Shloka 97
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
एवं विवदमानोौ स्वस्त्वामिहा भ्यागतौ नृप । कुरु धर्ममधर्म वा विनये नौ समादध
evaṁ vivadamānau svaḥ tvām iha abhyāgatau nṛpa | kuru dharmam adharmam vā vinaye nau samādadhāḥ nareśvara ||
O king, as we two were disputing, we have come here to you. Decide our case—whether you judge according to dharma or even otherwise. O lord of men, bring this quarrel to a settlement and place us both on the path of proper adjudication and discipline.
विरूप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the king’s role as arbiter: social conflict is brought to royal authority for settlement, and the ethical ideal is to place disputants on the path of vinaya—orderly, principled resolution aligned with dharma.
Two parties are quarrelling and approach the king, asking him to decide their case and end the dispute, explicitly urging him to deliver a definitive judgment and restore proper conduct.