Shloka 31
Adhyāya 71: Kaca and the Saṃjīvanī-vidyā
Devayānī–Śukra Episode
बभार यत्रास्य पुरा काले दुर्गे महात्मन: । दारान्मतड़ो धर्मात्मा राजर्षिव्याधतां गत:,विश्वामित्र महर्षि वे ही हैं, जिनकी पत्नीका पूर्वकालमें संकटके समय शापवश व्याध बने हुए धर्मात्मा राजर्षि मतंगने भरण-पोषण किया था
babhāra yatrāsya purā kāle durge mahātmanaḥ | dārān mataṅgo dharmātmā rājarṣir vyādhatāṃ gataḥ ||
قال كانفا: «في ذلك الزمان السالف حين داهم الخطر، كان هناك أن الحكيم الملكي ماتنغا، صاحب الدارما—وإن كان ملعونًا أن يعيش صيّادًا—قد كفل زوجة ذلك العظيم النفس وحماها.»
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma is measured by conduct, not by outward status. Even when reduced by a curse to the life of a hunter, Mataṅga remains dharmātmā by sustaining and protecting another in a time of danger.
Kaṇva recalls an earlier episode: during a crisis, Mataṅga—then living as a vyādha due to a curse—provided support and protection to the wife of a great-souled figure, indicating a past bond of help and moral obligation.