Shloka 4
Brāhmaṇya-प्रश्नः — The Inquiry into Attaining Brāhmaṇya
Mataṅga–Gardabhī Itihāsa
तपोवनगतं विप्रमभिगम्य महामुनिम् । पप्रच्छाज्िरसं धीर॑ गौतम: संशितव्रत:,एक समयकी बात है, महामुनि विप्रवर धैर्यवान् अंगिरा अपने तपोवनमें विराजमान थे। उस समय कठिन व्रतका पालन करनेवाले महर्षि गौतमने उनके पास जाकर पूछा --
tapovanagataṁ vipram abhigamya mahāmunim | papracchāṅgirasaṁ dhīro gautamaḥ saṁśitavrataḥ ||
وذاتَ مرةٍ كان الحكيمُ العظيمُ أنْغِيراس، وهو أرفعُ البراهمة، مقيمًا في مُعتكَفِه الغابيّ المكرَّس للتقشّف. وفي ذلك الحين أقبلَ الرِّشي غوتَما، الثابتُ على نُذورٍ صارمة، فدنا منه وسأله باحترام—
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the dharmic method of learning: a disciplined seeker (Gautama) approaches a realized ascetic teacher (Aṅgiras) in a setting of tapas and asks questions. Ethical knowledge is presented as something to be sought through humility, restraint, and inquiry.
Bhishma introduces a traditional frame-story: the sage Gautama goes to the tapovana where the great sage Aṅgiras is staying and poses a question to him. This functions as the narrative gateway to the instruction that follows in the chapter.