Shloka 14
Pūjya-namaskārya-prakaraṇa
On Those Worthy of Honor and Salutation
ब्राह्मणं यदि दुष्प्रापं त्रिभिर्वर्ण: शतक्रतो
brāhmaṇaṁ yadi duṣprāpaṁ tribhir varṇaḥ śatakrato
Mātaṅga said: “O Śatakratu (Indra), if a true brāhmaṇa is indeed hard to obtain among the three social orders, then one must understand that brahminhood is not a mere label of birth but a rare attainment grounded in conduct and inner worth.”
मतंग उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames true brahminhood as rare and difficult to attain, implying it depends on ethical qualities and disciplined conduct rather than being automatically secured by social classification.
Matanga addresses Indra (Śatakratu) and makes a pointed observation about how uncommon a genuine brāhmaṇa is among the three varṇas, setting up a discussion on what truly constitutes a brāhmaṇa.