Shloka 109
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
स्वधर्म: परिपाल्यस्तु राज्ञामिति विनिश्चय: । विप्रधर्मश्ष गहनो मामनात्मानमाविशत्
svadharmaḥ paripālyas tu rājñām iti viniścayaḥ | vipradharmaś ca gahano mām anātmānam āviśat ||
ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರದ ನಿಶ್ಚಯವೇನಂದರೆ ರಾಜರು ತಮ್ಮ ಸ್ವಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಪಾಲಿಸಬೇಕು. ಆದರೆ ಆತ್ಮನಿಗ್ರಹವಿಲ್ಲದ ನನ್ನೊಳಗೆ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣಧರ್ಮದ ಈ ಗಹನ ಹಾಗೂ ಕಠಿಣ ಅಂಶ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿದೆ.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms the principle of svadharma: rulers must uphold the duties proper to kingship (rājadharma). At the same time, it highlights how brāhmaṇa-dharma is subtle and demanding, requiring inner discipline; without self-mastery, even a noble dharma can feel overpowering or difficult to sustain.
A brāhmaṇa speaker reflects on a tension between role-based duty: the established rule that kings should follow rājadharma, and his own inner pull toward the deep, rigorous brāhmaṇa-dharma. He admits personal lack of self-control, suggesting an internal struggle as this higher, more austere ethical code ‘enters’ and challenges him.