Shloka 9
Indra–Mataṅga Saṃvāda: On the rarity and responsibilities of Brāhmaṇya (इन्द्र-मतङ्ग संवादः)
स यज्ञकार: कौन्तेय पित्रोत्सृष्ट: परंतप । प्रायाद् गर्दभयुक्तेन रथेनाप्याशुगामिना,शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले कुन्तीकुमार! एक दिन अपने पिताके भेजनेपर मतंग किसी यजमानका यज्ञ करानेके लिये गधोंसे जुते हुए शीघ्रगामी रथपर बैठकर चला
sa yajñakāraḥ kaunteya pitrotsṛṣṭaḥ parantapa | prāyād gardabhayuktena rathenāpy āśugāminā ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai putera Kuntī, penghangus musuh—Mataṅga, seorang pendeta yang melaksanakan korban suci, pada suatu ketika berangkat atas perintah ayahnya untuk memimpin yajña bagi seorang penaung. Dia bertolak duduk di atas kereta yang laju, ditarik oleh keldai, menuju upacara yang diamanahkan kepadanya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames dharma through disciplined duty: an officiant proceeds to a sacrifice when commissioned by his father, emphasizing obedience to elders and commitment to ritual responsibility.
Bhishma begins an illustrative episode: Matanga, a sacrificial priest, is sent by his father to conduct a patron’s yajña and travels quickly in a donkey-yoked chariot to reach the rite.