Shloka 4
मनुरुवाच — इन्द्रिय-मनः-ज्ञान-क्रमः
Manu on the hierarchy of senses, mind, and knowledge
जप्यस्य च विधिं कृत्स्नं वक्तुमहसि मेडनघ । जापका इति किज्चैतत् सांख्ययोगक्रियाविधि:
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | japyasya ca vidhiṁ kṛtsnaṁ vaktum arhasi medānagha | jāpaka iti kiṁ caitat sāṅkhyayogakriyāvidhiḥ, anagha! | avamānena kurute na prīyati na hṛṣyati | īdṛśo jāpako yāti nirayaṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ ||
ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର କହିଲେ— ହେ ଅନଘ! ଆପଣ ମୋତେ ଜପର ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବିଧି ମଧ୍ୟ କହନ୍ତୁ। ‘ଜପକ’ ଶବ୍ଦର ନିଖୁଟ ଅର୍ଥ କ’ଣ? ଏହା କି ସାଂଖ୍ୟ, ଧ୍ୟାନଯୋଗ, ନା କ୍ରିୟାଯୋଗର କୌଣସି ବିଧି? ଯେ ଅବମାନଭାବରେ ଜପ କରେ—ନ ପ୍ରେମ, ନ ହର୍ଷ—ଏମିତି ଜପକ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ନରକକୁ ଯାଏ; ଏଥିରେ ସନ୍ଦେହ ନାହିଁ।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses that spiritual practice is judged not only by outward performance but by inner disposition: japa done with disrespect and without affectionate reverence is ethically blameworthy and leads to negative karmic results.
Yudhiṣṭhira questions a revered, ‘sinless’ teacher about the complete procedure of japa and the precise meaning of ‘jāpaka,’ asking whether it belongs to Sāṅkhya, Yoga, or ritual discipline; the passage also warns against contemptuous, joyless recitation.