Shloka 7
Indra–Mataṅga Saṃvāda: On the rarity and responsibilities of Brāhmaṇya (इन्द्र-मतङ्ग संवादः)
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । मतड़स्य च संवादं गर्दभ्याश्व॒ युधिछिर,युधिष्ठिर! इस विषयमें जानकार मनुष्य मतड़् और गर्दभीके संवादरूप इस प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam | mataṅgasya ca saṁvādaṁ gardabhyāś ca yudhiṣṭhira ||
Бхишма сказал: «И здесь также, о Юдхиштхира, сведущие приводят древний прецедент: старинное предание в виде беседы Матанги с ослицей».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That ethical instruction is often grounded in authoritative precedents: Bhīṣma signals that the point under discussion will be clarified through an ancient illustrative story (itihāsa) presented as a dialogue.
Bhīṣma introduces a new exemplum for Yudhiṣṭhira: he announces that knowledgeable people cite an old account—specifically, a conversation between the sage Mataṅga and a she-donkey—which will serve as the next instructive episode.