Shloka 56

Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman

Manu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

ददस्वेति त्वया चोक्तं ददानीति मया तथा । न वाचं दूषयिष्यामि सत्यं रक्ष स्थिरो भव

Transliteration

dadasveti tvayā coktaṃ dadānīti mayā tathā | na vācaṃ dūṣayiṣyāmi satyaṃ rakṣa sthiro bhava ||

Translation

汝が「与えよ」と言い、我もまた「与えよう」と答えた。かかる折に、我は己が言葉を偽りとして汚すことはない。真実を護れ——そのために堅く、揺るぎなく立て。

Word by Word

• {'dadasva': 'give (imperative, ‘do give’)', 'iti': 'thus

• quotation marker', 'tvayā': 'by you', 'ca': 'and', 'uktam': 'said

• spoken', 'dadāni': 'I give / I will give', 'mayā': 'by me', 'tathā': 'so

• in the same manner', 'na': 'not', 'vācam': 'speech

• promise', 'dūṣayiṣyāmi': 'I shall corrupt/defile

• I shall make blameworthy', 'satyam': 'truth

• truthfulness', 'rakṣa': 'protect

• guard (imperative)', 'sthiraḥ': 'steady

• firm', 'bhava': 'be (imperative)'}

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्राह्मण (a Brahmin speaker)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Truthfulness is upheld as a dharmic absolute: once a promise is given, one should not ‘defile’ one’s word. The verse frames satya as something to be actively protected through steadiness and resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brahmin recalls an exchange—one party urged, “Give,” and he answered, “I will give.” He now insists he will not let his statement become false, urging firmness in safeguarding truth and honoring the commitment.