13.028
mataṅgopākhyānam
The story of sage Mataṅga.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
prajñāśrutābhyāṃ vṛttena śīlena ca yathā bhavān। guṇaiḥ samuditaḥ sarvairvayasā ca samanvitaḥ॥ tasmādbhavantaṃ pṛcchāmi dharmaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ vara॥13-28-1॥
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)
kṣatriyo yadi vā vaiśyaḥ śūdro vā rājasattama। brāhmaṇyaṃ prāpnuyāt kena tan me vyākhyātum arhasi ॥13-28-2॥
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)
tapasā vā sumahatā karmaṇā vā śrutena vā। brāhmaṇyam atha ced icchet tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥13-28-3॥
O grandsire, if one should desire Brahminhood by austerity, by very great action, or by learning, then tell me that. (13-28-3)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
brāhmaṇyaṃ tāta duṣprāpaṃ varṇaiḥ kṣatrādibhis tribhiḥ। paraṃ hi sarvabhūtānāṃ sthānam etad yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-28-4॥
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)
bahvīs tu saṁsaraṇyonīr jāyamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ। paryāye tāta kasmiṁścid brāhmaṇo nāma jāyate ॥13-28-5॥
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)
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। mataṅgasya ca saṃvādaṃ gardabhyāś ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-28-6॥
Here too, O Yudhiṣṭhira, they recount this ancient story: the dialogue between Mataṅga and the female donkey. (13-28-6)
dvijāteḥ kasyacittāt tulyavarṇaḥ sutaḥ prabhuḥ। mataṅgo nāma nāmnābhūtsarvaiḥ samudito guṇaiḥ ॥13-28-7॥
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)
sa yajñakāraḥ kaunteya pitrā sṛṣṭaḥ parantapa। prāyād-gardabhayuktena rathena iha āśugāminā ॥13-28-8॥
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)
sa bālaṃ gardabhaṃ rājan vahantaṃ mātur-antike। niravidhyat pratodena nāsikāyāṃ punaḥ punaḥ ॥13-28-9॥
O king, the boy, while carrying the donkey near its mother, repeatedly pierced its nose with a goad. (13-28-9)
taṃ tu tīvravraṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā gardabhī putragṛddhinī। uvāca mā śucaḥ putra caṇḍālastvādhitiṣṭhati ॥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)
brāhmaṇe dāruṇaṃ nāsti maitro brāhmaṇa ucyate। ācāryaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ śāstā kiṃ prahariṣyati ॥13-28-11॥
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)
ayaṃ tu pāpaprakṛtir bāle na kurute dayām। svayoniṃ mānayaty eṣa bhāvo bhāvaṃ nigacchati ॥13-28-12॥
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)
etat-śrutvā mataṅgas tu dāruṇaṃ rāsabhī-vacaḥ। avatīrya rathāt tūrṇaṃ rāsabhīṃ pratyabhāṣata ॥13-28-13॥
Hearing these harsh words from Rāsabhī, Matanga quickly got down from the chariot and addressed Rāsabhī. (13-28-13)
brūhi rāsabhi kalyāṇi mātā me yena dūṣitā। kathaṃ māṃ vetsi caṇḍālaṃ kṣipraṃ rāsabhi śaṃsa 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)
kena jāto'smi caṇḍālo brāhmaṇyaṃ yena me'naśat। tattvenaitanmahāprājñe brūhi sarvamaśeṣataḥ ॥13-28-15॥
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)
gardabhyuvāca॥
The donkey said.
brāhmaṇyāṃ vṛṣalena tvaṃ mattāyāṃ nāpitena ha। jātastvamasi caṇḍālo brāhmaṇyaṃ tena te'naśat ॥13-28-16॥
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)
evam-ukto mataṅgas-tu pratyupāyād-gṛhaṃ prati. tam-āgatam-abhiprekṣya pitā vākyam-athābravīt ॥13-28-17॥
Thus addressed, Matanga returned home; seeing him arrive, his father then spoke these words. (13-28-17)
mayā tvaṁ yajñasaṁsiddhau niyukto gurukarmaṇi। kasmātpratinivṛtto'si kaccinna kuśalaṁ tava ॥13-28-18॥
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)
mataṅga uvāca॥
Matanga said.
ayonir-agryayonir-vā yaḥ syāt sa kuśalī bhavet। kuśalaṃ tu kutas tasya yasyeyaṃ jananī pitaḥ ॥13-28-19॥
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)
brāhmaṇyāṃ vṛṣalājjātaṃ pitarvedayatīha mām। amānuṣī gardabhīyaṃ tasmāttapsye tapo mahat ॥13-28-20॥
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)
evam uktvā sa pitaraṃ pratasthe kṛta-niścayaḥ। tato gatvā mahāraṇyam atapyata mahat tapaḥ ॥13-28-21॥
Having thus spoken to his father and firmly resolved, he departed. Then, after reaching the great forest, he undertook great austerities. (13-28-21)
tataḥ santāpayāmāsa vibudhāṃstapasānvitaḥ। mataṅgaḥ susukhaṃ prepsuḥ sthānaṃ sucaritādapi ॥13-28-22॥
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)
taṃ tathā tapasā yuktam uvāca harivāhanaḥ। mataṅga tapyase kiṃ tvaṃ bhogān utsṛjya mānuṣān ॥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)
varaṃ dadāni te hanta vṛṇīṣva tvaṃ yadicchasi। yaccāpyavāpyamanyatte sarvaṃ prabrūhi māciram ॥13-28-24॥
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)
mataṅga uvāca॥
Matanga said.
brāhmaṇyaṃ kāmayāno'hamidamārabdhavāṃstapaḥ। gaccheyaṃ tadavāpyeha vara eṣa vṛto mayā ॥13-28-25॥
Desiring to attain Brāhmaṇahood, I have undertaken this austerity; may I achieve that here—this is the boon I have chosen. (13-28-25)
etacchrutvā tu vacanaṃ tamuvāca puraṃdaraḥ। brāhmaṇyaṃ prārthayānas tvam aprāpyam akṛtātmabhiḥ ॥13-28-26॥
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)
śreṣṭhaṃ yat sarvabhūteṣu tapo yan nātivartate। tad agryaṃ prārthayānaḥ tvam acirād vinaśiṣyasi ॥13-28-27॥
If you desire that foremost austerity, which is the best among all beings and cannot be surpassed, you will soon perish. (13-28-27)
devatāsuramartyeṣu yat pavitraṃ paraṃ smṛtam। caṇḍālayonau jātena na tat prāpyaṃ kathaṃcana ॥13-28-28॥
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)
