Shloka 26
Indra–Mataṅga Saṃvāda: On the rarity and responsibilities of Brāhmaṇya (इन्द्र-मतङ्ग संवादः)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्ााभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अन्तर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें गंगाजीके माहात्म्यका वर्णनविषयक छब्बीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,मतंग उवाच ब्राह्म॒ण्यं कामयानो5हमिदमारब्धवांस्तप: । गच्छेयं तदवाप्येह वर एष वृतो मया मतंगने कहा--मैंने ब्राह्मणत्व प्राप्त करनेकी इच्छासे यह तपस्या प्रारम्भ की है। उसे पा करके ही यहाँसे जाऊँ, मैं यही वर चाहता हूँ
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Mataṅga uvāca—brāhmaṇyaṁ kāmayāno ’ham idam ārabdhavāṁs tapaḥ | gaccheyaṁ tad avāpyeha vara eṣa vṛto mayā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Mataṅga said—‘Desiring the status of a brāhmaṇa, I have begun this austerity. Only after attaining that here will I depart from this place; this alone is the boon I have chosen.’
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.