13.029
इन्द्रमतङ्गसंवादः
The dialogue between Indra and Matanga.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
एवमुक्तो मतङ्गस्तु संशितात्मा यतव्रतः। अतिष्ठदेकपादेन वर्षाणां शतमच्युत ॥१३-२९-१॥
Thus addressed, Matanga, whose mind was resolute and who was firm in his vows, stood on one foot for a hundred years, O Acyuta. (13-29-1)
तमुवाच ततः शक्रः पुनरेव महायशाः। मतङ्ग परमं स्थानं प्रार्थयन्नतिदुर्लभम् ॥१३-२९-२॥
Then Śakra, the greatly renowned one, again spoke to him: "O Mataṅga, you are requesting the supreme place, which is very difficult to obtain." (13-29-2)
मा कृथाः साहसं पुत्र नैष धर्मपथस्तव। अप्राप्यं प्रार्थयानो हि नचिराद्विनशिष्यसि ॥१३-२९-३॥
Do not act rashly, my son; this is not the path of righteousness for you. If you desire what cannot be attained, you will soon perish. (13-29-3)
मतङ्ग परमं स्थानं वार्यमाणो मया सकृत्। चिकीर्षस्येव तपसा सर्वथा न भविष्यसि ॥१३-२९-४॥
O Matanga, you will not in any way attain the supreme state by austerity, being restrained by me even once, as one desiring to act. (13-29-4)
तिर्यग्योनिगतः सर्वो मानुष्यं यदि गच्छति। स जायते पुल्कसो वा चण्डालो वा कदाचन ॥१३-२९-५॥
Whoever has entered the animal womb, if he attains human birth, he is born as a Pulkasa or a Caṇḍāla at some time. (13-29-5)
पुंश्चलः पापयोनिर्वा यः कश्चिदिह लक्ष्यते। स तस्यामेव सुचिरं मतङ्ग परिवर्तते ॥१३-२९-६॥
Whoever is seen here as a debauched man or of sinful birth, he, like Matanga, remains with her for a long time. (13-29-6)
ततो दशगुणे काले लभते शूद्रतामपि। शूद्रयोनावपि ततो बहुशः परिवर्तते ॥१३-२९-७॥
Then, after ten times the period, one attains even the state of a Śūdra; even in the womb of a Śūdra, then, one is repeatedly reborn. (13-29-7)
ततस्त्रिंशद्गुणे काले लभते वैश्यतामपि। वैश्यतायां चिरं कालं तत्रैव परिवर्तते ॥१३-२९-८॥
Then, after thirty times that period, one attains the state of a Vaiśya. Remaining in the Vaiśya state, one stays there for a long time. (13-29-8)
ततः षष्टिगुणे काले राजन्यो नाम जायते। राजन्यत्वे चिरं कालं तत्रैव परिवर्तते ॥१३-२९-९॥
Then, after sixty cycles of time, a kṣatriya is born. In the kṣatriya state, for a long period, time continues there itself. (13-29-9)
ततः षष्टिगुणे काले लभते ब्रह्मबन्धुताम्। ब्रह्मबन्धुश्चिरं कालं तत्रैव परिवर्तते ॥१३-२९-१०॥
Then, after a period sixty times as long, he attains the status of a nominal Brāhmaṇa; and the brahmabandhu remains there itself for a long time. (13-29-10)
ततस्तु द्विशते काले लभते काण्डपृष्ठताम्। काण्डपृष्ठश्चिरं कालं तत्रैव परिवर्तते ॥१३-२९-११॥
Then, after two hundred cycles, it attains the state of a kāṇḍapṛṣṭha insect; as a kāṇḍapṛṣṭha, it continues to exist there for a long time. (13-29-11)
ततस्तु त्रिशते काले लभते द्विजतामपि। तां च प्राप्य चिरं कालं तत्रैव परिवर्तते ॥१३-२९-१२॥
Then, after three hundred cycles, one attains even the state of a twice-born; having reached that state, one continues to transmigrate there for a long time. (13-29-12)
ततश्चतुःशते काले श्रोत्रियो नाम जायते। श्रोत्रियत्वे चिरं कालं तत्रैव परिवर्तते ॥१३-२९-१३॥
Then, after four hundred years, a person called a śrotriya (Vedic scholar) is born. In that state of being a śrotriya, he remains there for a long time. (13-29-13)
तदैव क्रोधहर्षौ च कामद्वेषौ च पुत्रक। अतिमानातिवादौ तमाविशन्ति द्विजाधमम् ॥१३-२९-१४॥
At that very moment, O son, anger and joy, desire and hatred, excessive pride and excessive speech enter into him, the lowest among the twice-born. (13-29-14)
तांश्चेज्जयति शत्रून्स तदा प्राप्नोति सद्गतिम्। अथ ते वै जयन्त्येनं तालाग्रादिव पात्यते ॥१३-२९-१५॥
If he conquers those enemies, then he attains a good state. But if they conquer him, he is cast down like someone from the top of a palm tree. (13-29-15)
मतङ्ग सम्प्रधार्यैतद्यदहं त्वामचूचुदम्। वृणीष्व काममन्यं त्वं ब्राह्मण्यं हि सुदुर्लभम् ॥१३-२९-१६॥
O Mataṅga, after carefully considering what I have told you, choose another boon; for Brahminhood is indeed extremely difficult to attain. (13-29-16)
