
सत्य॑ वेदेषु जागार्ति फलं सत्ये परं स्मृतम् । सत्याद् धर्मो दमश्चैव सर्व सत्ये प्रतेष्ठितम्
satyaṁ vedeṣu jāgarti phalaṁ satye paraṁ smṛtam | satyād dharmo damaś caiva sarvaṁ satye pratiṣṭhitam ||
The Brahmin declares that Truth is what remains ever-awake within the Vedas, and its greatness is repeatedly affirmed there. The highest fruit is said to belong to Truth itself. From Truth arise the fulfillment of dharma and the attainment of self-restraint; indeed, everything stands established upon Truth as its foundation.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Truth (satya) is presented as the supreme foundation: it is central to Vedic teaching, yields the highest spiritual fruit, and is the source from which dharma and self-restraint become established.
Within the Shanti Parva’s instructional setting, a Brahmin speaker delivers a moral teaching, emphasizing that all ethical and spiritual attainments rest upon truthfulness as the primary support.