Shloka 3
मनुरुवाच — इन्द्रिय-मनः-ज्ञान-क्रमः
Manu on the hierarchy of senses, mind, and knowledge
जापकानां फलावाप्तिं श्रोतुमिच्छामि भारत । किंफलं जपतामुक्तं क्व वा तिष्ठन्ति जापका:
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | jāpākānāṃ phalāvāptiṃ śrotum icchāmi bhārata | kiṃphalaṃ japatām uktaṃ kva vā tiṣṭhanti jāpakāḥ || bhīṣma uvāca | rājan sāvadhānaḥ śṛṇu jāpākānāṃ gatiṃ prabho | yathoktapūrvaṃ yaḥ pūrvaṃ na anutiṣṭhati jāpakaḥ | ekadeśakriyaś cātra nirayaṃ sa ca gacchati ||
ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର କହିଲେ— ହେ ଭାରତ! ଜପକମାନେ କିପରି ଫଳ ପାଆନ୍ତି ତାହା ମୁଁ ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଛି। ଜପ କରୁଥିବାମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ କେଉଁ ଫଳ କୁହାଯାଇଛି, ଏବଂ ଜପକମାନେ କେଉଁ ଲୋକରେ ଅବସ୍ଥାନ କରନ୍ତି? ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— ଯେ ‘ଜପକ’ ପୂର୍ବେ କୁହାଯାଇଥିବା ବିଧିକୁ ଯଥାବତ୍ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠାନ କରେ ନାହିଁ, ଏଠାରେ କେବଳ ଅଂଶମାତ୍ର ଆଚରଣ କରେ—ସେ ନରକକୁ ଯାଏ।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Japa is not merely mechanical repetition; it must be performed in accordance with the prescribed discipline. Claiming the status of a jāpaka while observing only a fragment of the rules leads to negative karmic consequences, described here as falling into niraya.
Yudhiṣṭhira asks Bhīṣma about the fruits and destinations of those who practice japa. Bhīṣma begins his reply by warning that a practitioner who does not follow the earlier-stated rules fully, and performs only partial observances, meets an unfortunate post-mortem fate.