Shloka 56
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
Devanagari script
ददस्वेति त्वया चोक्तं ददानीति मया तथा । न वाचं दूषयिष्यामि सत्यं रक्ष स्थिरो भव
Transliteration
dadasveti tvayā coktaṃ dadānīti mayā tathā | na vācaṃ dūṣayiṣyāmi satyaṃ rakṣa sthiro bhava ||
Translation
你曾说：“给吧。”我也答道：“我必给。”在此情形之下，我决不以虚妄玷污己言，使之成伪。护持真谛——为真而立，坚定不移。
Word by Word
{'dadasva''give (imperative, ‘do give’)', 'iti': 'thus
{'dadasva':
quotation marker', 'tvayā''by you', 'ca': 'and', 'uktam': 'said
quotation marker', 'tvayā':
spoken', 'dadāni''I give / I will give', 'mayā': 'by me', 'tathā': 'so
spoken', 'dadāni':
in the same manner', 'na''not', 'vācam': 'speech
in the same manner', 'na':
promise', 'dūṣayiṣyāmi''I shall corrupt/defile
promise', 'dūṣayiṣyāmi':
I shall make blameworthy', 'satyam''truth
I shall make blameworthy', 'satyam':
truthfulness', 'rakṣa''protect
truthfulness', 'rakṣa':
guard (imperative)', 'sthiraḥ''steady
guard (imperative)', 'sthiraḥ':
firm', 'bhava''be (imperative)'}
firm', 'bhava':
Speaker
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Characters & Entities
ब
ब्राह्मण (a Brahmin speaker)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Educational Q&A
Truthfulness is upheld as a dharmic absolute: once a promise is given, one should not ‘defile’ one’s word. The verse frames satya as something to be actively protected through steadiness and resolve.
A Brahmin recalls an exchange—one party urged, “Give,” and he answered, “I will give.” He now insists he will not let his statement become false, urging firmness in safeguarding truth and honoring the commitment.