13.028
मतङ्गोपाख्यानम्
The story of sage Mataṅga.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
प्रज्ञाश्रुताभ्यां वृत्तेन शीलेन च यथा भवान्। गुणैः समुदितः सर्वैर्वयसा च समन्वितः ॥ तस्माद्भवन्तं पृच्छामि धर्मं धर्मभृतां वर ॥१३-२८-१॥
Because you are endowed with wisdom, learning, conduct, character, all virtues, and age, O best among the upholders of dharma, therefore I ask you about dharma. (13-28-1)
क्षत्रियो यदि वा वैश्यः शूद्रो वा राजसत्तम। ब्राह्मण्यं प्राप्नुयात्केन तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥१३-२८-२॥
O best of kings, whether a Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, or Śūdra—by what means may they attain Brahminhood? Please explain that to me. (13-28-2)
तपसा वा सुमहता कर्मणा वा श्रुतेन वा। ब्राह्मण्यमथ चेदिच्छेत्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१३-२८-३॥
O grandsire, if one should desire Brahminhood by austerity, by very great action, or by learning, then tell me that. (13-28-3)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
ब्राह्मण्यं तात दुष्प्रापं वर्णैः क्षत्रादिभिस्त्रिभिः। परं हि सर्वभूतानां स्थानमेतद्युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-२८-४॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, the state of being a brāhmaṇa is difficult to attain by the three classes—kṣatriyas and others; this is indeed the supreme abode of all beings. (13-28-4)
बह्वीस्तु संसरन्योनीर्जायमानः पुनः पुनः। पर्याये तात कस्मिंश्चिद्ब्राह्मणो नाम जायते ॥१३-२८-५॥
O dear one, after being born again and again in many different wombs, in due course, one is born as a brāhmaṇa by name. (13-28-5)
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। मतङ्गस्य च संवादं गर्दभ्याश्च युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-२८-६॥
Here too, O Yudhiṣṭhira, they recount this ancient story: the dialogue between Mataṅga and the female donkey. (13-28-6)
द्विजातेः कस्यचित्तात तुल्यवर्णः सुतः प्रभुः। मतङ्गो नाम नाम्नाभूत्सर्वैः समुदितो गुणैः ॥१३-२८-७॥
O father, a son of someone of the twice-born class, of equal color, a lord named Mataṅga, became endowed with all qualities. (13-28-7)
स यज्ञकारः कौन्तेय पित्रा सृष्टः परन्तप। प्रायाद्गर्दभयुक्तेन रथेनेहाशुगामिना ॥१३-२८-८॥
O son of Kunti, he who performed the sacrifice, having been sent by his father, O scorcher of foes, departed here in a swift-moving chariot yoked with donkeys. (13-28-8)
स बालं गर्दभं राजन्वहन्तं मातुरन्तिके। निरविध्यत्प्रतोदेन नासिकायां पुनः पुनः ॥१३-२८-९॥
O king, the boy, while carrying the donkey near its mother, repeatedly pierced its nose with a goad. (13-28-9)
तं तु तीव्रव्रणं दृष्ट्वा गर्दभी पुत्रगृद्धिनी। उवाच मा शुचः पुत्र चण्डालस्त्वाधितिष्ठति ॥१३-२८-१०॥
But when she saw him severely wounded, the she-donkey, longing for her son, said: "Do not grieve, my son; the outcaste is oppressing you." (13-28-10)
ब्राह्मणे दारुणं नास्ति मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते। आचार्यः सर्वभूतानां शास्ता किं प्रहरिष्यति ॥१३-२८-११॥
There is nothing cruel in a brāhmaṇa; a brāhmaṇa is called friendly. The teacher and instructor of all beings—how could he strike? (13-28-11)
अयं तु पापप्रकृतिर्बाले न कुरुते दयाम्। स्वयोनिं मानयत्येष भावो भावं निगच्छति ॥१३-२८-१२॥
But this one of evil nature does not show compassion to the child; he honors his own origin—this nature goes towards its own kind. (13-28-12)
एतच्छ्रुत्वा मतङ्गस्तु दारुणं रासभीवचः। अवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं रासभीं प्रत्यभाषत ॥१३-२८-१३॥
Hearing these harsh words from Rāsabhī, Matanga quickly got down from the chariot and addressed Rāsabhī. (13-28-13)
ब्रूहि रासभि कल्याणि माता मे येन दूषिता। कथं मां वेत्सि चण्डालं क्षिप्रं रासभि शंस मे ॥१३-२८-१४॥
Speak, O donkey, O auspicious one, by whom my mother was defiled; how do you know me to be an outcaste? Quickly, O donkey, tell me. (13-28-14)
केन जातोऽस्मि चण्डालो ब्राह्मण्यं येन मेऽनशत्। तत्त्वेनैतन्महाप्राज्ञे ब्रूहि सर्वमशेषतः ॥१३-२८-१५॥
By what cause was I born as an outcaste, and by what did my brahminhood perish? O greatly wise one, tell me all this in full truth. (13-28-15)
गर्दभ्युवाच॥
The donkey said.
ब्राह्मण्यां वृषलेन त्वं मत्तायां नापितेन ह। जातस्त्वमसि चण्डालो ब्राह्मण्यं तेन तेऽनशत् ॥१३-२८-१६॥
You were born to a brāhmaṇa woman by a śūdra man, when she was intoxicated by a barber; thus, you are a caṇḍāla, and by that your brāhmaṇa status has been destroyed. (13-28-16)
एवमुक्तो मतङ्गस्तु प्रत्युपायाद्गृहं प्रति। तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य पिता वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ॥१३-२८-१७॥
Thus addressed, Matanga returned home; seeing him arrive, his father then spoke these words. (13-28-17)
मया त्वं यज्ञसंसिद्धौ नियुक्तो गुरुकर्मणि। कस्मात्प्रतिनिवृत्तोऽसि कच्चिन्न कुशलं तव ॥१३-२८-१८॥
You were appointed by me to the duty of the preceptor in the accomplishment of the sacrifice; why have you turned back? Is everything well with you? (13-28-18)
मतङ्ग उवाच॥
Matanga said.
अयोनिरग्र्ययोनिर्वा यः स्यात्स कुशली भवेत्। कुशलं तु कुतस्तस्य यस्येयं जननी पितः ॥१३-२८-१९॥
He who is not born from a womb or is of excellent origin may be skilled. But from where is skill for him whose mother is the father? (13-28-19)
ब्राह्मण्यां वृषलाज्जातं पितर्वेदयतीह माम्। अमानुषी गर्दभीयं तस्मात्तप्स्ये तपो महत् ॥१३-२८-२०॥
My father informs me here that I am born from a śūdra man in a brāhmaṇa woman; being not human, of a she-ass, therefore I shall perform great austerity. (13-28-20)
एवमुक्त्वा स पितरं प्रतस्थे कृतनिश्चयः। ततो गत्वा महारण्यमतप्यत महत्तपः ॥१३-२८-२१॥
Having thus spoken to his father and firmly resolved, he departed. Then, after reaching the great forest, he undertook great austerities. (13-28-21)
ततः सन्तापयामास विबुधांस्तपसान्वितः। मतङ्गः सुसुखं प्रेप्सुः स्थानं सुचरितादपि ॥१३-२८-२२॥
Then Mataṅga, endowed with austerity, caused the wise ones to suffer, seeking a place of great happiness even beyond what is attained by good conduct. (13-28-22)
तं तथा तपसा युक्तमुवाच हरिवाहनः। मतङ्ग तप्यसे किं त्वं भोगानुत्सृज्य मानुषान् ॥१३-२८-२३॥
Seeing him thus engaged in austerity, Harivāhana said: "O Mataṅga, why are you practicing austerity, having abandoned human pleasures?" (13-28-23)
वरं ददानि ते हन्त वृणीष्व त्वं यदिच्छसि। यच्चाप्यवाप्यमन्यत्ते सर्वं प्रब्रूहि माचिरम् ॥१३-२८-२४॥
I shall grant you a boon indeed; choose whatever you desire. And whatever else is to be obtained for you, tell me everything without delay. (13-28-24)
मतङ्ग उवाच॥
Matanga said.
ब्राह्मण्यं कामयानोऽहमिदमारब्धवांस्तपः। गच्छेयं तदवाप्येह वर एष वृतो मया ॥१३-२८-२५॥
Desiring to attain Brāhmaṇahood, I have undertaken this austerity; may I achieve that here—this is the boon I have chosen. (13-28-25)
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं तमुवाच पुरंदरः। ब्राह्मण्यं प्रार्थयानस्त्वमप्राप्यमकृतात्मभिः ॥१३-२८-२६॥
Hearing these words, Purandara (Indra) said to him: "You desire Brahminhood, which cannot be attained by those whose self is not disciplined." (13-28-26)
श्रेष्ठं यत्सर्वभूतेषु तपो यन्नातिवर्तते। तदग्र्यं प्रार्थयानस्त्वमचिराद्विनशिष्यसि ॥१३-२८-२७॥
If you desire that foremost austerity, which is the best among all beings and cannot be surpassed, you will soon perish. (13-28-27)
देवतासुरमर्त्येषु यत्पवित्रं परं स्मृतम्। चण्डालयोनौ जातेन न तत्प्राप्यं कथञ्चन ॥१३-२८-२८॥
That which is regarded as the highest purity among gods, asuras, and mortals cannot ever be attained by one born in the womb of a caṇḍāla. (13-28-28)
