Shloka 11
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
सावित्रयुवाच कि प्रार्थयसि विप्रर्षे किं चेष्टं करवाणि ते । प्रत्रूहि जपतां श्रेष्ठ सर्व तत् ते भविष्यति
Sāvitrī uvāca: kiṁ prārthayasi viprarṣe kiṁ ceṣṭaṁ karavāṇi te | prabrūhi japatāṁ śreṣṭha sarvaṁ tat te bhaviṣyati ||
Sāvitrī nói: “Hỡi bậc brahmarṣi, ngài cầu xin điều chi? Việc mong muốn nào ta sẽ làm trọn cho ngài? Hãy nói đi, hỡi bậc tối thượng trong những người chuyên tâm trì tụng (japa); mọi điều ngài ước nguyện đều sẽ thành tựu.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that spiritual merit (japa, disciplined recitation) is honored, but the decisive ethical point is the responsible articulation of desire: when granted the power of fulfillment, one must choose and state wishes aligned with dharma.
Sāvitrī addresses a brahmarṣi and offers to fulfill his desire, asking him to state clearly what he seeks and what service she should perform; she assures him that his expressed wish will be accomplished.