Shloka 18
युधिष्ठिरप्रश्नः—विश्वामित्रस्य ब्राह्मणत्वकौतूहलम् | Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry on Viśvāmitra’s Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
एतत् तत्त्वेन मे तात सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि । मतड़स्य यथातत्त्वं तथैवैतद् वदस्व मे
etad tattvena me tāta sarvam ākhyātum arhasi | mataṅgasya yathātattvaṁ tathaivaitad vadasva me, tāta |
ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ತಾತಾ! ಈ ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಸತ್ಯತತ್ತ್ವದಂತೆ ನನಗೆ ವಿವರಿಸಬೇಕು. ಮತಂಗನು ತಪಸ್ಸು ಮಾಡಿದರೂ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣತ್ವವನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯಲಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದಂತೆ, ವಿಶ್ವಾಮಿತ್ರನ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಏಕೆ ಹಾಗಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ? ದಯವಿಟ್ಟು ನಿಖರವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳು.
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical-philosophical problem: whether spiritual effort (tapas) can transform one’s social-spiritual status (Brahminhood), and if so, why outcomes differ between exemplars. It invites a nuanced explanation of dharma, merit, and the conditions under which inner realization and recognized status align.
Yudhiṣṭhira respectfully asks his elder/teacher to clarify an apparent inconsistency: Mataṅga’s austerities did not yield Brahminhood, yet Viśvāmitra is famed for attaining Brahmin/ṛṣi status through tapas. He requests a truthful, detailed account resolving this contrast.