Shloka 50

Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman

Manu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

अथवा सर्वमेवेह मामकं जापकं फलम्‌ | राजन प्राप्तुहि काम॑ त्वं यदि सर्वमिहेच्छसि

Transliteration

athavā sarvam eveha māmakam jāpakaṁ phalam | rājan prāptum iha kāmaṁ tvaṁ yadi sarvam ihecchasi ||

Translation

Dijo el brahmán: «O bien, oh rey, puedes tomar aquí el fruto entero de mi recitación. Si de veras deseas obtenerlo por completo, y si quieres todo lo que hay aquí, acepta todo el mérito que nace de mi japa según tu propia voluntad».

Word by Word

• {'athavā': 'or else

• alternatively', 'sarvam eva': 'the whole, entirely', 'iha': 'here

• in this context/this world', 'māmakam': 'mine

• belonging to me', 'jāpakaṁ (jāpa-kaṁ)': 'arising from japa

• connected with recitation (of sacred formulae)', 'phalam': 'fruit

• merit (spiritual outcome)', 'rājan': 'O king (vocative)', 'prāptum': 'to obtain

• to receive', 'kāmam': 'as you wish

• willingly', 'tvam': 'you', 'yadi': 'if', 'ihecchasi (iha + icchasi)': 'if you desire here

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्राह्मण (a Brahmin speaker)
• राजन् (a King, addressee)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethic of selflessness: spiritual practice (japa) is not merely for personal gain but can be offered for another’s welfare. It also underscores the king’s responsibility to desire and accept merit in a dharmic way, not as entitlement but as a consciously chosen moral good.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brahmin addresses a king and offers him the fruit of his japa. He says the king may take the entire merit if he truly wishes—presenting the transfer as voluntary and dependent on the king’s intention.