Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.5
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13.5.1
एवमुक्तो मतङ्गस्तु संशितात्मा यतव्रतः ।
सहस्रमेकपादेन ततो ध्याने व्यतिष्ठत ॥ १३.५.१ ॥
Thus addressed, Mataṅga, with a disciplined mind and firm vow, stood on one foot for a thousand years, absorbed in meditation.
13.5.2
तं सहस्रावरे काले शक्रो द्रष्टुमुपागमत् ।
तदेव च पुनर्वाक्यमुवाच बलवृत्रहा ॥ १३.५.२ ॥
At the end of the thousand years Indra came to see him, and the slayer of Vṛtra, the mighty one, spoke those very words again.
13.5.3
इदं वर्षसहस्रं वै ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः ।
अतिष्ठमेकपादेन ब्राह्मण्यं नाप्नुयां कथम् ॥ १३.५.३ ॥
For a thousand years I have stood on one foot, a celibate student, composed and steadfast; how then could I not attain brahminhood?
13.5.4
चण्डालयोनो जातेन नावाप्यं वै कथञ्चन ।
अन्यं कामं वृणीष्व त्वं मा वृथा तेऽस्त्वयं श्रमः ॥ १३.५.४ ॥
Born in a Caṇḍāla womb, one can never attain this in any way. Choose another boon instead; let not your effort be in vain.
13.5.5
एवमुक्तो मतङ्गस्तु भृशं शोकपरायणः ।
अध्यतिष्ठद्गयां गत्वा सोऽङ्गुष्टेन शतं समाः ॥ १३.५.५ ॥
Thus addressed, Mataṅga sank deep into grief; he went to Gayā and stood on his big toe for a hundred years.
13.5.6
सुदुर्वहं वहन्योगं कृशो धमनिसन्ततः ।
त्वगस्थिभूतो धर्मात्मा स ततापेति नः श्रुतम् ॥ १३.५.६ ॥
Bearing a most difficult discipline, emaciated, covered with veins, reduced to skin and bone, that righteous soul performed austerity — so we have heard.
13.5.7
तं तपन्तमभिद्रुत्य पाणिं जग्राह वासवः ।
वराणामीश्वरो दाता सर्वभूतहिते रतः ॥ १३.५.७ ॥
Running up to him as he performed austerities, Vāsava (Indra) took his hand — the lord and giver of boons, delighting in the welfare of all beings.
13.5.8
मतङ्ग ब्राह्मणत्वं ते विरुद्धमिह दृश्यते ।
ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्लभतरं संवृतं परिपन्थिभिः ॥ १३.५.८ ॥
Mataṅga, your brahmanhood appears out of place here. Brahmanhood is exceedingly hard to attain, and it is obstructed by its adversaries.
13.5.9
पूजयन्सुखमाप्नोति दुःखमाप्नोत्यपूजयन् ।
ब्राह्मणे सर्वभूतानां योगक्षेमः समाहितः ॥ १३.५.९ ॥
Honouring a brahmin, one obtains happiness; not honouring him, one obtains sorrow. In the brahmin rests the welfare and security of all beings.
13.5.10
ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽनुतृप्यन्ते पितरो देवतास्तथा ।
ब्राह्मणः सर्वभूतानां मतङ्ग पर उच्यते ॥ १३.५.१० ॥
By brahmins the ancestors and the gods are likewise gratified. Mataṅga, the brahmin is called supreme among all beings.
13.5.11
ब्राह्मणः कुरुते तद्धि यथा यद्यच्च वाञ्छति ॥ १३.५.११ ॥
A brahmin does just as and whatever he desires.
13.5.12
बह्वीस्तु संसरन्योनीर्जायमानः पनुःपुनः ।
पर्याये तात कस्मिंश्चिद्ब्राह्मण्यमिह विन्दति ॥ १३.५.१२ ॥
Wandering through many wombs, being born again and again, dear one, in some turn or other a person here attains brahmanhood.
13.5.13
तदुत्सृज्येह दुष्प्रापं ब्राह्मण्यमकृतात्मभिः ।
अन्यं वरं वृणीष्व त्वं दुर्लभोऽयं हि ते वरः ॥ १३.५.१३ ॥
Therefore, leaving here brahmanhood, which is hard to attain for those of unrefined self, choose another boon; this boon is rare for you.
13.5.14
किं मां तुदसि दुःखार्तं मृतं मारयसे च माम् ।
त्वां तु शोचामि यो लब्ध्वा ब्राह्मण्यं न बुभूषसे ॥ १३.५.१४ ॥
Why do you torment me, afflicted with sorrow, and kill again one who is already dead? It is you I grieve for, who, having obtained brahmanhood, do not wish to be it.
13.5.15
ब्राह्मण्यं यदि दुष्प्रापं त्रिभिर्वर्णैर्दुरासदम् ।
सुदुर्लभं सदावाप्य नानुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः ॥ १३.५.१५ ॥
If brahmanhood is hard to attain, hard for the three classes to approach and always exceedingly rare, yet men, having obtained it, do not practise it.
13.5.16
ये पापेभ्यः पापतमास्तेषामधम एव सः ।
ब्राह्मण्यं योऽवजानीते धनं लब्ध्वेव दुर्लभम् ॥ १३.५.१६ ॥
Among the most sinful of sinners, he is the lowest who disdains brahmanhood, as if, having obtained rare wealth, he despised it.
13.5.17
दुष्प्रापं खलु विप्रत्वं प्राप्तं दुरनुपालनम् ।
दुरवापमवाप्यैतन्नानुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः ॥ १३.५.१७ ॥
Indeed brahmanhood is hard to attain; once attained, it is hard to maintain. Though it is obtained with difficulty, men do not practise it.
13.5.18
एकारामो ह्यहं शक्र निर्न्द्वद्वो निष्परिग्रहः ।
अहिंसादममास्थाय कथं नार्हामि विप्रताम् ॥ १३.५.१८ ॥
O Śakra, I delight in solitude, am free from the pairs of opposites and have no possessions. Having resorted to non-violence and self-restraint, why should I not deserve the state of a brahmin?
13.5.19
दैवं तु कथमेतद्वै यदहं मातृदोषतः ।
एतामवस्थां सम्प्राप्तो धर्मज्ञः सन्पुरन्दरं ॥ १३.५.१९ ॥
What is this fate, that I, knowing dharma, have fallen into this condition through my mother's fault, O Purandara?
13.5.20
नूनं दैवं न शक्यं हि पौरुषेणातिवर्तितुम् ।
यदर्थं यत्नवानेव न लभे विप्रतां विभो ॥ १३.५.२० ॥
Surely fate cannot be overcome by human effort, for though I strive for it, I do not obtain brahminhood, O mighty one.
13.5.21
एवंगते तु धर्मज्ञ दातुमर्हसि मे वरम् ।
यदि तेऽहमनुग्राह्यः किचिद्वा सुकृतं मम ॥ १३.५.२१ ॥
Since things stand thus, O knower of dharma, you should grant me a boon, if I am worthy of your favour, or if I have any merit at all.
13.5.22
वृणीष्वेति तदा प्राह ततस्तं बलवृत्रहा ।
चोदितस्तु महेन्द्रेण मतङ्गः प्राब्रवीदिदम् ॥ १३.५.२२ ॥
'Choose a boon,' he said then; then the slayer of Vṛtra spoke to him. Urged by Mahendra, Mataṅga spoke these words.
13.5.23
यथा कामविहारी स्यां कामरूपी विहङ्गमः ।
ब्रह्मक्षत्राविरोधेन पूजां च प्राप्नुयामहम् ॥ १३.५.२३ ॥
That I may become a bird that roams at will and takes any form at will, and that I may obtain honour too, without conflict between brahmin and kshatriya.
13.5.24
यथा ममाक्षया कीर्तिर्भवेच्चापि पुरन्दर ।
कर्तुमर्हसि तद्देव शिरसा त्वां प्रसादये ॥ १३.५.२४ ॥
Let my fame be undying, O Purandara, and you should do that; O god, bowing my head, I beg your favour.
13.5.25
मतङ्ग गम्यतां शीघ्रमेवमेतद्भविष्यति ।
स्त्रियः सर्वास्त्वया लोके यक्ष्यन्ते भूतिकर्मणि ॥ १३.५.२५ ॥
Mataṅga, go quickly; so it will be. In the world all women will be worshipped by you in rites of prosperity.
13.5.26
छन्दोदेव इति ख्यातः स्त्रीणां पूज्यो भविष्यसि ।
कीर्तिश्च तेऽतुला वत्स त्रिषु लोकेषु यास्यति ॥ १३.५.२६ ॥
Known as Chandodeva, you will be worthy of honour among women. O dear child, your incomparable fame will spread through the three worlds.
13.5.27
एवं तस्मै वरं दत्त्वा वासवोऽन्तरधीयत ।
प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा मतङ्गोपि प्राप तत्स्थानमुत्तमम् ॥ १३.५.२७ ॥
Having granted him this boon, Vāsava disappeared. Mataṅga too gave up his life-breaths and attained that supreme place.
13.5.28
एवमेव परं स्थानं मर्त्यानां भरतर्षभ ।
ब्राह्मण्यं नाम दुष्प्रापमिन्द्रेणोक्तं महात्मना ॥ १३.५.२८ ॥
O best of the Bharatas, this is indeed the supreme state for mortals. The great-souled Indra declared that the state called brahminhood is hard to attain.