Shloka 11
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
सावित्रयुवाच कि प्रार्थयसि विप्रर्षे किं चेष्टं करवाणि ते । प्रत्रूहि जपतां श्रेष्ठ सर्व तत् ते भविष्यति,सावित्रीने कहा--ब्रह्मर्ष! तुम क्या चाहते हो? कौन-सी वस्तु तुम्हें अभीष्ट है? बताओ । मैं तुम्हारा मनोरथ पूर्ण करूँगी। जप करनेवालोंमें श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मण! तुम अपनी अभिलाषा बताओ। तुम्हारी वह सारी इच्छा पूर्ण हो जायगी
Sāvitrī uvāca: kiṁ prārthayasi viprarṣe kiṁ ceṣṭaṁ karavāṇi te | prabrūhi japatāṁ śreṣṭha sarvaṁ tat te bhaviṣyati ||
Sāvitrī berkata: “Wahai brahmarṣi, apakah yang engkau mohon? Perbuatan yang kau dambakan, apa yang harus kulaksanakan bagimu? Wahai yang terbaik di antara para pelaku japa; ucapkanlah—segala yang kau kehendaki akan terjadi.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that spiritual merit (japa, disciplined recitation) is honored, but the decisive ethical point is the responsible articulation of desire: when granted the power of fulfillment, one must choose and state wishes aligned with dharma.
Sāvitrī addresses a brahmarṣi and offers to fulfill his desire, asking him to state clearly what he seeks and what service she should perform; she assures him that his expressed wish will be accomplished.