Shloka 58
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
न युक्त तु मृषा वाणी त्वया वक्तुमरिंदम | तथा मयाप्यभिहितं मिथ्या कर्तु न शक््यते,शत्रुदमन नरेश! आपके लिये भी झूठ बोलना उचित नहीं है और मैं भी अपनी कही हुई बातको मिथ्या नहीं कर सकता
na yukta tu mṛṣā vāṇī tvayā vaktum ariṃdama | tathā mayāpy abhihitaṃ mithyā kartuṃ na śakyate, śatrudamana nareśa |
Wahai penunduk musuh, tidaklah wajar bagimu menuturkan dusta. Dan demikian juga, wahai raja yang menaklukkan lawan, aku pun tidak dapat menjadikan apa yang telah kuucapkan itu tidak benar—kataku tidak boleh diputar menjadi dusta.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthful speech is a dharmic obligation for both ruler and Brahmin: the king should not resort to falsehood, and the speaker must not invalidate his own declared word. Integrity of speech is presented as a moral constraint that binds all, regardless of power.
A Brahmin addresses a king using royal epithets (‘tamer of enemies’) and refuses any move toward lying or retracting truth. The exchange frames an ethical tension—pressure to alter statements versus the duty to uphold satya—within a didactic setting typical of Śānti Parva.