Shloka 98
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
यदि नेच्छति मे दानं यथा दत्तमनेन वै । भवानत्र स्थिरो भूत्वा मार्गे स्थापयिताद्य नौ
yadi necchati me dānaṃ yathā dattam anena vai | bhavān atra sthiro bhūtvā mārge sthāpayitādya nau ||
Virūpa nói: “Nếu ông ấy không muốn nhận từ ta một lễ vật—đúng như ông ấy đã thật sự cho ta—thì xin ngài hãy vững vàng ở đây và ngay hôm nay đặt cả hai chúng tôi lên con đường dharma.”
विरूप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic reciprocity and moral steadiness: when a fair exchange of giving is refused, a wise and steady guide should help both parties remain aligned with dharma rather than letting pride, refusal, or imbalance derail ethical conduct.
Virūpa addresses a respected third party, explaining that if the other person will not accept a return-gift comparable to what he gave, then the addressee should stand firm and guide both of them onto the righteous course—acting as an arbiter to preserve dharma between the two.