Shloka 51
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
राजोवाच कृतं सर्वेण भद्रं ते जप्यं यद् याचितं मया । स्वस्ति ते5स्तु गमिष्यामि किड्च तस्य फलं वद
rājovāca kṛtaṃ sarveṇa bhadraṃ te japyaṃ yad yācitaṃ mayā | svasti te 'stu gamiṣyāmi kiñca tasya phalaṃ vada ||
ਰਾਜੇ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ! ਜਪ ਦੇ ਫਲ ਬਾਰੇ ਮੈਂ ਜੋ ਮੰਗਿਆ ਸੀ, ਉਹ ਸਭ ਪੂਰਾ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ। ਤੇਰਾ ਭਲਾ ਹੋਵੇ, ਸੁਖ-ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਹੋਵੇ। ਮੈਂ ਹੁਣ ਚੱਲਦਾ ਹਾਂ; ਪਰ ਇਹ ਦੱਸ ਕਿ ਉਸ ਸਾਧਨਾ ਦਾ ਫਲ ਕੀ ਹੈ?
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic concern for understanding not only the performance of a religious act (japa) but also its ethical and spiritual outcome (phala). It frames practice as meaningful when its purpose and result are clearly understood.
The king addresses a Brahmin, expressing that his request concerning a sacred recitation has been satisfied, offers blessings, and prepares to leave—yet he asks the Brahmin to state explicitly what fruit or benefit that recitation yields.