13.028
मतङ्गोपाख्यानम्
mataṅgopākhyānam
[मतङ्ग (mataṅga) - sage Mataṅga; उपाख्यानम् (upākhyānam) - story;]
(story of sage Mataṅga;)
The story of sage Mataṅga.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper name); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
प्रज्ञाश्रुताभ्यां वृत्तेन शीलेन च यथा भवान्। गुणैः समुदितः सर्वैर्वयसा च समन्वितः ॥ तस्माद्भवन्तं पृच्छामि धर्मं धर्मभृतां वर ॥१३-२८-१॥
prajñāśrutābhyāṃ vṛttena śīlena ca yathā bhavān। guṇaiḥ samuditaḥ sarvairvayasā ca samanvitaḥ॥ tasmādbhavantaṃ pṛcchāmi dharmaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ vara॥13-28-1॥
[प्रज्ञा (prajñā) - wisdom; श्रुताभ्यां (śrutābhyām) - and learning (by the two); वृत्तेन (vṛttena) - by conduct; शीलेन (śīlena) - by character; च (ca) - and; यथा (yathā) - as; भवान् (bhavān) - you; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - by virtues; समुदितः (samuditaḥ) - endowed; सर्वैः (sarvaiḥ) - with all; वयसा (vayasā) - by age; च (ca) - and; समन्वितः (samanvitaḥ) - endowed; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; भवन्तम् (bhavantam) - you; पृच्छामि (pṛcchāmi) - I ask; धर्मम् (dharmaṃ) - dharma; धर्मभृताम् (dharmabhṛtām) - of the upholders of dharma; वर (vara) - best;]
(By wisdom and learning, by conduct, by character, and as you, endowed with all virtues and with age, therefore, you, I ask, dharma, best of the upholders of dharma.)
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॥
kṣatriyo yadi vā vaiśyaḥ śūdro vā rājasattama। brāhmaṇyaṃ prāpnuyāt kena tan me vyākhyātum arhasi ॥13-28-2॥
[क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - member of the warrior class; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - member of the merchant class; शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - member of the servant class; वा (vā) - or; राजसत्तम (rājasattama) - O best of kings; ब्राह्मण्यं (brāhmaṇyam) - Brahminhood; प्राप्नुयात् (prāpnuyāt) - may attain; केन (kena) - by what; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; व्याख्यातुम् (vyākhyātum) - to explain; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you ought;]
(Kṣatriya if or Vaiśya Śūdra or O best of kings Brahminhood may attain by what that to me to explain you ought.)
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॥
tapasā vā sumahatā karmaṇā vā śrutena vā। brāhmaṇyam atha ced icchet tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥13-28-3॥
[तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; वा (vā) - or; सुमहता (sumahatā) - by very great; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action; वा (vā) - or; श्रुतेन (śrutena) - by learning; वा (vā) - or; ब्राह्मण्यम् (brāhmaṇyam) - Brahminhood; अथ (atha) - then; चेत् (cet) - if; इच्छेत् (icchet) - should desire; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire;]
(By austerity or by very great action or by learning or, Brahminhood, then if should desire, that to me tell, O grandsire.)
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॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhishma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhishma said;)
Bhishma said.
ब्राह्मण्यं तात दुष्प्रापं वर्णैः क्षत्रादिभिस्त्रिभिः। परं हि सर्वभूतानां स्थानमेतद्युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-२८-४॥
brāhmaṇyaṃ tāta duṣprāpaṃ varṇaiḥ kṣatrādibhis tribhiḥ। paraṃ hi sarvabhūtānāṃ sthānam etad yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-28-4॥
[ब्राह्मण्यं (brāhmaṇyam) - state of being a brāhmaṇa; तात (tāta) - O dear one; दुष्प्रापं (duṣprāpam) - difficult to attain; वर्णैः (varṇaiḥ) - by the classes; क्षत्रादिभिः (kṣatrādibhiḥ) - by kṣatriyas and others; त्रिभिः (tribhiḥ) - by the three; परं (param) - supreme; हि (hi) - indeed; सर्वभूतानां (sarvabhūtānām) - of all beings; स्थानम् (sthānam) - abode; एतत् (etat) - this; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhiṣṭhira;]
(The state of being a brāhmaṇa, O dear one, is difficult to attain by the classes, by kṣatriyas and others, by the three; the supreme, indeed, of all beings, abode, this, O Yudhiṣṭhira.)
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॥
bahvīs tu saṁsaraṇyonīr jāyamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ। paryāye tāta kasmiṁścid brāhmaṇo nāma jāyate ॥13-28-5॥
[बह्वीः (bahvīḥ) - many (feminine); तु (tu) - but; संसरण् (saṁsaraṇ) - wandering; transmigration; योनीः (yonīḥ) - birthplaces; wombs; जायमानः (jāyamānaḥ) - being born; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; पर्याये (paryāye) - in turn; in succession; तात (tāta) - O dear one; कस्मिंश्चित् (kasmiṁścit) - in some (one); ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; a brāhmaṇa; नाम (nāma) - by name; called; जायते (jāyate) - is born;]
(But being born again and again in many wandering wombs, in turn, O dear one, in some (one) is born called a brāhmaṇa.)
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॥
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। mataṅgasya ca saṃvādaṃ gardabhyāś ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-28-6॥
[अत्र (atra) - here; अपि (api) - also; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite; इमम् (imam) - this; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; मतङ्गस्य (mataṅgasya) - of Mataṅga; च (ca) - and; संवादम् (saṃvādam) - dialogue; गर्दभ्याः (gardabhyāḥ) - of the female donkey; च (ca) - and; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhiṣṭhira;]
(Here also they cite this ancient history; the dialogue of Mataṅga and the female donkey, O Yudhiṣṭhira.)
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॥
dvijāteḥ kasyacittāt tulyavarṇaḥ sutaḥ prabhuḥ। mataṅgo nāma nāmnābhūtsarvaiḥ samudito guṇaiḥ ॥13-28-7॥
[द्विजातेः (dvijāteḥ) - of the twice-born class; कस्यचित् (kasyacit) - of someone; तात (tāta) - O father; तुल्यवर्णः (tulyavarṇaḥ) - of equal color; सुतः (sutaḥ) - son; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - lord; मतङ्गः (mataṅgaḥ) - Mataṅga; नाम (nāma) - by name; नाम्ना (nāmnā) - by name; अभूत् (abhūt) - became; सर्वैः (sarvaiḥ) - with all; समुदितः (samuditaḥ) - endowed; गुणैः (guṇaiḥ) - with qualities;]
(Of the twice-born class, of someone, O father, of equal color, son, lord, Mataṅga, by name, by name, became, with all, endowed, with qualities.)
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॥
sa yajñakāraḥ kaunteya pitrā sṛṣṭaḥ parantapa। prāyād-gardabhayuktena rathena iha āśugāminā ॥13-28-8॥
[स (sa) - he; यज्ञकारः (yajñakāraḥ) - performer of sacrifice; कौन्तेय (kaunteya) - O son of Kunti; पित्रा (pitrā) - by (his) father; सृष्टः (sṛṣṭaḥ) - sent; परन्तप (parantapa) - O scorcher of foes; प्रायात् (prāyāt) - departed; गर्दभयुक्तेन (gardabhayuktena) - with donkey-yoked; रथेन (rathena) - by chariot; इह (iha) - here; आशुगामिना (āśugāminā) - swift-moving;]
(He, the performer of sacrifice, O son of Kunti, sent by (his) father, O scorcher of foes, departed with a donkey-yoked chariot here, swift-moving.)
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॥
sa bālaṃ gardabhaṃ rājan vahantaṃ mātur-antike। niravidhyat pratodena nāsikāyāṃ punaḥ punaḥ ॥13-28-9॥
[स (sa) - he; बालं (bālam) - boy; गर्दभं (gardabham) - donkey; राजन् (rājan) - O king; वहन्तं (vahantam) - carrying; मातुः (mātuḥ) - of the mother; अन्तिके (antike) - near; निरविध्यत् (niravidhyat) - pierced; प्रतोदेन (pratodena) - with a goad; नासिकायाम् (nāsikāyām) - in the nose; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; पुनः (punaḥ) - again;]
(He, the boy, the donkey, O king, carrying, near the mother, pierced with a goad in the nose again and again.)
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॥
taṃ tu tīvravraṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā gardabhī putragṛddhinī। uvāca mā śucaḥ putra caṇḍālastvādhitiṣṭhati ॥13-28-10॥
[तं (taṃ) - him; तु (tu) - but; तीव्रव्रणं (tīvra-vraṇam) - severe-wounded; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; गर्दभी (gardabhī) - the she-donkey; पुत्रगृद्धिनी (putra-gṛddhinī) - eager for her son; उवाच (uvāca) - said; मा (mā) - do not; शुचः (śucaḥ) - grieve; पुत्र (putra) - son; चण्डालः (caṇḍālaḥ) - the outcaste; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; अधितिष्ठति (adhitiṣṭhati) - is oppressing;]
(But having seen him severely wounded, the she-donkey, eager for her son, said: "Do not grieve, son; the outcaste is oppressing you." (13-28-10))
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॥
brāhmaṇe dāruṇaṃ nāsti maitro brāhmaṇa ucyate। ācāryaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ śāstā kiṃ prahariṣyati ॥13-28-11॥
[ब्राह्मणे (brāhmaṇe) - in a brāhmaṇa; दारुणं (dāruṇam) - cruel; नास्ति (nāsti) - does not exist; मैत्रः (maitraḥ) - friendly; ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa) - a brāhmaṇa; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called; आचार्यः (ācāryaḥ) - teacher; सर्वभूतानां (sarvabhūtānām) - of all beings; शास्ता (śāstā) - the instructor; किं (kiṃ) - what; प्रहरिष्यति (prahariṣyati) - will strike;]
(In a brāhmaṇa, cruel does not exist; friendly brāhmaṇa is called. Teacher of all beings, instructor, what will strike?)
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॥
ayaṃ tu pāpaprakṛtir bāle na kurute dayām। svayoniṃ mānayaty eṣa bhāvo bhāvaṃ nigacchati ॥13-28-12॥
[अयम् (ayam) - this; तु (tu) - but; पापप्रकृतिः (pāpaprakṛtiḥ) - of evil-nature; बाले (bāle) - towards the child; न (na) - not; कुरुते (kurute) - does; दयाम् (dayām) - compassion; स्वयोनिम् (svayoniṃ) - his own origin; मानयति (mānayati) - honors; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; भावः (bhāvaḥ) - nature; भावम् (bhāvam) - nature; निगच्छति (nigacchati) - goes towards;]
(This but of evil-nature towards the child not does compassion; his own origin honors this nature nature goes towards;)
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॥
etat-śrutvā mataṅgas tu dāruṇaṃ rāsabhī-vacaḥ। avatīrya rathāt tūrṇaṃ rāsabhīṃ pratyabhāṣata ॥13-28-13॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; मतङ्गः (mataṅgaḥ) - Matanga (the sage's name); तु (tu) - but; दारुणं (dāruṇam) - harsh; रासभी (rāsabhī) - by Rāsabhī (the female donkey); वचः (vacaḥ) - words; अवतीर्य (avatīrya) - having descended; रथात् (rathāt) - from the chariot; तूर्णं (tūrṇam) - quickly; रासभीं (rāsabhīm) - to Rāsabhī (the female donkey); प्रत्यभाषत (pratyabhāṣata) - addressed;]
(Having heard these harsh words of Rāsabhī, Matanga, but, having quickly descended from the chariot, addressed Rāsabhī.)
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॥
brūhi rāsabhi kalyāṇi mātā me yena dūṣitā। kathaṃ māṃ vetsi caṇḍālaṃ kṣipraṃ rāsabhi śaṃsa me ॥13-28-14॥
[ब्रूहि (brūhi) - speak; say; रासभि (rāsabhi) - O donkey; कल्याणि (kalyāṇi) - O auspicious one; माता (mātā) - mother; मे (me) - my; येन (yena) - by whom; दूषिता (dūṣitā) - defiled; corrupted; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; माम् (mām) - me; वेत्सि (vetsi) - do you know; चण्डालम् (caṇḍālam) - outcaste; low-born; क्षिप्रम् (kṣipram) - quickly; रासभि (rāsabhi) - O donkey; शंस (śaṃsa) - tell; मे (me) - to me;]
(Speak, O donkey, O auspicious one, my mother by whom defiled; how me do you know outcaste quickly, O donkey, tell to me. (13-28-14))
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॥
kena jāto'smi caṇḍālo brāhmaṇyaṃ yena me'naśat। tattvenaitanmahāprājñe brūhi sarvamaśeṣataḥ ॥13-28-15॥
[केन (kena) - by what; by whom; जातः (jātaḥ) - born; अस्मि (asmi) - am; चण्डालः (caṇḍālaḥ) - outcaste; ब्राह्मण्यं (brāhmaṇyam) - brahminhood; येन (yena) - by which; by whom; मे (me) - my; to me; अनशत् (anaśat) - has perished; has been destroyed; तत्त्वेन (tattvena) - in truth; in reality; एतत् (etat) - this; महाप्राज्ञे (mahāprājñe) - O greatly wise one; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; everything; अशेषतः (aśeṣataḥ) - completely; without remainder;]
(By what (or by whom) am I born as an outcaste? By which has my brahminhood perished? In truth, O greatly wise one, tell this all completely.)
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॥
gardabhyuvāca॥
[गर्दभ्य (gardabhya) - by the donkey; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(By the donkey, said.)
The donkey said.
ब्राह्मण्यां वृषलेन त्वं मत्तायां नापितेन ह। जातस्त्वमसि चण्डालो ब्राह्मण्यं तेन तेऽनशत् ॥१३-२८-१६॥
brāhmaṇyāṃ vṛṣalena tvaṃ mattāyāṃ nāpitena ha। jātastvamasi caṇḍālo brāhmaṇyaṃ tena te'naśat ॥13-28-16॥
[ब्राह्मण्याम् (brāhmaṇyām) - in a brāhmaṇa woman; वृषलेन (vṛṣalena) - by a śūdra man; त्वम् (tvam) - you; मत्तायाम् (mattāyām) - when intoxicated; नापितेन (nāpitena) - by a barber; ह (ha) - indeed; जातः (jātaḥ) - born; त्वम् (tvam) - you; असि (asi) - are; चण्डालः (caṇḍālaḥ) - a caṇḍāla; ब्राह्मण्यं (brāhmaṇyam) - brāhmaṇa status; तेन (tena) - by that; ते (te) - your; अनशत् (anaśat) - has been destroyed;]
(In a brāhmaṇa woman, by a śūdra man, you, when intoxicated, by a barber, indeed, born, you are a caṇḍāla; brāhmaṇa status by that your has been destroyed.)
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॥
evam-ukto mataṅgas-tu pratyupāyād-gṛhaṃ prati. tam-āgatam-abhiprekṣya pitā vākyam-athābravīt ॥13-28-17॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - addressed; मतङ्गः (mataṅgaḥ) - Matanga; तु (tu) - but; प्रत्युपायात् (pratyupāyāt) - having returned; गृहम् (gṛham) - home; प्रति (prati) - towards; तम् (tam) - him; आगतम् (āgatam) - arrived; अभिप्रेक्ष्य (abhiprekṣya) - having seen; पिता (pitā) - father; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - words; अथ (atha) - then; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke;]
(Thus addressed, Matanga but having returned towards home, having seen him arrived, the father then spoke words.)
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॥
mayā tvaṁ yajñasaṁsiddhau niyukto gurukarmaṇi। kasmātpratinivṛtto'si kaccinna kuśalaṁ tava ॥13-28-18॥
[मया (mayā) - by me; त्वं (tvaṁ) - you; यज्ञसंसिद्धौ (yajñasaṁsiddhau) - in the accomplishment of sacrifice; नियुक्तः (niyuktaḥ) - appointed; गुरुकर्मणि (gurukarmaṇi) - in the duty of the preceptor; कस्मात् (kasmāt) - why; प्रतिनिवृत्तः (pratinivṛttaḥ) - turned back; असि (asi) - are (you); कच्चित् (kaccit) - whether; न (na) - not; कुशलम् (kuśalam) - well-being; तव (tava) - your;]
(By me you in the accomplishment of sacrifice appointed in the duty of the preceptor; why turned back are (you); whether not well-being your;)
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॥
mataṅga uvāca॥
[मतङ्ग (mataṅga) - Matanga; (proper name); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Matanga said;)
Matanga said.
अयोनिरग्र्ययोनिर्वा यः स्यात्स कुशली भवेत्। कुशलं तु कुतस्तस्य यस्येयं जननी पितः ॥१३-२८-१९॥
ayonir-agryayonir-vā yaḥ syāt sa kuśalī bhavet। kuśalaṃ tu kutas tasya yasyeyaṃ jananī pitaḥ ॥13-28-19॥
[अयोनिः (ayoniḥ) - not-born-from-womb; अग्र्ययोनिः (agryayoniḥ) - of-excellent-origin; वा (vā) - or; यः (yaḥ) - who; स्यात् (syāt) - might-be; सः (saḥ) - he; कुशली (kuśalī) - skilled; भवेत् (bhavet) - may-be; कुशलम् (kuśalam) - skill; तु (tu) - but; कुतः (kutaḥ) - from-where; तस्य (tasya) - of-him; यस्मिन् (yasmin) - in-whom; इयम् (iyam) - this; जननी (jananī) - mother; पितः (pitaḥ) - father;]
(Not-born-from-womb, of-excellent-origin or who might be, he may be skilled. Skill but from-where of-him in-whom this mother father.)
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॥
brāhmaṇyāṃ vṛṣalājjātaṃ pitarvedayatīha mām। amānuṣī gardabhīyaṃ tasmāttapsye tapo mahat ॥13-28-20॥
[ब्राह्मण्याम् (brāhmaṇyām) - in a brāhmaṇa woman; वृषलात् (vṛṣalāt) - from a śūdra man; जातम् (jātam) - born; पितः (pitaḥ) - father; वेदयति (vedayati) - informs; इह (iha) - here; माम् (mām) - me; अमानुषी (amānuṣī) - not human; supernatural; गर्दभीयम् (gardabhīyam) - of a she-ass; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; तप्स्ये (tapsye) - I shall perform austerity; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; महत् (mahat) - great;]
(In a brāhmaṇa woman, from a śūdra man, born, father informs here me; not human, of a she-ass, therefore I shall perform austerity, great.)
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॥
evam uktvā sa pitaraṃ pratasthe kṛta-niścayaḥ। tato gatvā mahāraṇyam atapyata mahat tapaḥ ॥13-28-21॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; in this way; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having spoken; having said; स (sa) - he; पितरम् (pitaraṃ) - father; to the father; प्रतस्थे (pratasthe) - set out; departed; कृतनिश्चयः (kṛta-niścayaḥ) - having made a decision; resolved; ततः (tataḥ) - then; thereafter; गत्वा (gatvā) - having gone; महारण्यम् (mahāraṇyam) - great forest; अतप्यत (atapyata) - performed austerity; practiced penance; महत् (mahat) - great; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; penance;]
(Thus having spoken, he, having made a decision, set out to his father. Then, having gone to the great forest, he performed great austerity.)
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॥
tataḥ santāpayāmāsa vibudhāṃstapasānvitaḥ। mataṅgaḥ susukhaṃ prepsuḥ sthānaṃ sucaritādapi ॥13-28-22॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; सन्तापयामास (santāpayāmāsa) - caused to suffer; विबुधान् (vibudhān) - the wise ones; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; अन्वितः (anvitaḥ) - endowed; मतङ्गः (mataṅgaḥ) - Mataṅga; सुसुखं (susukhaṃ) - great happiness; प्रेप्सुः (prepsuḥ) - desiring; स्थानं (sthānaṃ) - place; सुचरितात् (sucaritàt) - from good conduct; अपि (api) - even;]
(Then, Mataṅga, endowed with austerity, caused the wise ones to suffer, desiring a place of great happiness even from good conduct.)
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॥
taṃ tathā tapasā yuktam uvāca harivāhanaḥ। mataṅga tapyase kiṃ tvaṃ bhogān utsṛjya mānuṣān ॥13-28-23॥
[तं (taṃ) - him; तथा (tathā) - thus; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; युक्तम् (yuktam) - engaged; उवाच (uvāca) - said; हरिवाहनः (harivāhanaḥ) - the one whose vehicle is Hari (Indra); मतङ्ग (mataṅga) - O Mataṅga; तप्यसे (tapyase) - you are practicing austerity; किं (kiṃ) - why; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; भोगान् (bhogān) - pleasures; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; मानुषान् (mānuṣān) - human;]
(Him thus by austerity engaged said Harivāhana. "O Mataṅga, you are practicing austerity, why you, having abandoned human pleasures?" (13-28-23))
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॥
varaṃ dadāni te hanta vṛṇīṣva tvaṃ yadicchasi। yaccāpyavāpyamanyatte sarvaṃ prabrūhi māciram ॥13-28-24॥
[वरम् (varam) - boon; ददानि (dadāni) - I shall give; ते (te) - to you; हन्त (hanta) - indeed; वृणीष्व (vṛṇīṣva) - choose; त्वम् (tvam) - you; यद् (yad) - what; इच्छसि (icchasi) - you desire; यत् (yat) - what; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अवाप्यम् (avāpyam) - to be obtained; अन्यत् (anyat) - other; ते (te) - for you; सर्वम् (sarvam) - all; प्रब्रूहि (prabrūhi) - tell; मा (mā) - not; चिरम् (ciram) - delay;]
(Boon I shall give to you indeed, choose you what you desire. And what also to be obtained other for you, all tell, not delay.)
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॥
mataṅga uvāca॥
[मतङ्ग (mataṅga) - Matanga; (proper name); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Matanga said;)
Matanga said.
ब्राह्मण्यं कामयानोऽहमिदमारब्धवांस्तपः। गच्छेयं तदवाप्येह वर एष वृतो मया ॥१३-२८-२५॥
brāhmaṇyaṃ kāmayāno'hamidamārabdhavāṃstapaḥ। gaccheyaṃ tadavāpyeha vara eṣa vṛto mayā ॥13-28-25॥
[ब्राह्मण्यं (brāhmaṇyam) - state of being a Brāhmaṇa; कामयानः (kāmayānaḥ) - desiring; अहम् (aham) - I; इदम् (idam) - this; आरब्धवान् (ārabdhavān) - have undertaken; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; गच्छेयं (gaccheyaṃ) - may attain; तत् (tat) - that; अवाप्य (avāpya) - having obtained; इह (iha) - here; वरः (varaḥ) - boon; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; वृतः (vṛtaḥ) - chosen; मया (mayā) - by me;]
(Desiring the state of being a Brāhmaṇa, I have undertaken this austerity; may I attain that, having obtained it here, this boon has been chosen by me.)
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॥
etacchrutvā tu vacanaṃ tamuvāca puraṃdaraḥ। brāhmaṇyaṃ prārthayānas tvam aprāpyam akṛtātmabhiḥ ॥13-28-26॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; तु (tu) - but; वचनम् (vacanam) - speech; तम् (tam) - him; उवाच (uvāca) - said; पुरंदरः (puraṃdaraḥ) - Purandara (Indra); ब्राह्मण्यं (brāhmaṇyam) - Brahminhood; प्रार्थयानः (prārthayānaḥ) - desiring; त्वम् (tvam) - you; अप्राप्यम् (aprāpyam) - unattainable; अकृतात्मभिः (akṛtātmabhiḥ) - by those whose self is not disciplined;]
(Having heard this speech, Purandara said to him: You, desiring Brahminhood, which is unattainable by those whose self is not disciplined.)
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॥
śreṣṭhaṃ yat sarvabhūteṣu tapo yan nātivartate। tad agryaṃ prārthayānaḥ tvam acirād vinaśiṣyasi ॥13-28-27॥
[श्रेष्ठम् (śreṣṭham) - best; superior; यत् (yat) - which; सर्वभूतेषु (sarvabhūteṣu) - among all beings; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; penance; यत् (yat) - which; न (na) - not; अतिवर्तते (ativartate) - transcends; surpasses; तत् (tat) - that; अग्र्यम् (agryam) - foremost; excellent; प्रार्थयानः (prārthayānaḥ) - desiring; seeking; त्वम् (tvam) - you; अचिरात् (acirāt) - soon; विनशिष्यसि (vinaśiṣyasi) - will perish;]
(The best which, among all beings, austerity which does not transcend, that foremost desiring you soon will perish.)
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॥
devatāsuramartyeṣu yat pavitraṃ paraṃ smṛtam। caṇḍālayonau jātena na tat prāpyaṃ kathaṃcana ॥13-28-28॥
[देवतासुरमर्त्येषु (devatāsuramartyeṣu) - among gods, asuras, and mortals; यत् (yat) - which; पवित्रम् (pavitram) - pure; परम् (param) - supreme; स्मृतम् (smṛtam) - is considered; चण्डालयोनौ (caṇḍālayonau) - in the womb of a caṇḍāla; जातेन (jātena) - by one born; न (na) - not; तत् (tat) - that; प्राप्यम् (prāpyam) - to be attained; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way;]
(Among gods, asuras, and mortals, that which is considered the supreme pure, by one born in the womb of a caṇḍāla, that is not to be attained in any way.)
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)
