Shloka 57
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
अथैवं वदतो मे5द्य वचनं न करिष्यसि । महानधर्मो भविता तव राजन् मृषा कृत:,राजन! यदि इस तरह स्पष्ट बात करनेपर भी आप आज मेरे वचनका पालन नहीं करेंगे तो आपको असत्यका महान् पाप लगेगा
athaivaṁ vadato me 'dya vacanaṁ na kariṣyasi | mahān adharmo bhavitā tava rājan mṛṣā-kṛtaḥ ||
राजन्! यदि आज मैं इतनी स्पष्ट बात कहने पर भी आप मेरे वचन का पालन नहीं करेंगे, तो आपके ऊपर असत्य का महान् पाप—धर्मभंग—आ पड़ेगा, क्योंकि मेरी बात झूठी ठहर जाएगी।
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler must honor truthful speech and commitments; refusing a just request after hearing it clearly turns the speaker’s words into “falsehood” and becomes a serious adharma. The verse stresses ethical responsibility for making one’s word effective through action.
A brāhmaṇa addresses a king directly and warns him: if the king does not comply with the brāhmaṇa’s stated instruction/request even after clear explanation, the king will incur a great moral fault—specifically the blame of rendering the brāhmaṇa’s words futile or false.