Shloka 4
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
ब्राह्मणो जापकः कश्रिद् धर्मवृत्तो महायशा: । षडड्विन्महाप्राज्ञ: पैप्पलादि: स कौशिक:,कहते हैं कि हिमालय पर्वतके निकटवर्ती पहाड़ियोंपर एक महायशस्वी धर्मात्मा ब्राह्मण रहता था, जो वेदके छहों अंगोंका ज्ञाता, परम बुद्धिमान् तथा जपमें तत्पर रहनेवाला था। वह पिप्पलादका पुत्र था और कौशिक वंशमें उसका जन्म हुआ था। वेदके छहों अंगोंका विज्ञान उसे प्रत्यक्ष हो गया था, अतः वह वेदोंका पारंगत विद्धान् था
bhīṣma uvāca | brāhmaṇo jāpakaḥ kaścid dharmavṛtto mahāyaśāḥ | ṣaḍ-aṅga-vid mahāprājñaḥ paippalādiḥ sa kauśikaḥ ||
ब्राह्मणो जापकः कश्चिद् धर्मवृत्तो महायशाः । षडङ्गविन्महाप्राज्ञः पैप्पलादिः स कौशिकः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds an ideal of dharma embodied in a learned life: true authority in sacred knowledge is joined to disciplined practice (japa) and righteous conduct (dharmavṛtta). Lineage and scholarship are presented as supports for ethical living, not as mere status.
Bhishma introduces a renowned Brahmin living near the Himalayan foothills, identifying him by his spiritual practice (japa), his mastery of the six Vedāṅgas, and his lineage (Kauśika), naming him Paippalādi, son of Pippalāda—setting the stage for a didactic episode centered on dharma.