Shloka 47
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
राजाने कहा--विप्रवर! ब्राह्मणोंकी वाणी ही वज़्के समान प्रभाव डालनेवाली होती है और क्षत्रिय बाहुबलसे जीवन-निर्वाह करनेवाले होते हैं। अत: आपके साथ मेरा यह तीव्र वाग्युद्ध उपस्थित हुआ है ।।
brāhmaṇa uvāca | saivādyāpi pratijñā me svaśaktyā kiṁ pradīyatām | brūhi dāsyāmi rājendra vibhave sati mā ciram ||
婆罗门说道：“王中之最啊，我的誓愿至今仍然有效。我当依我之力赐你何物？请直言。趁我尚有资具之时，我必赐予——莫要迟延。”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic integrity: a vow (pratijñā) must be honored consistently, and generosity (dāna) should be offered within one’s true capacity (svaśaktyā), without procrastination when the opportunity and means are present.
After a sharp exchange between kingly power and Brahminical speech, the Brahmin reaffirms his earlier promise to the king and invites him to state what he desires, assuring that it will be granted promptly as long as the Brahmin has the resources to do so.