Shloka 109
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
स्वधर्म: परिपाल्यस्तु राज्ञामिति विनिश्चय: । विप्रधर्मश्ष गहनो मामनात्मानमाविशत्
svadharmaḥ paripālyas tu rājñām iti viniścayaḥ | vipradharmaś ca gahano mām anātmānam āviśat ||
“Ito ang tiyak na pasya ng banal na aral: dapat pangalagaan ng mga hari ang sarili nilang dharma. Ngunit sa akin—na hindi pa napagwawagi ang sarili—ay pumasok ang malalim at mahirap na dharma ng isang brāhmaṇa.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms the principle of svadharma: rulers must uphold the duties proper to kingship (rājadharma). At the same time, it highlights how brāhmaṇa-dharma is subtle and demanding, requiring inner discipline; without self-mastery, even a noble dharma can feel overpowering or difficult to sustain.
A brāhmaṇa speaker reflects on a tension between role-based duty: the established rule that kings should follow rājadharma, and his own inner pull toward the deep, rigorous brāhmaṇa-dharma. He admits personal lack of self-control, suggesting an internal struggle as this higher, more austere ethical code ‘enters’ and challenges him.