Shloka 99

Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman

Manu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

राजोवाच दीयमानं न गृह्नलासि ऋणं कस्मात्‌ त्वमद्य वै | यथैव ते<भ्यनुज्ञातं तथा गृह्लीष्व मा चिरम्‌

Transliteration

rājovāca—dīyamānaṁ na gṛhṇāsi ṛṇaṁ kasmāt tvam adya vai | yathaiva te 'bhyanujñātaṁ tathā gṛhlīṣva mā ciram ||

Translation

The king said: “Why do you not accept the debt that is being repaid to you today? Just as you once consented to accept what was given to you, so too accept what is now being given by him. Do not delay.”

Word by Word

• {'rājā uvāca': 'the king said', 'dīyamānam': 'being given

• being offered (in repayment)', 'na gṛhṇāsi': 'you do not accept/take', 'ṛṇam': 'debt

• loan to be repaid', 'kasmāt': 'why? for what reason?', 'tvam adya vai': 'you, today indeed', 'yathā eva': 'just as

• in the same way as', 'te': 'by you / to you (context-dependent)', 'abhyanujñātam': 'approved

• permitted', 'tathā': 'so

• likewise', 'gṛhlīṣva': 'accept! take! (imperative)', 'mā ciram': 'do not delay

Speaker

विरूप उवाच

Characters & Entities

• rājā (the king)
• virūpa (Virūpa)
• ṛṇa (debt/loan)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

One should act consistently and fairly in matters of obligation: if one accepted a benefit earlier, one should also accept the corresponding repayment when it is duly offered, without needless delay or obstruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

A king addresses a person who is refusing to accept repayment of a debt. He urges him to take what is being returned, reminding him that he previously consented to accept what was given, and therefore should now accept the repayment promptly.