Shloka 4
मातङ्ग–शक्रसंवादः
Mataṅga–Śakra Dialogue on Tapas, Status, and Moral Qualities
अन्रिर्वसिष्ठो5थ भृगुः पुलस्त्य: पुलह:ः क्रतुः । अज्धिरागौतमोडगस्त्य: सुमति: सुयतात्मवान्
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: atrir vasiṣṭho 'tha bhṛguḥ pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ | aṅgirā gautamo 'gastyaḥ sumatiḥ suyātātmavān ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : « Voici les sages : Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Aṅgiras, Gautama, Agastya, et Sumati, dont l’âme est bien maîtrisée. » Dans le contexte, ce vers ouvre un catalogue révérencieux de ṛṣis éminents, présentés comme des modèles de discipline et d’autorité spirituelle, afin d’ancrer l’enseignement du dharma dans une lignée vénérable.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
By invoking a lineage of revered ṛṣis—especially highlighting self-restraint (suyatātmavān)—the text frames dharma as something authenticated by exemplary lives and transmitted through authoritative teachers.
Vaiśampāyana begins enumerating eminent sages. This catalogue functions as a contextual preface: it signals that the ensuing discussion or instruction is rooted in the testimony and tradition of venerable seers.