Shloka 3
Indra–Mataṅga Saṃvāda: On the rarity and responsibilities of Brāhmaṇya (इन्द्र-मतङ्ग संवादः)
क्षत्रियो यदि वा वैश्य: शूद्रो वा राजसत्तम । ब्राह्म॒ण्यं प्राप्रुयाद् येन तन्मे व्याख्यातुमहसि
Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: kṣatriyo yadi vā vaiśyaḥ śūdro vā rājasattama | brāhmaṇyaṃ prāpnuyād yena tan me vyākhyātum arhasi, nṛpaśreṣṭha ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: «يا أفضلَ الملوك، إن كان كشتريا أو فايشيا أو حتى شودرا يرغب في بلوغ حال البراهمة، فبأي وسيلة ينال ذلك؟ يا أسبقَ الحكّام، بيّن لي الأمر.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into whether spiritual and social qualification (brāhmaṇya) can be attained through conduct and discipline rather than merely by birth, asking for the means by which one may become worthy of Brahminhood.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-setting, Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully questions a senior royal authority (addressed as ‘best of kings’) about the path by which people of other varṇas—Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, or Śūdra—might attain Brahmin status.