Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.3
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13.3.1
प्रज्ञाश्रुताभ्यां वृत्तेन शीलेन च यथा भवान् ।
गुणैश्च विविधैः सर्वैर्वयसा च समन्वितः ॥ १३.३.१ ॥
You are endowed with wisdom and learning, with conduct and character, with many kinds of excellence, and with age.
13.3.2
भवान्विशिष्टो बुद्ध्या च प्रज्ञया तपसा तथा ।
सर्वेषामेव जातानां सतामेतन्न संशयः ॥ १३.३.२ ॥
You excel in intellect, in wisdom and in austerity; of all beings, and of the good, there is no doubt of this.
13.3.3
तस्माद्भवन्तं पृच्छामि धर्मं धर्मभृतांवर ।
नान्यस्त्वदन्यो लोकेषु प्रष्टव्योस्ति नराधिप ॥ १३.३.३ ॥
Therefore I ask you about dharma, best of those who bear dharma. O lord of men, there is no one in the worlds other than you to be asked.
13.3.4
क्षत्रियो यदि वा वैश्यः शूद्रो वा राजसत्तम ।
ब्राह्मण्यं प्राप्नुयाद्येन तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥ १३.३.४ ॥
O best of kings, if a kṣatriya, a vaiśya or a śūdra might attain brahmanhood, by what means, that you ought to explain to me.
13.3.5
ब्राह्मण्यं यदि दुष्प्रापं त्रिभिर्वर्णैर्नराधिप ।
तपसा वा सुमहता कर्मणा वा श्रुतेन वा।
ब्राह्मण्यमथ चेदिच्छेत्कथं शक्यं पितामह ॥ १३.३.५ ॥
Lord of men, if brahmanhood is hard for the three varṇas to attain, by great austerity, by action, or by learning; and if one desires it, grandsire, how is it possible?
13.3.6
ब्राह्मण्यमतिदुष्प्राप्यं वर्णैः क्षत्रादिभिस्त्रिभिः ।
परं हि सर्वभूतानां स्थानमेतद्युधिष्ठिर ॥ १३.३.६ ॥
Brahmanhood is exceedingly hard for the three varṇas, beginning with the kṣatriya, to attain, O Yudhiṣṭhira; for this is the supreme abode of all beings.
13.3.7
बह्विस्तु संसरन्योनीर्जायमानः पुनःपनः ।
पर्याये तात कस्मिंश्चिद्ब्राह्मणो नाम जायते ॥ १३.३.७ ॥
Wandering through many wombs, being born again and again, dear son, in some turn a man is born by the name of brahmin.
13.3.8
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
मतङ्गस्य च संवादं गर्दभ्याश्च युधिष्ठिर ॥ १३.३.८ ॥
On this matter they also recount this ancient story, the dialogue of Mataṅga and the she-ass, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
13.3.9
द्विजातेः कस्यचित्तात तुल्यवर्णः सुतस्त्वभूत् ।
मतङ्गो नाम नाम्नाऽऽसीत्सर्वैः समुदितो गुणैः ॥ १३.३.९ ॥
Dear son, to a certain twice-born man a son of equal class was born, named Mataṅga, endowed with all good qualities.
13.3.10
स यज्ञकारः कौन्तेय पित्रोत्सृष्टः परंतप ।
प्रायाद्गर्दभयुक्तेन रथेनाप्याशुगामिना ॥ १३.३.१० ॥
That sacrificer, O son of Kuntī, sent off by his father, O scorcher of foes, set out in a swift chariot yoked with asses.
13.3.11
स बालं गर्दभं राजन्वहन्तं मातुरन्तिके ।
निरविध्यत्प्रतोदेन नासिकायां पुनःपुनः ॥ १३.३.११ ॥
O king, he kept piercing the nostril of a young donkey being dragged near its mother with his goad, again and again.
13.3.12
तं दृश्य नसि निर्भिन्नं गर्दभी पुत्रगृद्धिनी ।
उवाच मा शुचः पुत्र चण्डालस्त्वाभिविध्यति ॥ १३.३.१२ ॥
Seeing him with his nose pierced, the she-ass, longing for her son, said: Do not grieve, my son; this outcast is piercing you.
13.3.13
ब्राह्मणो दारुणो नास्ति मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते ।
आचार्यः सर्वभूतानां शास्ता किं प्रहरिष्यति ॥ १३.३.१३ ॥
A brahmin is not cruel; a brahmin is called friendly. Why would the teacher and ruler of all beings strike?
13.3.14
अयं तु पापप्रकृतिर्बाले न कुरुते दयाम् ।
स्वयोनिं मानयत्येष भावो भावं नियच्छति ॥ १३.३.१४ ॥
But this one has a sinful nature, child; he shows no compassion. He honors his own birth; nature restrains nature.
13.3.15
एतच्छ्रुत्वा मतङ्गस्तु दारुणं रासभीवचः ।
अवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं रासभीं प्रत्यभाषत ॥ १३.३.१५ ॥
Hearing these harsh words of the she-ass, Mataṅga quickly got down from his chariot and spoke to the she-ass.
13.3.16
ब्रूहि रासभि कल्याणि माता मे येन दूषिता ।
केन मां वेत्सि चण्डालं ब्राह्मण्यं केन मेऽनशत्।
तत्त्वेनैतन्महाप्राज्ञे ब्रूहि सर्वमशेषतः ॥ १३.३.१६ ॥
Tell me, auspicious she-ass: by whom was my mother defiled? By whom do you know me as an outcast, and by whom was my brahminhood destroyed? O very wise one, tell me all of it truly and without omission.
13.3.17
ब्राह्मण्यां वृषलेन त्वं मत्तायां नापितेन ह ।
जातस्त्वमसि चण्डालो ब्राह्मण्यं तेन तेऽनशत् ॥ १३.३.१७ ॥
You were born of a brahmin woman by a shudra, and of an intoxicated woman by a barber; you are an outcast, and for this reason your brahminhood was destroyed.
13.3.18
एवमुक्तो मतङ्गस्तु प्रतिप्रायाद्गृहं पुनः ।
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य पिता वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ॥ १३.३.१८ ॥
Thus addressed, Mataṅga went back home again. Seeing him come back, his father then spoke these words.
13.3.19
यस्त्वं यज्ञार्थसंसिद्धौ नियुक्तो गुरुकर्मणि ।
कस्मात्प्रतिनिवृत्तोसि कच्चिन्न कुशलं तव ॥ १३.३.१९ ॥
You who were appointed to a weighty task for the accomplishment of the sacrifice, why have you turned back? Is your welfare not well?
13.3.20
अन्त्ययोनिरयोनिर्वा कथं स कुशली भवेत् ।
कुशलं तु कुतस्तस्य यस्येयं जननी पितः ॥ १३.३.२० ॥
How could one of the lowest birth, or of no birth, be well? And from where could well-being come to him, father, whose mother is this?
13.3.21
ब्राह्मण्यां वृषलाञ्जातं पितर्वेदयते हि माम् ।
अमानुषी गर्दभीयं तस्मात्तप्स्ये तपो महत् ॥ १३.३.२१ ॥
Father, this non-human she-donkey tells me that I was born of a brahmin woman and a śūdra man. Therefore I shall perform great austerity.
13.3.22
एवमुक्त्वा स पितरं प्रतस्थे कृतनिश्चयः ।
ततो गत्वा महारण्यमतपत्सुमहत्तपः ॥ १३.३.२२ ॥
Having said this to his father, resolved, he set out. Then, going into the great forest, he practiced very great austerity.
13.3.23
ततः स तापयामास विबुधांस्तपसाऽन्वितः ।
मतङ्गः सुसुखं प्रेप्सुः स्थानं सुचरितादपि ॥ १३.३.२३ ॥
Then he, endowed with austerity, afflicted the gods; Mataṅga, desiring a very happy place, one that is won even by good conduct, did so.
13.3.24
तं तथा तपसा युक्तमुवाच हरिवाहनः ।
मतङ्ग तप्स्यसे किं त्वं भोगानुत्सृज्य मानुषान् ॥ १३.३.२४ ॥
To him, thus engaged in austerity, Hari-vāhana (Indra) said: Mataṅga, why do you practice austerity, having abandoned the pleasures of men?
13.3.25
वरं ददामि ते हन्त वृणीष्व त्वं यदिच्छसि ।
यच्चाप्यवाप्यं हृदि ते सर्वं तद्ब्रूहि मा चिरम् ॥ १३.३.२५ ॥
I grant you a boon, indeed. Choose whatever you desire, and tell me everything that you wish to obtain in your heart, without delay.
13.3.26
ब्राह्मण्यं कामयानोऽहमिदमारब्धवांस्तपः ।
गच्छेयं तदवाप्येह वर एष वृतो मया ॥ १३.३.२६ ॥
Desiring brahmanhood, I have undertaken this austerity. May I attain that state here, having obtained it: this is the boon I have chosen.
13.3.27
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं तमुवाच पुरदरः ।
मतङ्ग दुर्लभमिदं विप्रत्वं प्रार्थ्यते त्वया ॥ १३.३.२७ ॥
Having heard these words, Puraṃdara said to him: O Mataṅga, this brahmanhood is hard to obtain, and you are seeking it.
13.3.28
ब्राह्मण्यं प्रार्थयानस्त्वमप्राप्यमकृतात्मभिः ।
विनशिष्यसि दुर्बुद्धे तदुपारम मा चिरम् ॥ १३.३.२८ ॥
Seeking brahmanhood, which is unattainable by those of unrefined self, you will perish. O foolish one, therefore desist from it without delay.
13.3.29
श्रेष्ठं यत्सर्वभूतेषु तपो यदतिवर्तते ।
तदग्र्यं प्रार्थयानस्त्वमचिराद्विनशिष्यसि ॥ १३.३.२९ ॥
Seeking that supreme thing, the best austerity among all beings, which surpasses even that, you will soon perish.
13.3.30
देवतासुरमर्त्येषु यत्पवित्रं परं स्मृतम् ।
चण्डालयोनौ जातेन न तत्प्राप्यं कथञ्चन ॥ १३.३.३० ॥
The supreme purity held to exist among gods, asuras and mortals cannot be attained in any way by one born in a Caṇḍāla womb.