Shloka 26

Indra–Mataṅga Saṃvāda: On the rarity and responsibilities of Brāhmaṇya (इन्द्र-मतङ्ग संवादः)

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्ााभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अन्तर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें गंगाजीके माहात्म्यका वर्णनविषयक छब्बीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ

Transliteration

Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Mataṅga uvāca—brāhmaṇyaṁ kāmayāno ’ham idam ārabdhavāṁs tapaḥ | gaccheyaṁ tad avāpyeha vara eṣa vṛto mayā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Mataṅga sprach: „In dem Verlangen nach dem Stand eines brāhmaṇa habe ich diese Askese begonnen. Erst wenn ich ihn hier erlangt habe, werde ich diesen Ort verlassen; dies allein ist die Gabe, die ich erwählt habe.“

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मण्यं: Brahminhood
• ब्राह्मण्यं: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कामयानः: desiring
• कामयानः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कामय् (धातु) → कामयान (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, Nominative, Singular

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आरब्धवान्: having begun
• आरब्धवान्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: रभ्/रम्भ् (धातु) → आरब्धवत् (कृदन्त, क्तवतुँ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गच्छेयम्: may I go
• गच्छेयम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तत्: that (Brahminhood)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप्य: having obtained
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु) → अवाप्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त अव्यय)
• Form: true

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: true

• वरः: boon
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एषः: this
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृतः: chosen
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु) → वृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: —, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Mataṅga
• brāhmaṇya (brahminhood)
• tapas (austerity)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfast resolve in dharmic self-transformation: Mataṅga chooses a single, ethically charged goal—attaining brāhmaṇya—and commits to disciplined tapas until that aim is realized, emphasizing perseverance and purposeful austerity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Within Vaiśampāyana’s narration, Mataṅga speaks directly, declaring that he has undertaken austerities with the specific intention of attaining brāhmaṇa status, and that he will not leave until he has obtained that boon.