Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
तैरेवमुक्तो भगवान् मनु: स्वायम्भुवो<ब्रवीत् | श्रुश्नूषध्वं यथावृत्तं धर्म व्याससमासत:,उनके इस प्रकार पूछनेपर भगवान् स्वायम्भुव मनुने कहा--“महर्षियो! मैं संक्षेप और विस्तारके साथ धर्मका यथार्थ स्वरूप बताता हूँ, आपलोग सुनें
tair evam ukto bhagavān manuḥ svāyambhuvo 'bravīt | śruśrūṣadhvaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ dharmaṃ vyāsa samāsataḥ ||
Được họ thưa hỏi như vậy, đức Manu đáng tôn kính—đấng Svayambhū, sinh từ Đấng Tự Hữu—đáp rằng: “Hãy lắng nghe cho kỹ. Ta sẽ thuật theo thứ tự chân tướng của dharma, vắn tắt thôi, hỡi Vyāsa.”
व्यास उवाच
The verse frames dharma as a knowable, orderly truth to be taught by an authoritative sage. It emphasizes disciplined listening (śruśrūṣā) and presents dharma as something that can be summarized without losing its essential ethical force.
After being questioned by the assembled sages, Svāyambhuva Manu begins his response. He calls for attentive hearing and announces that he will explain dharma in proper sequence, giving a concise account addressed to Vyāsa.